The Most Adorable Crew in the Business: Jay Peak Trades Gas for Goats
Forget the roar of gas-powered mowers, Jay Peak, Vermont, is going full throttle into the new season with a much quieter, and furrier, trail crew. The resort has added some unusual new hires to its fall operations team, bringing in a herd of goats and sheep to chew their way through overgrown trails and prepare for the ski season ahead.
This isn’t just a gimmick. The animals will tackle about 130 acres of ski and Nordic terrain, handling part of the resort’s annual mowing operation. Normally, this task requires a 10-person crew and a whole lot of heavy, gas-powered tools. Now, some of that work is going to four-legged contractors who don’t complain about steep pitches and are dialed in on their mission to eat everything down to a six-inch height.
Each animal will be equipped with a GPS collar tied to a geofencing system, rotating through two-acre sections every couple of days. And to keep them safe from any critters, a trained guard dog will stay with the herd overnight, think of it as a four-legged ski patrol with a serious bark.
If you’re wondering why goats, the answer is simple: goatscaping is a legit, centuries-old solution. Goats eat just about anything leafy or green, including poison ivy and invasive brush that most animals won't touch. It’s an all-natural, chemical-free process that leaves the mountain ready for winter and reduces noise and fuel use.
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As Andy Stenger, Jay Peak’s director of mountain and base area operations, summed it up, "If the goats and sheep can do the work without heavy fuel use, and without us needing to haul crews up the hill every day, that’s a win for us and the mountain."
While this is a pilot program, the upside is huge. If it works, Jay Peak hopes to expand the program in future years. It’s a creative solution that perfectly blends Vermont’s rich farming culture with a forward-thinking, eco-friendly approach. It’s a reminder that getting stoked for winter can also mean leaving a lighter footprint on the mountain we all love to shred.
