The Steamboat Springs ski resort in Colorado has received an unexpected $1.5 million gift from Smartwool, the wool knit apparel brand known for its socks and underwear, which is to be used to build a new Barrows chairlift on Howelsen Hill. Smartwool was founded in the town of Steamboat and recently moved to Denver with its parent company, VF Corp. The $1.5 million  contribution from VF Corp.’s private charity, the VF Foundation, was awarded to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, according to a written statement released by Smartwool. Smartwool president Jen McLaren said the gift was a way to give back to the community what she described as “the special place that has fostered our love of nature and the communities they explore.” The new chairlift will replace an old two-person lift with a new fixed-grip triple seater chair, which McLaren hopes will make the mountain more accessible to more people.

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