Winter is when the mountains beckon loudest. Fresh corduroy, cold air, and that familiar edge-to-snow sensation are part of why skiing and boarding are such memorable outdoor experiences. But like every recreation season, winter comes with a responsibility: to enjoy the mountains without adding to the environmental strain they already face.
By pairing science-based guidance with practical habits, we can help keep winter landscapes healthy and resilient—both on and off the slopes.
Your Wax Choice Impacts Nature
Here’s the part that most skiers and boarders never think about.
Traditional ski and snowboard waxes—especially fluoro waxes—have historically contained PFCs and PFAS, long-lasting chemicals linked to contamination of waterways, snowmelt runoff, soil, and, eventually, the food chain. These “forever chemicals” don’t stay put—they get scraped off at the hill, shed during skiing/riding, and then they end up in the environment.
That creates real problems:
- Persistent chemicals in alpine snowpack
- Contaminated wax debris in parking lots<
- Long-term water quality issues as snowmelt drains downhill
- Exposure to wax technicians, race tuners, and ski workers
Many resorts and racing organizations have already banned fluoro waxes for good reason. But recreational users often still choose whatever seems like the fastest option—without thinking twice about where that wax goes.
What You Can Do
Choosing eco-friendly wax is one of the simplest ways to shrink your winter footprint:
- Look for biodegradable, plant-based, or non-fluorinated formulations, such as those offered by mountainFLOW
- Buy wax from companies that publish sustainability standards
- Avoid fluorinated waxes entirely (race or recreational)
- Don’t leave scrapings in parking lots—collect and trash them properly
Is eco-wax slower? Not really. Modern plant-based wax has closed the performance gap, and for recreational use, the difference is functionally meaningless. The environmental benefit, however, is not.
Choosing an environmentally friendly wax is a great start toward more sustainable skiing and riding. Keep reading for more Leave No Trace-based advice.
Your Day on Snow Starts at Home
Most skiers know that planning matters—snow reports, avalanche conditions, gear checks, weather windows, and transportation. Leave No Trace simply expands that mindset:
- Know before you go: Understand trail systems, backcountry rules, and resort guidelines.
- Check seasonal closures: Wildlife closures, early season terrain protections, and sensitive habitat areas matter.
- Think transportation: Carpool, bus, or rideshare when possible. Fewer cars on mountain roads mean less congestion, fewer emissions, and safer travel.
A little preparation goes a long way and prevents the kind of reactive decision-making that leads to damaged terrain, off-limits travel, or overcrowding in fragile spaces.
Stick to Durable Surfaces—Even in Winter
Snow creates a false sense of durability. In reality, thin snowpack can hide fragile vegetation and soils that are easily damaged by skis, boards, boots, and snowmobiles.
- At resorts, stay on designated runs and respect closed areas.
- In the backcountry, travel on established routes, deep snowpack and firm surfaces whenever possible.
- Be especially cautious early and late season when coverage is low.
Simply put: If you wouldn’t trample it in summer, don’t assume winter makes it indestructible.
Respect Winter Wildlife
Winter is a survival test for wildlife. Energy is scarce, temperatures are extreme, and unnecessary disturbance can be the difference between life and death.
Skiers and boarders should:
- Give wide berth to wintering animals
- Avoid cutting through dense trees where animals shelter
- Keep dogs under control or leave them at home if rules require it
- Respect posted closures around habitat and migration corridors
If we love the mountains, we have to love what lives there, too.
Les emballages, les sorties
Most skiers aren’t littering on purpose, but snacks, wrappers, adhesive lift ticket backs, broken straps, and single-use plastics constantly fall out of pockets. Cold weather also encourages disposable hand warmers, toe warmers, and little pouches that add up fast.
- Secure snacks and extras in zippered pockets
- Don’t leave wax scrapings or trash in parking lots
- Pack microtrash out of the car and lodge too
- Snow melts. Everything under it eventually resurfaces
Laissez ce que vous avez trouvé
Skiing encourages exploration—and that’s great. Just remember that “exploration” doesn’t mean collecting antlers, branches, lichen, artifacts, or other natural objects. These elements matter to both ecological function and to others’ experiences.
Considerate Skiing and Riding Makes a Difference
Snowsports can build a lifelong love for winter landscapes. But love for a place means even more when it gets translated into action. The mountains don’t need perfection—they need people who are thoughtful, informed, and willing to make simple changes:
- Prepare well
- Stay on durable surfaces
- Respect wildlife
- Pack out what you bring
- Leave the landscape intact
- Choose sustainable wax
The more skiers adopt Leave No Trace habits, the healthier winter environments will remain—and the longer snowsports will have a future worth fighting for.
