A native insect approximately the size of a grain of rice, the mountain pine beetle can play a role in forest renewal during normal seasonal and temperature weather cycles. But in recent years, variable weather patterns have disrupted this balance. Warmer winters and longer summers have allowed beetles to reproduce more quickly, which has led to widespread infestations around the state. Where healthy, green pine forests once stood, only crisp, reddish-brown trunks of dead trees remain. These damaged tree stands lead to increased fire danger, decreased biodiversity, and heightened trail maintenance challenges.

The presence of mountain pine beetles at CBMR was first detected in 2023, when aerial surveyors observed small, isolated clusters of dead lodgepole pine and subalpine fir. During the 2024 season, ground crews revisited large areas of lodgepole pine within and around CBMR’s boundaries, confirming limited but recent beetle activity. The relatively fresh condition of affected trees, combined with minimal evidence of older mortality, suggested that beetles may have moved in from surrounding areas rather than emerged from long-established local populations. This is supported by additional beetle activity mapped west of the resort in large lodgepole stands, as well as in the Brush Creek and Slate River drainages, and even within the town of Crested Butte.

The amount of terrain impacted and the efforts it would take to restore these affected zones presented a substantial challenge to the resort. However, the Mountain Ops team decided to take proactive steps utilizing their dedicated expertise and partnership with the US Forest Service to not only clean up the mess the beetles had made but also ensure these issues would stay contained to the areas that had been impacted.

Working Toward a Solution

Guided by the CBMR Vegetation Management Plan, which included detailed sampling across 205 plots in 92 forest stands within the special use permit boundary, the resort continues to implement both short- and long-term forest health strategies, particularly focused on insect and disease mitigation.

In early July, teams from the USFS and CBMR Mountain Operations deployed approximately 2000 verbenone pheromone packets to lure beetles away from healthy stands. These packets work by releasing a synthetic pheromone that indicates to pine beetles that a tree is fully occupied and the remaining nutrient supply is insufficient for additional beetles. These packets are effective for approximately one flight season, which typically extends from late June through early September.

In addition to using verbenone packets, the teams also deployed approximately 1000 green leaf volatiles (GLVs). GLVs are chemical compounds naturally released by healthy, deciduous plants, and they signal to pine beetles that the surrounding trees are not suitable for colonization. Since pine beetles are drawn to stressed or dying trees, GLVs help deter them by mimicking the presence of healthy trees, therefore indicating any nearby trees are unsuitable for host vegetation.

So far, the teams have dedicated dozens, if not hundreds of hours of work on this project and their efforts are already making a difference. Forest thinning and beetle removal help contain infestation zones and improve tree health in surrounding areas. Just as critically, these steps lower the risk for wildfires, an ever-growing concern in high-altitude ecosystems.

Over the past 25 years, bark beetle activity has significantly impacted forested ski areas throughout Colorado. Beginning in the 1990s, a major mountain beetle outbreak spread across the US and Canadian Rocky Mountains, as well as surrounding areas, notably affecting regions along the I-70 corridor and around Steamboat. This widespread event lasted nearly two decades and left a lasting mark on the landscape. Many of today’s mountain operations staff have firsthand experience managing forest health through these infestations.

While some areas, such as the lodgepole pine stands stretching from Leadville to Crested Butte and Monarch Pass, largely escaped severe damage, they now represent some of the last remaining old-growth lodgepole forests in the state. In contrast, ski resorts like Wolf Creek and Monarch have been heavily affected by spruce beetle mortality, leading to notable forest transformations. The ongoing presence and variability of these beetle populations highlight the critical need for proactive monitoring and forest health management across all ski areas in the region.

For guests, a healthier forest means safer skiing and fewer trail closures due to hazardous trees. The work is an investment which includes long-term benefits like improved ecosystem function and sustained tourism appeal. Most importantly, it allows CBMR to contribute to environmental sustainability and steward the lands which have served as a recreational haven to bikers, skiers, and hikers for decades.

"I’m definitely proud of my team and the engagement they had in this project,” said Tucker Roberts, Senior Manager of Mountain Operations at CBMR. “As avid skiers, they displayed very prominent ownership over the work they conducted.”

At Crested Butte Mountain Resort, pine beetle management is more than a maintenance task; it’s a long-term strategy for environmental stewardship. As climate challenges intensify, proactive forest care will be essential to sustaining alpine recreation. The resort’s continued investment reflects a broader commitment to ecological resilience, safety, and community well-being.