A COVID-19 vaccination card posing as a “message in a bottle” was among the bizarre treasures uncovered during Breckenridge Ski Resort’s post-season cleanup that yielded an astonishing 780 pounds of lost items buried beneath Colorado’s pristine slopes.
Key Takeaways
- Breckenridge Ski Resort staff collected 780 pounds of lost items during their annual post-season cleanup operation
- Over 150 resort employees participated in the environmental effort, strengthening team bonds while cleaning the mountain
- Items discovered included ski poles, boots, broken phones, glasses, AirPods, a spatula, a driver’s license, and a Canadian two-dollar coin
- The most unusual find was a “message in a bottle” that turned out to be an old COVID-19 vaccination card
- The cleanup event went viral on Facebook, inspiring others to share their own stories of lost ski equipment
Winter’s Hidden Secrets Revealed
When the snow finally melts away from Colorado’s ski slopes, it reveals a curious collection of items lost during the winter months. This year, the Breckenridge Ski Resort conducted its post-season Mountain Cleanup Day with remarkable results. Over 150 dedicated employees combed the mountainside, uncovering a staggering 780 pounds of trash and lost items that had been concealed beneath the snow. The extensive collection ranged from expected items like ski poles and boots to more unusual discoveries including broken phones, eyeglasses, AirPods, a spatula, a driver’s license, and even a Canadian two-dollar coin.
The annual cleanup serves a dual purpose, combining environmental stewardship with team building. “In addition to being the right thing to do for our mountain, it’s also a fun paid event to connect with our teammates [and] see what wacky items may have been lost in the season’s powder days,” Maxwell Winter, Senior Communications Manager at the lodge, told the Post.
Unexpected “Message in a Bottle”
Among the many intriguing items discovered during the cleanup, one find particularly captured attention. The crew uncovered what they initially thought was a genuine “message in a bottle,” sparking playful speculation about its contents. “They said their ‘most unique find’ was a note in a bottle, which the Breckenridge crew joked said everything from ‘Drink your Ovaltine’ to ‘Stuck in a bottle, send help,'” according to Winter. The reality proved somewhat more mundane but equally intriguing – the bottle contained an old COVID-19 vaccination card, a curious time capsule from our recent pandemic past.
“It gets buried in the snow, and in the summer it melts out,” said Jennifer Carlson.
The phenomenon of finding lost items at ski resorts isn’t unique to Breckenridge. Similar efforts take place at other resorts like Stevens Pass in Washington, where volunteers have been conducting cleanups since 2011. This year, Stevens Pass saw a record turnout of nearly 150 volunteers, compared to their usual 90. Their most notable find was a credit-card sized annual resort pass from 1999, which earned its finder a $50 gift card as recognition for the most interesting discovery of the day.
Social Media Reaction and Community Response
When Breckenridge shared their unusual findings in a Facebook post, it quickly went viral, striking a chord with winter sports enthusiasts across the country. The comments section filled with humorous anecdotes and personal stories from skiers and snowboarders who had lost items on various slopes throughout the years. Many expressed surprise at the volume and variety of items recovered, while others shared tales of their own missing gear that likely awaits discovery during future cleanup efforts.
“We do not want to encourage others to do this because it is littering and illegal! We did not know this at the time, as we were young kids and copying something that someone else had done before us,” said an Anonymous woman.
The Breckenridge cleanup is part of a broader environmental commitment seen across many ski resorts. At Stevens Pass, for example, the annual cleanup aligns with Vail Resorts’ Commitment to Zero program, which aims to achieve zero emissions by 2030. These efforts highlight the growing awareness within the skiing industry about environmental responsibility and the importance of preserving our natural landscapes for future generations to enjoy. By combining ecological stewardship with community engagement, these resorts are creating meaningful traditions that benefit both the environment and the people who love these mountains.
