Vail has an excellent goal of net zero operating footprint, with goals of zero net emissions, zero waste to landfill, and zero net operating impact on forests and habitat by 2030.

A byproduct of this goal has been to eliminate paper trail maps in lieu of electronic maps on a phone app.  This has already begun at many Vail properties (such as Beaver Creek).  In 2020/2021, no maps were printed under the excuse that they would spread covid.  Now the excuse is the Epic Promise 2030 net zero goal.  Paper trail maps should be exempted from this initiative for several reasons:

1. Paper trail maps improve safety - guiding people away from areas above their ability.  Resort signage isn't everywhere it needs to be and is often lacking.

2. Paper trail maps are a superior planning tool, allowing one to draw and notate the plan for the day.  You cannot do that with an electronic trial map on the Vail app.

3. Paper trail maps make a great souvenir and advertising method for increasing excitement about skiing.

(Vail says that electronic maps on their phone app are the replacement.  However, that is insufficient because it relies upon a phone which could be dead, a screen that is often too small, and it promotes pulling your phone out into the cold/snow making it more likely to drop it and lose it.)

We should be able to balance the environment with convenience/safety.  If you have to, limit the trail maps to one per person then charge a fee after that.  Please bring back the paper trail map.