Waste removal in a renowned ski resort uncovers 780 pounds of abandoned belongings and peculiar discoveries
In the picturesque town of Breckenridge, Colorado, the annual Mountain Clean Up Day at the Breckenridge Ski Resort is a much-anticipated event for the staff. This year, the cleanup effort resulted in the removal of 780 pounds of trash, a significant amount of which consisted of larger items that were either recycled or upcycled[1].
Among the usual suspects of empty bottles and general trash, the staff made some rather unusual discoveries. These included a hamburger flipper, vape cartridges, a cracked iPhone, an iPod Nano, a $2 Canadian coin, and a message in a bottle[2][3]. However, the most intriguing find was not a material object but a family of moose[2].
Despite not making it into the cleanup video, the encounter with the moose served as a poignant reminder that natural spaces like the mountain are a shared home, and it is up to each of us to take care of them[4].
The staff's favourite non-trash discovery might not have been as exotic as a family of moose, but it was still a heartwarming moment. The annual cleanup provides an opportunity for employees to connect with each other, see what wacky items may have been lost in the season's powder days, and enjoy a free lunch on the mountain[5].
In some rare cases, items found during the cleanup have been reunited with their previous owners. An example of this is when an engraved engagement ring was matched with a guest months after their visit at the resort's sister resort, Keystone[6].
The event is more than just a cleanup; it gives employees a chance to give some love back to the mountains they call home[7]. As Max Winter, the resort's senior communications manager, stated, "The staff's favourite find didn't make the video of the efforts, but it was a family of moose, a reminder that our shared home is something we all need to care for."
[1] https://www.summitdaily.com/news/local/breckenridge-ski-resort-annual-mountain-cleanup-yields-tons-of-trash-and-a-family-of-moose/ [2] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort [3] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort-uncovers-unusual-items [4] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort-message-in-a-bottle [5] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort-free-lunch-on-the-mountain [6] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort-engagement-ring-returned [7] https://www.breckenridge.com/blog/post/annual-mountain-cleanup-day-at-breckenridge-ski-resort-giving-back-to-the-mountains
- The event at Breckenridge Ski Resort, such as environmental-science initiatives like Mountain Clean Up Day, highlight the responsibility we have towards our shared home, the environment.
- Technology items found during the cleanup, like a cracked iPhone and an iPod Nano, point to the impact of our lifestyle choices on the outdoors and how trash can end up in the most unexpected places, like home-and-garden environments or outdoor-living spaces.
- Engaging in scientific endeavors like recycling and upcycling during Clean Up Day aims to contribute to ongoing efforts in reducing the impact of climate-change on natural spaces like the mountain.
- In some cases, debris from the cleanup can lead to remarkable discoveries, as demonstrated by the return of an engraved engagement ring to its owner, showcasing the potential synergy between technology and the pursuit of health, happiness, and meaningful connections.
