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Show FEBRUARY CANYON 1997 REPORT Alta Ski Plan: Is It Bad for the Environment? lta is the second-oldest ski resort in the west and perhaps the most profitable. Historically operating in the black, owners of Alta Ski Lifts want to make some changes that a local group say will damage forever the topography and fragile ecology of Albion Basin Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon is a treasure not only for skiers but for summer hikers and picnickers. Known for its deep, deep powder snow and steep ridges, Albion Basin on a good day is as close to heaven as a powder skier can get. By contrast, in late June and early July, the basin blossoms in an artist’s palate of wildflowers that is so breathtaking as to be hypnotic. For the most. part, Little Cottonwood Canyon, as well as Albion Basin is federal land, situated in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Among other things, that means the US Forest Service must give approval for new ski runs, lifts and buildings. But in the 1990s, the Forest Service has been bulldozed by prevailing politics led by Utah’s Rep. Jim Hansen and Sen. Orrin Hatch, seeking more profits for private interests on public lands environmental Last fall, a draft impact statement was completed for the proposed changes at Alta, which include aWonhy PCarel ead replacing Watson's Shelter, a popular and aging day lodge halfway up the mountain, and some ski patrol shacks. But those improvements are not what the Save Our Canyons group objects to. The proposal also details blasting and bulldozing in Albion Basin in order to smooth out terrain on the Devil’s Elbow and Rollercoaster runs accessed by the Sugarloaf Lift. Also outlined are proposals to fill in portions of the upper reaches of Littke Cottonwood Creek and the cutting of 96 mature fir trees to make way for a realignment of the Sunnyside Lift. All these things would contribute to a good experience for beginning and intermediate skiers — Utah’s tourist as opposed to local skiers. market Among those calling foul for Save Our Canyons is Gayle Dick who objects strongly to what he terms would be irreparable damage to Albion Basin Pointing to another Alta Ski Lifts blasting and bulldozing project near Albion’s Cecret Lake in 1992, Dick says the new proposal is very disturbing. The glacially-polished granite, formed over eons, should not be blasted to widen ski runs, Dick says. Trees and wildflowers at 8,000 and 9,000 feet elevation will be slow to recover once disturbed, he added. RNa re ee CSU ine Volleyball Racquetball i Fitness PYG) (ey soni Call 645-5100 1200 Try Aerobics Little = Kate Swimming Dra SUT Volleyball Catch THE Action! Training and exhibitions by U.S. Nordic and Freestyle jumpers. to play! Road Volleyball LEARN To Soar! Fly from our 18 and 38 meter jumps, Thursday-Sunday, just $20. Children Ce EA > Be under 12 ($8) and 13-17 ($12). <A iN AD Z eaAL was a fore- eat | ES Good thru February 1997 of the proposal gone conclusion, Sieg said the Forest Service is not under any pressure or obligation to allow Alta to make changes in its terrain. “We're not responsible for a ski area’s economic survival,” he said. But for his part, Dick says such comparisons between proposed Continued on page 7 stuudy, = Short on words, long on fun! Racquetball approval SOTA Smashes. Splashes. Dunks. Dives. Kicks. Jumps. Volleys. Follies. Bring this ad in and receive $1.00 off on Aerobics, Pool, Jacuzzi, or Gym play And Harmer explained that placing rocks in some of the stream beds would add support for snow when skiing across drainages. He explained, however, that the project would not significantly interrupt water flows. There may be some middleground in the dispute. Mike Sieg, district ranger for the Wasatch-Cache, says an alternative plan would selectively remove granite from the hillside without a lot of blasting and bulldozing. “There is no comparison between this and what was done in ‘92,” Sieg said, noting that Save Our Canyons had nothing to say about that project five years ago. “We're always concerned with environmental impacts,” the district ranger said. “But when you look at the project they’re proposing versus what some of the other ski restorts do, it’s quite minimal.” Responding to Dick’s claim that the TUIULUING Bite etree ete : $ 100 OFF COUPON: “They flatened and blasted an enormous amount of rock there. What used to be a cat track 25-feet wide is now 100 feet. It is just blasted rubble, nothing will grow there and it is beginning to cause erosion,” he said of the ‘92 project. But Russ Harmer, assistant general manager at Alta Ski Lifts, says Save Our Canyons is misrepresenting the proposal. “They have overblown the whole topic,” he said. “They wouldn’t even take the time to come out and look at it, after we invited them last spring. Now they want us to hold up the whole project until they can look at it,” Harmer said with a note of irritiation. Alta Ski Lifts wants to take out large outcropings of rock that make skiing difficult in the early season, Harmer explained. “They have raised concerns that it would change the look of Albion . Basin. But we are sensitive about our are concerned that terrain, too. We when we do it, we do it right.” Harmer noted that trees would have to be cut down to realign the Sunnyside Lift but he said the impact wouldn't be great. “It’s a real small percentage of trees,” he said, adding, “We have planted a lot of trees in Albion Basin.” ae 9-7 MONDAY - FRIDAY 10 - 7 SATURDAY, 12 - 6 SUNDAY PARK CITY'S ONLY ORGANIC GROCERY STORE 1270 IRONHORSE DRIVE + 649-4561 Ripe THE TRACK! Take the fast track on a Bobsled WE'VE GROWN or Luge, scheduled to open January 26. For schedule information, call 801/649-5447 STOP BY OUR ORGANIC JUICE BAR. CHECK OUT OUR GREAT PRICES ON 3000 Bear Hollow Dr. (5 miles from Park City via Hwy 224) Day Lodge © Snack Bar © Ski Shop © Athlete Development Programs © International Training Notional Jumping Competitions © Do the Jump! BRING THIS AD FOR $5 OFF* YOUR NEXT JUMP DURING THE 1997 SEASON. SOY AND RICE MILKS. * Applies to adults 18 and over. PAGE 6 a e |