Broomfield, CO – Ski resort operator Vail Resorts, Inc. today announced that it has joined the Colorado Environmental Coalition and other conservation groups in supporting Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) in their efforts to designate 175,000 acres as additional wilderness and special management areas in Colorado’s Eagle and Summit counties.

The areas under consideration in Eagle and Summit counties have been identified by environmental groups as important ecological areas that provide wildlife habitat and serve as community watersheds, including Hoosier Ridge near Breckenridge and West Lake Creek outside of Edwards.  These areas will benefit greatly from the contemplated higher levels of protection and will contribute to the quality of life in the region’s mountain communities, supporters of the new wilderness designations assert.

“We are pleased to have Vail Resorts’ support for designating additional wilderness in the central Colorado mountains,” said Elise Jones, executive director of the Colorado Environmental Coalition. “Business support for this initiative will be critical to its success. Coloradans have long understood the link between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. In addition to CEC, The Wilderness Society, Wilderness Workshop and Colorado Mountain Club have been working with local businesses, forest users and government officials in support of wilderness protection in Central Colorado.”

“The special nature of the economies in Colorado’s resort communities relies on the successful balance of offering thoughtfully developed recreation opportunities on our public lands with the preservation of pristine wilderness areas,” said Beth Ganz, vice president of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Vail Resorts. “Vail Resorts is proud to support this effort to strike that important balance.  We believe this proposal and the protections it will provide are critical for Colorado.”

“I think it’s the right thing that Vail Resorts is stepping in with their support as this proposal takes into consideration the collaboration among many key stakeholders,” said Town of Breckenridge Mayor John Warner. “The proponents of the identified additional wilderness areas really listened to the mountain bike community and preserved trails for them. They also listened to the municipal community so that watersheds could be adequately protected. These wilderness areas are a great addition for Summit County.”