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Show Page 4 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VII Issue IV December 1, 2002 Nature Writer Discusses Powder Mountain Options Join the Fun in By Arrin Brunson, staff writer for the “Herald Journal” The conversation naturally turned to the subject of the development of Powder Mountain when Stephen Trimble, award winning naturalist, writer and photographer from Salt Lake City, spoke at Utah State University Thursday night. As part of the Natural Resource and Environmental Policy Program series, Trimble read from “Becoming Earl: Landscape, Community and Honor in the American West,” his book about billionaire land developer Earl Holding’s efforts to expand the Snowbasin ski area. Trimble said that Holding is the 14th largest landowner in the country. Trimble added that Holding is the biggest landowner in Wyoming and Montana, and he owns more land in downtown Salt Lake City than anyone except the LDS Church. It took Holding more than a dozen years to pull off the controversial land exchange on Mount Ogden, Trimble explained. When the democratic process failed, Trimble turned to Senator Orrin Hatch and Congressman Jim Hansen, who in turn facilitated the exchange of public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service with new legislation. A member of the audience asked Trimble what could be done to protect public lands around Powder Mountain from the same demise, since developer Brent Ferrin wants to expand that ski resort area. Trimble’s own manifesto offers many suggestions. He explained that public lands make up 65 percent of the state of Utah, and far more of the rural West than private lands. This is a positive thing, Trimble said, and should be maintained. “Keep public lands public into perpetuity,” he said. “Restraint is visionary and properly conservative. Public lands belong to all citizens.” Giving these assets to private individuals often creates uncontrolled development, diminishes democracy, bypasses planning and zoning agreements, and forecloses public options for the future, Trimble said. “Take as much power as possible away from politicians and the corporate elite,” he said. “They do not have the best interests of the land and the citizens in mind.” A general masterplan is the key to the future of each western landscape, he said. Collaborative groups organized across county boundaries can create watershed space master plans, specifically for addressing development versus open space issues, laying out the vision for what each community wants to look like. When making decisions about development, Trimble said involving too many people is always better than leaving someone out. “Strive to delay major development until master plans are in place,” he said. “Rapid unplanned growth does little to preserve local culture and natural landscape.” These are the things that draw newcomers to a place and hold oldtimers there, Trimble said. “Keep development close to existing towns. This invigorates local economies and preserves the rural character of farm and ranch country.” On public lands, he said, roads and offroad vehicle use, not people, pose an enormous threat to surviving wildlife. “Design a system of roads and trails for ATV use, (and) budget funds for enforcement and education,” Trimble said. “Keep talking, no matter what. Keep listening, no matter what. Depoliticize the issues and authority. Tap regional and national resources for ideas and models. “Start the conversation before [a] local crisis, before lines are drawn. Share information, frustrations, dreams, anger and joy. Stomp along the riverbank together, work together, cook and eat together, tell stories together,” he said. “Work through conflict on common ground. It is a remarkable place this West of ours. We’re not yet too old, or too greedy or too cynical to take wise action.” Note: This copyrighted article from the Deseret News is being reprinted by permission. POWDER cont. from page 1 to see substantial progress before investing money for the purchase of land,” said David Witherspoon, member of the board for Save Our Canyons, a Salt Lake environmental group. The process for even rezoning the combined 8,000 acres has been a long one and raised many doubts from county leaders, especially in Weber. The only access to Powder Mountain is through Ogden Canyon, which leaves emergency services up to Weber County. Most utility services, too. The nearest water is Pine View Reservoir. The closest towns are all in Weber County, the closest one being Eden, which logically means electricity and sewer services would have to come from Weber. The rezone in Cache County will remain, but as for other aspects of the project, Powder Mountain is at a standstill. Note: This copyrighted article from the Deseret News is being reprinted by permission. Writings & Musings of A Valley Native 30% OFF retail to all Valley residents. Call (801) 370-1000 to place you order. My Weber High classmates get a free copy. Women’s Ski Clinics By Terry Murphy, Ski Instructor Ladies, lets ditch the guys and go skiing! Are you looking to polish up your skills, or just tired of waiting for the guys? Well, why not join your other fellow gender members and check out the women’s only ski clinics at Snowbasin, a Sun Valley Resort. Perfect your technique, rip it up, bond with the girls, and then go back and show-off to your friends. The Snowbasin Ski School offers a threeday, women-only ski clinic. Beginning skiers will learn improved skier stance and turn shape, and gain more confidence on varying terrain. Intermediate skiers will concentrate on their short, medium, and long turn shapes, as well as master the intermediate terrain. Advanced skiers will improve turn shape on steeper terrain and work off piste (ungroomed trails, in bounds). The clinic meets on Wednesdays (January 8, 15, and 22; or February 5, 12, and 19) or Fridays (January 10, 17 and 24; or February 7, 14 and 21). The cost for non-season pass holders is $299.00. This includes three full days of lessons and three all-area lift tickets. Season pass holders pay only $169.00 for three full days of lessons. Call 801-620-1016 to reserve your space. If you need child care, ask about our children’s programs. Intermediate Ski Tip The local ski instructors at Snowbasin are anxious to see you on the slopes again. Until that time, here is a tip to polish up your parallel turns by focusing on the single most important factor in modern turning: weight shift. When you turn, you have to shift your body weight onto the outside ski, which is the ski that is on the outside of the arc of your turn. This is just as true for the new shaped skis as for straighter, classic skis. But there’s another, more effective way to think about this crucial move. At the start of your turn or, even better, a split second before you turn, take all your weight off the ski that will soon be on the inside of your turn. For example, if you want to turn right, take all your weight off your right ski. Taking weight off one ski is the same thing as transferring your weight to the other ski. If you are skiing across the hill and want to turn down the mountain, take all your weight off your downhill ski. That’s the ski that will be on the inside of the arc of your turn. How do you do this? The easiest way is to gently pull the heel of your foot slightly off the snow. Remember, pull up on your right heel to start a turn to the right, pull up on your left heel to initiate a turn to the left. If you concentrate on raising your heel-just a tad, you should stay in perfect balance. If you lift the whole foot or, worse, the toe, you may lose your balance backward. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Hosts Essay Contests The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS staff is seeking entries for their monthly essay contests. One winning entry will be chosen each month, and printed in the paper. The winning entrant will also receive a $20.00 gift certificate from wisebird of eden. Students of all ages are especially encouraged to participate. The selected essay themes for the following months are as follows: December: A New Year—A New Beginning January: Love Means More than Just a Pretty Valentine All entries will become the property of the OGDEN VALLEY NEWS, and will not be returned. All entries must be typed or computer written in 12 pt., Times New Roman font style. The essay should not exceed 400 words. All entries must be mailed and postmarked by no later than the 20th of each month. Mail your type written entry to: OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 |