Where to Ski And Snowboard - Treasures uncovered at Breckenridge

Treasures uncovered at Breckenridge

30th June 2014, by Abi Butcher

Skiers lost mobile phones, a saw and even a spirit level at Breckenridge last season

Volunteers helping on a mountain clear-up in Breckenridge ski resort last week found an eclectic assortment of lost property.

A rusty saw, a bra, several phones and iPods, golf balls, skis, snowboards, a parking ticket and even a spirit level were picked up from the mountain in Colorado on Thursday (26 June). Around 200 volunteers turned out to help and were treated to a complimentary BBQ and given a summer activity ticket for Breckenridge Fun Park.

Kristen Petitt Stewart from Breckenridge communications department told Where to Ski and Snowboard: “We’ve been holding a versions of mountain clean up for over 30 years and is of course necessary because of all the things people lose from chairlifts throughout the season.”

“We find coins from all over the world, every year, and this year our mountain operations director found a wallet with cash, credit cards and an ID still in it,” said Ms Petitt Stewart. “He called the guest, and found out he lost it two years ago! You just never know what you will find.”

The clean-up has unearthed diamond rings and even a gold Krugerrand — and Breckenridge says it always makes the best effort to return lost items to their rightful owner.

In April, WTSS reported that Brits leave behind £31.5 million-worth of items on their ski holidays — with phones dropped from chairlifts being one of the most common losses.

Shortly after writing that news story, web editor Abi Butcher added to the stats by losing her iPhone on the piste in Verbier. It seems she is in good company. Kirsten Petitt Stewart added: “I dropped my iPhone this season too! Poof into the powder – never to be seen again! So no one is safe – unless your pockets are zipped up tight!”