Sustainability and Wildfire Resilience discussion with Gwyn Howat and John Rice
Virtual meeting with Mt. Baker’s Gwyn Howat and Ski California President John Rice on sustainability and wildfire resilience.
In an era of intensifying climate threats, ski areas are stepping up as unexpected leaders in wildfire resilience and environmental sustainability. On September 9, 2025, the Far West Ski Association hosted a powerful virtual conversation with two of the industry’s most experienced and visionary leaders—Gwyn Howat of Mt. Baker and John Rice, former GM of Sierra-at-Tahoe and current President of Ski California. From wildfires and forest policy to renewable energy and community recovery, this session goes far beyond the slopes to reveal how climate action is shaping the future of mountain recreation. Watch the full recording above and explore the detailed summary of insights, challenges, and innovations discussed during the event.
Summary
(September 9, 2025) — FWSA Environment Chair Dave Tragethon highlighted significant wildfire events, including the 2020 Oregon wildfires and the 2021 Caldor fire, which severely impacted Sierra-at-Tahoe. John Rice detailed Sierra-at-Tahoe's challenging recovery, emphasizing employee and guest dedication, innovative firefighting solutions like "thermogel," and crucial collaboration with the Forest Service. Gwen Howat outlined Mount Baker's long-standing commitment to sustainability as an off-grid ski area, detailing their energy transition, redefinition of success to include cultural and environmental benefits, and advocacy for public lands funding. Key talking points included the widespread interest in fire management from meteorologists across the US, the impact of the Big Bear fire on local businesses, the challenges and solutions for biomass management, the effectiveness of parking lots as fire breaks, the varied damage to ski lifts, and the importance of open communication in resort recovery, as well as the potential for utilizing forest waste for power generation.
Details
Wildfire Incidents and Impacts Dave Tragethon highlighted significant wildfire events, including the 2020 Oregon wildfires that affected 11% of the Oregon Cascades and necessitated the evacuation of 40,000 people, destroying thousands of homes and several cities. He also discussed the 2021 Caldor fire's direct hit on Sierra-at-Tahoe, which damaged six of nine lifts and 80% of the resort's trees, leading to an unprecedented insurance claim that could impact the entire industry.
Recovery and Resilience at Sierra-at-Tahoe John Rice recounted the recovery efforts at Sierra-at-Tahoe after the Caldor fire, noting the initial thought that the resort was beyond recovery. He shared the challenge of losing his mountain manager during the rebuild but emphasized the rallying cry and hope that fueled their efforts, highlighting the significance of employee and guest dedication in the recovery process.
Wildfire Preparedness and Challenges John Rice, drawing on his experience as an elected official on his local fire department, explained that despite having a highly-regarded wildfire prevention plan, the Caldor fire did not follow it. He also highlighted the challenges of resource scarcity due to the Dixie fire and the lack of unity among firefighting agencies in the early stages of the Caldor fire.
Innovative Firefighting Solutions John Rice shared insights on effective fire-retardant applications, particularly mentioning the use of "thermogel" as a non-toxic, effective solution that prevented buildings and equipment from burning, even ugly ones. He emphasized that focusing on what could be controlled, such as immediate protective measures and internal communication, was crucial during the crisis.
Forest Service Collaboration and Policy Changes John Rice detailed the significant efforts to collaborate with the Forest Service, including fast-tracking the NEPA review process for Sierra-at-Tahoe, which allowed for the removal of hazard trees. He also explained that developing a strong, trusting relationship with the Forest Service over 30 years allowed for crucial flexibility and support during their recovery, which might not be extended to other resorts.
Industry-Wide Wildfire Learnings John Rice underscored the importance of sharing lessons learned across the ski industry, especially after four fires in California and one in Nevada in the last five years. He outlined key takeaways for other resorts, including the necessity of a fire plan, establishing contacts, maintaining tight communication within leadership, and building trust with agencies proactively.
Insurance Challenges in the Ski Industry John Rice revealed that many resorts face significant challenges with fire insurance affordability, citing Sierra-at-Tahoe's insurance cost increase from $50,000 to $2.2 million in one year. He also noted that some resorts currently operate without property insurance due to prohibitive costs, underscoring a major industry-wide vulnerability.
Mount Baker's Off-Grid Sustainability Model Gwen Howat discussed Mount Baker's long-standing commitment to sustainability as an off-grid ski area, emphasizing that conservation and efficiency were driven by economic necessity. She shared specific practices such as no-idling policies for chairlifts and snowcats, and transitioning to local sourcing for food products, which creates local jobs and reduces transportation emissions.
Mount Baker's Energy Transition Gwen Howat detailed Mount Baker's strategic approach to reducing its carbon footprint, including converting diesel-powered chairlifts to electric motors and building a centralized power generation facility. This initiative aims to reduce emissions by over 80% through modern, demand-modulating generator systems.
Redefining Success in Ski Area Management Gwen Howat explained that Mount Baker redefined success beyond just financial returns to include cultural, environmental, and community benefits, aligning with triple bottom line concepts. This approach fostered loyalty among pass holders, dedication from vendors, and strong community support, helping Mount Baker carve out a unique niche in the industry.
Advocacy for Public Lands and Recreation Funding Gwen Howat, as a board member of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), highlighted the industry's advocacy efforts in Washington D.C. against the proposed sale of public lands without clear exclusions for existing permitted areas. She emphasized that recreation generates 47% of revenue on national forest lands, surpassing timber revenue, and advocated for keeping recreational money local through initiatives like the SHRED Act.
Future Sustainability Project at Mount Baker Gwen Howat shared Mount Baker's long-term sustainability goal of becoming 100% off the grid on renewable energy by running an underground power line from a privately owned hydro facility 14 miles away. This ambitious project, estimated to cost $20-30 million, aims to minimize environmental impacts and enhance reliability in the mountain environment.
International Collaboration on Sustainability and Wildfire Alan Christian raised a question about international collaboration among ski areas on issues of sustainability and wildfire resilience. John Rice indicated that while he has been involved in extensive media discussions in the West, he has not personally been involved in international dialogues on these specific issues.
Interest in Fire Management and Forest Health John Rice observed widespread interest from meteorologists across the United States in the OSS tape shown by Dave Tragethon, indicating a keen interest in fire management, while noting less solicitation from other countries. Sue Rimkeit, with a background in Oregon's evergreen forests, highlighted the value of the logging industry in maintaining roads for quick access to fire-prone areas and suggested that the Forest Service should allow certified personnel to use chainsaws for trail maintenance to ease firefighter access.
Big Bear Fire Impact Tom Bundgard commented on the Big Bear fire, which diverted traffic and reduced skiing time due to road closures. John Rice explained that the fire severely impacted Big Bear's summer and winter businesses, as rains below the snow line caused debris on roads, leading to closures and significant disruption to the livelihood of local residents.
Biomass Management and Forest Restoration Gwyn Howat discussed efforts in Washington state to develop responsible wildfire and understory restoration, which involves cutting trees to restore forest spaciousness, and identified the challenge of managing the resulting biomass. She mentioned a facility in Darrington, Washington, that is exploring innovative products and wood-fired generators for regenerative biomass burning, emphasizing the need to find solutions for biomass disposal.
Parking Lots as Fire Breaks John Rice shared insights from the fire, stating that all new equipment inside buildings was destroyed, but older equipment left in parking lots survived, highlighting parking lots as effective fire breaks. He advised placing valuable equipment in paved parking areas during a fire, noting that their "boneyard" (storage for old parts used for maintenance) was completely burned, but everything in the paved parking areas was untouched. Tom Bundgard asked about the recommended distance from the edge of a parking lot for fire separation, to which John Rice responded that it depends on the vegetation, but parking items in the middle of wide lots is safer.
Lift Damage and Fire Behavior John Rice recounted how two side-by-side ski lifts experienced different fates during the fire, with one being destroyed by a crown fire while the adjacent one, 50 feet away, remained intact after the fire moved to the ground. He explained that a lift tower's foundation was damaged because fire got into tree stumps that had grown around it, necessitating a new foundation.
Resort Recovery and Communication John Rice detailed the resort's recovery efforts, leveraging relationships and maintaining honest communication with the owner through pictures and videos. He noted that the resort sold out five times the previous winter despite losing many employees and guests to other resorts, and emphasized the importance of social media communication with loyal passholders and guests, including trash cleanup days where they could witness the fire's impact firsthand.
Forest Waste for Power Generation Alan Christian shared his experience in selling power plants to sawmills and suggested that Gwyn Howat visit the Sierra Pacific sawmill in Burlington, Washington, which is entirely powered by wood waste, as a potential model for utilizing forest residue for energy. Gwyn Howat expressed interest in promoting this concept in her region, particularly with the ongoing forest cleanup plan in the Nooksack basin area.
