Celebrating Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area Certification

Last fall, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) became one of the newest Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Areas. This summer, the resort celebrated that achievement by hosting an event highlighting its long history of whitebark pine conservation and environmental stewardship. As chair of the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation’s Ski Area Partnership Committee, I was pleased to participate in the celebration and present the resort with its official certification plaque.

For a world-class, year-round recreation destination, JHMR’s commitment to conservation is remarkable. As CEO Doug Pierini noted during the event, “Caring for the environment is who we are.” That commitment has guided the resort’s work for more than two decades.

About 30 participants gathered at the base of the Bridger Gondola before riding to the summit, where one of the resort’s outstanding interpretive displays provided the backdrop for presentations. JJ Markman, Director of Resort Development, described the importance of whitebark pine to the resort and the greater Jackson community and outlined JHMR’s many years of conservation work.

I then introduced the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, discussed whitebark pine ecology, and explained the Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area certification program before presenting Doug Pierini with the Foundation’s certification plaque.

The group continued with a field tour to several impressive whitebark pine. Nancy Bockino, NRCC Lead Whitebark Pine Ecologist and a member of the WPEF Ski Area Partnership Committee, discussed cone collection, verbenone applications, and mountain pine beetle management at the resort and in the greater Teton area. At another stop, Dusty Perrin, JHMR’s Civil Engineer and monitoring coordinator, described the resort’s more than 20 years of partnership with NRCC and the U.S. Forest Service to monitor whitebark pine and reduce mountain pine beetle impacts. Dusty has also become a dedicated whitebark pine citizen scientist and wrote an informative whitebark pine blog on the JHMR website.

The afternoon concluded with refreshments and lively conversations that reflected the enthusiasm for whitebark pine throughout the resort. The “stoke,” as the ski community would say, was unmistakable. What stood out most was that appreciation for whitebark pine extended well beyond the natural resource staff—even the tram mechanics were stoked about the recent certification!

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has demonstrated that a premier ski destination can also be a leader in education, stewardship, and conservation. Its Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area certification recognizes decades of dedicated work and serves as an excellent model for other ski areas across the range.

If your travels take you to Jackson Hole, whether on skis, a mountain bike, or hiking boots, take a moment to appreciate the magnificent whitebark pine that surround the resort—and thank JHMR for helping ensure these remarkable trees remain part of the landscape for generations to come.

Michael Giesey

Ski Area Partnership Committee Chair,

Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation