Continuing the tradition of famous skiers starting their own hotels in ski country, legendary extreme skier Rob DesLauriers, who rose to fame in the Squallywood films of the early 1990s and climbed and skied Everest in 2006, returned to his hometown of Jackson, Wyoming, to launch his hotel project. But DesLauriers did something that none of his predecessors had done—he went green.

Hotel Terra, which opened in February 2008, has a laundry list of eco-friendly innovations that

Continuing the tradition of famous skiers starting their own hotels in ski country, legendary extreme skier Rob DesLauriers, who rose to fame in the Squallywood films of the early 1990s and climbed and skied Everest in 2006, returned to his hometown of Jackson, Wyoming, to launch his hotel project. But DesLauriers did something that none of his predecessors had done—he went green.

Hotel Terra, which opened in February 2008, has a laundry list of eco-friendly innovations that includes, yes, their laundry. (Sustainable, organic cotton linens, to be more precise.) But this 72-room boutique hotel goes beyond recycling and little hang-tags indicating whether you want new towels. It has a staff who research whether its source materials—from linens to reclaimed roofing material to the natural latex wrappings of the springs in the beds—come from sustainable sources. Speaking of beds, they're custom built for the hotel and use only natural materials; no chemical baths in flame-retardant material here. Zoned heating and air-conditioning management throughout the hotel saves energy, and solar-powered faucets, double-flush toilets, and low-flow fixtures conserve 35 percent more water than traditional hotels. It's high tech, too—with flat-screens and surround-sound systems in every room and free wireless Internet access throughout. Furnishings are modern yet comfortable, with clean lines that incorporate fast-growing sustainable wood and recycled materials. (All of the chairs in the upscale Osteria restaurant are made using recycled seatbelts.) Still, the place isn't lacking in creature comforts. A ski-valet service takes care of all your equipment. It's just 150 feet away from the new Jackson Hole Tram, which opened December 2008 and transports skiers up 4,139 vertical feet to the top of Rendezvous Peak, home to some of the steepest skiing in the Lower 48. (Jaw-dropping, 50-degree Corbet's Couloir has scared the ski pants off of even the toughest daredevils since the early 1970s.) Upon return, skiers will find eucalyptus showers in each of the ski locker rooms to soothe out those remaining shredded nerves.

A wide variety of rooms are available—and the hotel plans to build another 67-unit addition across the street—ranging from standard hotel rooms to three-bedroom condos. "Urban Studios" tack kitchens on to the regular guestrooms, and most of the suites have connecting doors for large groups. The rooftop hot tub has 360-degree views of the surrounding Tetons. Below that is the Chill Spa, with six treatment rooms giving massage and skin therapy focused for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Guests also have access to the Solitude Spa, next door in the Teton Mountain Lodge, which has a complete fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, treatments ranging from old-school (like Shiatsu massage) to New Age (a complete package of clairvoyant "Soul Reading" therapies). All that eco-luxury comes at a cost, and there are certainly cheaper hotels in town. But DesLauriers hired Jamie Yarrow as his general manager, a 20-year hotel-industry veteran. Yarrow brought with him other professionals from the boutique hotel industry, ensuring a high level of service to go with the all of the tree hugging. Money is, after all, the greenest thing around.

A former senior editor at Skiing magazine, Pieter van Noordennen owns more ski jackets than any man should.