Resorts Wage War on Wasatch Backcountry!

The Canyons - Solitude Interconnect | Snowbird Expansion | Salt Lake County | Alta | Cherry Creek Ski Resort

All is not quiet along the Wasatch Front: roller-coaster's, peak to peak trams, interconnects, lifts for avalanche control, zip-lines, transportation lifts, revising ordinances to facilitate more development, it seems over the last few months we have heard it all. Many of these projects affect YOUR public lands, either directly or indirectly. Yes, many of them we oppose. Are we opposed to all ski area projects, no, but as of late we feel our hand has been forced because of the impacts these projects cause not only to the environment and watershed of the tri-canyons of the Wasatch, but also because of their impact to other users in this busy range. Our vision for the Wasatch: Ski Resorts where patrons can pay to play on their public lands, have the comforts of lavish lodges, hot meals, Swedish massages, lift served access to acres upon acres of terrain within the boundaries of their existing US Forest Service Permit Boundaries, and lift configurations that protect rapidly disappearing and highly treasured year round backcountry recreation areas. The result, clearly defined areas where resort patrons can enjoy the hustle and bustle of daily life, and clearly defined areas where people can enjoy a slower paced, more natural, quiet (save for the helicopters), dispersed recreational experience. Free from the view of resorts, lifts, and associated appurtenances.
There is no question we have to figure out a way to deal with the millions of visitors who come to the Wasatch each year as we are our own biggest threat to the quality of our municipal water supply. Sure, water can be purified to high standards, but why spend our money cleaning something up that is already pure. We need transportation solutions to help reduce traffic congestion in the canyons and it needs to be efficient and effective. These are just some of the projects we have been trying to work towards to make sure the Wasatch is protected, but also enjoyed by the millions who love it. As of late however, we find ourselves constantly on the defensive rather than playing offense against the corporate interests of the Wasatch.

Below is a summary of what we perceive to be a war waged on the remaining undeveloped areas of the Wasatch Range, projects that threaten the very wildness and beauty which we seek, and have sought to preserve for the last 40 years.

The Canyons - Solitude Interconnect

Pitched as a so-called "transportation lift" this proposal has not been formally launched, but in discussions with those at Talisker, parent company of the Canyons, it is supposed to be coming down the pipe in a few weeks. So far, we know that the proposal includes tram, lift or gondola that will leave Canyons Resort near the Daybreak lift, where it will deliver patrons to the lower (western) entrance of Solitude Mountain Resort. Capacity of the system is said to deliver approximately 400 people per hour, not stop at the ridgelines and take less than 10 minutes for the 3 or so mile journey. 
At this point,  we have heard Canyons officials say this is a great thing because a) it will reduce the amount of cars in Big Cottonwood Canyon, b) make Park City the main point of access for the Cottonwood Canyons and c) it will protect backcountry terrain.

It is unclear to us how running a lift will reduce cars in Big Cottonwood. First, this system works both ways and for many in the Salt Lake Valley, it is easier/closer to drive to the Cottonwoods than Park City. How will this not increase traffic in Big Cottonwood for those wanting to get to Park City? Second, traffic studies have shown that summer time traffic counts are the same as winter time traffic counts. The difference is that in the summer time, people aren't all competing for "first chair" on a powder day. Third, you have to ride 4 lifts at the Canyons in order to get on the proposed interconnect, taking at least an additional hour or two before you are on your way to Solitude. Moreover, you would have to buy a lift pass to the Canyons to ride this "transportation solution," so it seems like more of a ruse to sell lift tickets than to provide a viable transit option.  Last, Park City, often referred to as "No Park City" has its own set of transportation issues, so all of this hinges on you even being able to find a spot. You could ride the new UTA line to Park City, but at that point, why wouldn't you just ride one of the Cottonwood Ski buses?

As for protecting backcountry terrain, the Canyons already proved their sensitivity towards the backcountry community by constructing the 9990 lift which has a number of resort skiers coming over the ridgeline. Now they are proposing to give those people a ride back over the ridge. While this lift does not stop on the ridge and let people off, it does put a number of towers in an otherwise pristine area and will change the wild character of this popular destination in the canyon. These are only a few of the issues at this point based on discussions, we will update and provide more comment once the project has been formally proposed. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Snowbird Expansion and Amusement Park 

It is no secret that Snowbird and SOC have been on opposite sides of the issue. This is not always the case, for instance, we remained silent while they bored a hole beneath Hidden Peak, didn't raise a fuss with the alpine slide or zipline, and have worked with them to protect Flagstaff Mountain from resort expansion proposed by Alta. For a few years, things seemed to be going along swimmingly with Snowbird Resort and then things... derailed. In January of 2011, Snowbird hired a consultant who sits on the Salt Lake County Planning Commission, coincidentally the same body to whom they had to go before to ask for waivers and conditional use permits to construct a rollercoaster on Mount Superior. Despite public opposition and pointed comments suggesting the coaster could not be built, the commission unanimously approved it. Subsequently, Save Our Canyons felt it our civil duty to appeal this bold misinterpretation of County Land Use Code. After hearings, discussions, and more discussions, the Salt Lake County Board of Adjustment ruled that indeed, the Planning Commission arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally decided a rollercoaster on Mount Superior was allowed by ordinances. Victory in this line of work is often short-lived, as only a few months later, Snowbird approached Utah County for the exact same project. Though this time,  they figured they should change the ordinances first. Just last week, the Utah County Planning Commission approved the ordinance, although much improved from what Snowbird was initially vying for. Still, it could use some work and we plan to closely monitor the progress of this ordinance change to Utah County's most environmentally restrictive zone. Click here for more info on this project.

Simultaneously, Snowbird is also seeking permission from the US Forest Service to spread its wings onto adjacent public lands, the American Fork Twin Peaks. While as part of our Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Matheson, a similar expansion could take place, that process does a few things that Snowbird is trying to usurp with this US Forest Service application. One is that under the Wilderness Legislation, over 26,000 acres of the Wasatch Mountains above the Salt Lake Valley would be permanently protected. Another is that Flagstaff Mountain, which is threatened with Resort expansion by Alta Ski Lifts, would also be permanently protected by this legislation. Last, but not least, White Pine Canyon would be protected from resort skiers coming off the top of the new lift built to the American Fork Twin Peaks. While the tram to the Twins was a hard pill for us to swallow, we agreed in the spirit of compromise and the greater good of the Wilderness legislation. However, under Snowbird's Master Development Plan, it is unclear that any of these controls would be put in place despite the efforts and compromises of many, many stakeholders. This is just one of the many projects proposed by Snowbird to the US Forest Service, who is currently undergoing phase 1 of 2 in the Forest Service Process. Read our comments and more here.
 

Salt Lake County's Unfounded Ordinance Changes for Ski Resorts

Sometimes, when you win, you lose. As mentioned above in the saga at Snowbird, Save Our Canyons prevailed in defeating the roller-coaster in Salt Lake County. About the same time as the Utah County ordinance changes were coming about, Salt Lake County was also brewing up a plan to help resorts have their way with the Wasatch. A surprise ordinance change was found on Sept. 6, 2011 as it was leaked to SOC. The proposed changes: every single criteria used to stop the roller-coaster at Snowbird is on the chopping block. In so many words the changes say, "We are the Ski Resorts, we can do what we please in the Wasatch. We are exempt from land use ordinances." Are these changes warranted? Maybe so, but certainly not in the manner which Salt Lake County is doing so without having a public process. Ok, maybe they have some hearings, but later this year or next they plan to revise other areas of the ordinance by holding public open houses and redoing master plans. So what does this say? We will give the resorts what they want, the rest of you have to fight over the scraps.  All this in spite of the completion of the Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow Report in which the public says, "No more expansion of the ski resorts outside their current configuration (94% Support)," "Asking Salt Lake County to simply enforce existing regulations or Strengthen land use regulations (96% Support)." Doesn't seem like they have a lot of support from the public, but they are going to do it anyhow. 

Alta 

Rumor is that they are putting a lift up Grizzly Gulch. More info when it is available.

Cherry Creek

The threat from a local developer to join Utah's ski industry persist.  Logan Checkett's is pushing for approval for a ski resort base area including four ski lifts (top elevation 7,000 feet), a terrain park, a zip line, three water storage reservoirs, and one cable tow for tubing hill to operate on 203 acres accesses via a road that fragments a Utah Department of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Management Area.  The project was stalled late last year after much opposition from the public and the Division of Wildlife Resources.  Just recently the Cherry Creek Ski Resort went before the Cache County Planning Commission and they are taking some additional time to consider the Conditional Use Permit for the proposed resort.  As we work to continue to protect this wonderful place from a ski resort it is also critical that you send in your comments and concerns in on this matter.  Comments need to be submitted before the Planning Commission meeting.  We will update this information as soon we have information available.  Please direct  your comments on the Cherry Creek Ski Resort Proposal to
Chris Harrild at Chris.Harrild@cachecounty.org    
Read the Cherry Creek Resort Master Plan proposal.