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It may be cold on the slopes, but the interest level and the welcome at the Eastern meeting of NSAA has been warm.

Don’t Move Firewood is attending the eastern meeting of the National Ski Areas Association to share ideas about how ski areas can protect themselves. Because ski area visitors often travel far to reach the snow, they could bring pests with them—if they bring firewood. Condo owners and season pass holders may revisit the region around their favorite area for camping or summer vacations as well.

If pests spread, ski areas stand to lose. Runs are often framed by trees, distant scenery is usually forested, and weakened trees would have to be cut down to protect skiers, lifts, and lodges. The devastation western ski areas are experiencing from the native mountain pine beetle could easily be replicated across the country by non-native pests.

Yesterday at the meeting, one ski area offered to include the Don’t Move Firewood in its newsletter, another plans to put up refrigerator magnets in slope side condos, yet a third will print posters and post them in the lodge. It may be cold on the slopes, but the interest level and the welcome has been warm.