Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Annual Cleanup: A Treasure Hunt
This past summer, the annual cleanup at Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado transformed into something unexpected—like a treasure hunt. The resort reported that staff members collectively removed around 780 pounds of trash.
A lot of the debris came from visitors who inadvertently dropped items from ski lifts. It took 150 employees to accomplish this impressive task, resulting in some unusual finds.
One of the strangest discoveries? A message in a bottle, which led to some speculation about its contents. However, contrary to what some may have hoped, it wasn’t a touching love note from years gone by. Instead, it turned out to be an old Covid-19 vaccination card.
Additionally, the cleanup unearthed a cracked iPhone, an iPod Nano, and even a $2 Canadian coin. Of course, empty bottles and regular household waste made up a significant portion of the haul too.
Max Winter, the resort’s senior communications manager, mentioned that some of the favorite discoveries didn’t even make it into any effort-related videos. Interestingly, a few staff members even happened upon a moose family while sifting through the items.
Winter explained, “Our team kept their distance and didn’t take any photos, but their encounters remind us that our natural spaces are shared homes.” It’s moments like these that emphasize the connection between nature and humanity.
While much of what was found was indeed garbage, quite a bit of it consisted of larger items that could be recycled or repurposed. Remarkably, in rare instances, they even reunite lost items with their owners.
For instance, a few years ago at Keystone, another resort they oversee, the team managed to return an engraved engagement ring to a guest months after their visit.
The event, known as Mountain Clean Up Day, has become one of the staff’s favorite traditions. It allows them to show love to the mountains they cherish and take part in a fun team-building experience. Plus, it provides the opportunity to see just how many quirky items have been lost during busy ski days—along with enjoying a free lunch amidst the beauty of the mountains.
