Powder Burn Arson, Money, and Mystery On Vail Mountain [Paperback]

In October, 1998 an arson caused 12 million in damage at Vail, the country's largest ski area. A shadowy radical environmental group called the Earth Liberation Front claimed credit for what the FBI called the costliest act of ecoterrorism in U.S. history. But as it turns out, credible suspects were everywhere, since Vail was owned by a New York investment firm that had alienated a wide swath of Colorado's high country residents. Who couldn't have done this? wondered a local sheriff's investigator. More than a clever whodunit,Powder Burnscrapes away the glitz of America's premier ski destination to reveal a cautionary tale about runaway opulance and rapid change in the New West. As theDenver Postput it, Vail is a microcosm of the disputes over growth raging across the Rockies, and Glick's take on the fire helps to fan the flames.

Packed with odd characters and paranoia, with beautiful mountains and despicable actions,Powder Burnis about corporate greed, the environment, a small town and a mysterious unsolved crime. As Vail celebrates its fortieth anniversary with a full season of hoopla and self-promotion, this book makes compelling reading for skiers, true crime enthusiasts, or anyone interested in the environmental, social, and political issues raised by the evolution of the new West.

Daniel Glickworked forNewsweekfor more than twelve years, as a Washington correspondent and as a special correspondent roving the Rocky Mountain West. He has also written forRolling Stone, theWashington Post Magazine, theNew York Times Magazine,Esquire,Men's Journaland numerous other publications. A life-long skier, his first byline was inPowdermagazine. PublicAffairs will publish his new book,Monkey Dancing, in Spring 2003. He lives in Colorado.