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Show LETTERS White Pine Alternative Proposed access to local canyons for alpine skiing only, the ski corporations have taken an unidirectional approach to recreational sports and limited limi-ted the use of these mountains to a select group of individuals. There is a growing interest in crosscountry cross-country skiing; many eastern and mid-western states have already provided both alpine and cross-country facilities and have found it to be very successful. I have listed below some reasons why 1 feel an alternative development plan is necessary and some alternative plans to consider. Neither of these lists are complete, and the argue-ments argue-ments for and against sue;: an alternative are endless. encourage eae'i individual 10 question these ideai. discuss them with ou.r friends and neighbors, and voice vou.-('pimon vou.-('pimon to the Park Cttv Sk:. Corporation i vol third, thei e is a need ier tnts typ oi alternative olae . SO Mb REASONS FOP. ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT DEVEL-OPMENT OF THE WHITE PINE CANYON BY THE PARK CITY SKI CORPORATION CORPORA-TION 1 . There is a need to offer a diversity of recreational sports and sports facilities to meet the needs of the public and to create a balanced community. 2. There is presently a large number of alpine ('downhill') ski resorts in Park City and in the Salt Lake region. 3. The continued growth of these ski areas results in a direct loss of prime local back-country ski areas. This expansion means a loss of recreational areas for those participants of cross-country skiing, sno-mobiling, and helicopter skiing. 4. Commercial "development of land should allow for progressive actions in growth rather than creating irreversible actions of the environment. These reasons are discussed dis-cussed below: There is a need for diversity in our lifestyles; variation in work and in play. It is in the best interest for the community com-munity of Park City to plan to develop a community that is whole and complete; striving to meet the balances required re-quired in any natural system. A well-rounded ski resort will appeal to more people and satisfy some needs not met by the alpine slopes. The development of a cross-coumrv sfe resort is justified first by noticing tnc amount of alpine resorts compared . cross-countrv resorts in town. d:0. Does the begin rung cross - cou n ; rv skiier want to cine to ito. Lower Uinta to find nis firs: road oi canyon to taie. a tour? Or cines tin- visum,!, skiier know where X-C trails are located? The loss of local back-country lerrain in Parr. City proper is a result of unbalanced growth within the community. This unidirectional uni-directional planning is indicated indi-cated by the ski corporations providing solely aipine facilities. facil-ities. How many alpine skiiers or non-skiiers would try the experience of a cross-country resort? Some people might find the variety of activities to be stimulating and offer them another avenue to winter sports. For example, in my experience exper-ience in teaching crosscountry cross-country skiing at ski resorts, I have found that many women and elderly couples Please turn to page 8A Dear Editor: k I am writing to express my opinion about the proposed development of White Pine Canyon by the Park City Ski Corporation and to encourage encour-age the citizens of Park City to do likewise. First, I will state my connections with Park City, then I will state my reasons to consider alternative development of the canyon, and lastly, I will suggest an alternative plan for this development which I would like the community and the Park City Ski Corporation to consider. 1 lived and worked in Park City from 1 ST6 to 1978. a short-time transient, like man;, others. 1 have returned many times to tow n and seen the growth of the community, communi-ty, the expansion of ski areas, and the influx of people making Park City tbeir new horn This growth of Pari. Citv a ib obvious!-comtmie obvious!-comtmie for a lone time . Park Cn holds iona memo: -ics for me: friendly peopie m town that are always willing i o 1 e n d a h e I p i n g h a n d . skiing on sunny days in the back-country or on the slopes, and endless hours of throwing pottery at the Kimball Art Center. I was fortunate to live up White Pine Canyon and enjoyed the daily cross-country ski into our house, rented by Mary Lehmer. I grew to love White Pine Canyon and felt it was an extension of my home. I felt lucky that the townfolk had such close access to a canyon that was barely touched by man's hands or machines. Each time I returned to visit friends in town, and see the new growth as well, I was unconsciously glad that White Pine remained unchanged. un-changed. Recently, I have read articles from the L.A. Times indicating the possibility of expansion of the Park City ski resort into the canyon. The thought of this kind of development grieves me for I know that the growth of the community will not stop. It is not my intention to promote preservation of this canyon, for I would be fighting a loosing battle. Instead, I am suggesting that the Park City Ski Corporation and the Lehmer family consider developing a cross-country ski resort as an alternative to development. I enjoy alpine skiing but advocate a balanced bal-anced community which offers a variety of recreational recreation-al opportunities. I feel a cross-country ski area could be developed and add to the diversity of the town rather than continued expansion of the ski lifts. By closing-off MORE LETTERS and decorated their storefronts store-fronts for the occasion. You were terrific! Thanks Park City! It was another one of those wild and wonderful events that proves there is just no place in the world that knows how to have as much fun as Park City! Sincerely, TINA LEWIS general public is served and a variety of activities are easity accessible. Personally, I am not in favor of promoting development of White Pine Canyon, but see it coming anyway. Therefore, There-fore, my suggestion to the locals of Park City is to question the Park City Ski Corporation, question your own motives, and ask yourself your-self how you want Park City to grow and how you perceive its future. I do not want to see White Pine Canyon full of chairlifts and alpine runs; therefore, at worst or at best, I suggest this alternative of developing a cross-country ski area to minimize the environmental impact and increase the diversity of ski facilities in Park City. Sincerely, JILL A. TIPTON Continued from Page 2A try cross-country skiing. Their reasons are to avoid going too fast or getting hurt; they like to get outside and relax w ithout pressure of being a 'good' skiicr who 'goes for it'. I once instructed instruc-ted a man of about 70-years who had a heart fibrillation; he could not alpine ski but was able to cross-county ski at his own pace. There are many reasons why people choose to cross-country ski and interest in the sport in rapidly growing. Another reason to not develop White Pine Canyon inu .'in alpine ski area is to keep some back-country areas open for helicopter and backcountry X-C skiing. The cost of heli-skiing in the Wasatch Range would be less than flying to the Uintas and would be available to more people. What do the heli-ski businesses think about the expansion of the resort? How does this effect their businesses? Finally, the development of White Pine Canyon to an alpine area is an irreversible act. Once ski runs are cut, chairlifts built, and housing and lodging built, it is viitually impossible to alter the area for whatever reasons. rea-sons. However, should a cross-country resort be built, the impact in the area would be relatively less. If the demand for an alpine ski area became greater than for a diverse ski community, then it would be possible to expand the X-C resort without a great deal of loss into an alpine area. The reasons to consider possible alternatives to the development of White Pine Canyon have been discussed. dis-cussed. In this section I suggest another approach to i lie expansion cf the Park Citv ski resort. Certainly not all possibilities are mentioned: men-tioned: rather, the list is brief and I recommend the discussion of the need for a recreat tonally-balanced community com-munity and the possibilities possibili-ties available to reach this type of goal. SOME POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES ALTER-NATIVES TO THE DEVELOPMENT DEVEL-OPMENT OF WHITE PINE CANYON A. Cross-Country Ski Resort: This plan includes the development of a complete cross-country ski area. 1. Ski Trails: These trails may be located throughout the canyon, offering a variety of terrain for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced skier. They would be thoroughly maintained and groomed daily. 2. Undeveloped Back Bowls: These high bowls located in White Pine and adjacent canyons would be kept untouched for continued helicopter skiino and for expert downhill X-C skiers. Avalanche control would be provided, as it has been in the past by the heli-ski companies. Thus, excluding the possibility of total elimination elimi-nation of heli-skiing in the Park City area. 3. Nordic Ski Patrol and Avalance Control: The services ser-vices of a ski patrol in this ski area is necessary and should be provided for by the ski corporation. The work force may be low, however, as cross-country injuries are less frequent than alpine injuries. 4. Cross-Country Ski Program: Pro-gram: a. Instruction: Lessons made available by qualified instructors for all levels of cross-country skiingflat-track, skiingflat-track, racing, downhill-tele-marking. Also classes in avalanche awareness and instruction in-struction on avalanche search and rescue techniques should be considered. Ski clinics could be offered on racing and back-country travel. Teaching X-C has unlimited possibilities; community-oriented projects, pro-jects, such as lessons for the blind, and handicapped, and school classes offers a personal touch of sensitivity much needed in a growing community. b. Equipment: A complete ski shop would offer ski gear, rentals and repair work. 5. Lodging: A small lodge offering privacy' along with fine service, gourmet dining, and excellent entertainment is more desirable than numberous accomodations to achieve a low-impact ski area. Additional sports facilities faci-lities might still be considered, consi-dered, such as a health spa. racketball or tennis courts, and could be used year-round. year-round. 6. Hut System: A rustic hut system could be developed, offering an alternative lodging lodg-ing system. These low-maintenance buildings could offer hostel facilities, i.e. room and board, along a route that an experienced cross-country skier could travel. Guide services could be provided for tourists interested in exploring the less-developed parts of the Wasatch Range. B. Summer Use: The development devel-opment of White Pine Canyon could be extended for a year-round use with the emphasis on low-impact recreational sports. Trails could be used for jogging, biking, roller skating or roller skiing. Lodge facilities could be used for ski team camps, programs for the blind, deaf and dumb, the handicapped, as well as for private conventions. In summary, the development develop-ment of White Pine Canyon could be approached in a number of different ways. The creation of a luxurious resort could still be attained, if so desired, with minimal impact and the addition of diversified recreational facilities. facil-ities. In this way, more of the Hollingsworth. Doris Thaller and Pat Graddick. The Fire Department vehicles ve-hicles added much to the festivities. Herb Johnson, Carol Querry, Jim Santy, Jeff Birrenkott, Bruce Bar-call Bar-call and Chief Davis Sund-quist Sund-quist gave their time along with many more. Gary Vetterli brought all of his junior firefighters, too. Dave Bates from Wanship is always generous with his time and talents and came through with two wonderful horse-drawn wagons. Thanks to Dave, Jack Shurman, and the Silver Creek String Band along with Johnny Mitchell and his son who helped with the wagons. Special thanks to Dave's son, Daniel, the most gifted yound fiddle player in the state! The Giant Chicken, Penguin Pen-guin and Snow Bunny wish to remain annonymous, but I want to thank these three prominent real estate salesmen sales-men and developers for being truly outrageous! We had a great group of clowns parading up Main Street, including Cameron and Adam Symonds, Randy and Jennie Poison, Suzette and Chad Ahrendt, Sue Hillman, Noe Zavala, Don "Groucho" Gomes, Patsy Droubay, Susan Jarman and the famous, "Elliott." Thanks to you all and to the others we couldn't recognize behind their makeup! It just wouldn't be a parade without Billy Koleman and the adorable children from her Raggety Ann and Andy Pre-School. Thanks Billy! The City's bombardier snowplow was a big hit driven by Wayne Putman with help from Angela and Stephanie Johnston. Boyd Putman was the "monster" on top. Thanks to all! The gorgeous men of the Park City Rugby Team get the prize for being the most popular with the crowd. They played "God Bless America" Ameri-ca" on kazoos while marching march-ing up the street on skis! Thanks to our young banner-holders, members of the Park City Ski Team (future U.S, Ski Team champs!) organized by Marcie Tebbs and Park City soccer teams organized by Bruce Henderson Hender-son and Annie Bowman. Ernie's Night Riders were wonderful, as usual, and we appreciate their participation. participa-tion. Diane Ryder was cute as can be with her hoola hoop and Susan Gasser, Miss Utah 1982, added grace and glamour. Dan Baxter and the Salt Lake Scotts, Ted Shupe and his Pee Wee Pickers and Horst Fidel and his Bavarian Band all came from far away to add delightful music to the parade. And, finally, thanks to all of the great Main Street merchants mer-chants who washed windows Ski Team Parade Thanks Dear Editor: The OsmondU.S. Ski Team Celebrity Parade was a sensational success because of the outstanding participation participa-tion of many Park City groups and individuals. We started at six o'clock in the morning blowing up 5,000 balloons! Thanks to Katherine Janka, Sue Hill-man, Hill-man, Suzette Ahrendt, Judy MacMahon, Jim Kennicott, Bryan Gardner, Dolly Mak-off, Mak-off, Teri Gomes, Valerie Davis, Bob and Gloria Johnston and all the others who were recruited at the last minute. I hope your fingers have thawed out by now ! The Park City Police and Public Works Departments deserve lots of praise for their efficiency and corporation. corpora-tion. Special thanks go to Jim Holcomb, Bob Johnston, Frank Bell and Joe Offret. Beginning the parade in regal style, we were honored to have Glade Peterson, star of the Utah Opera Company, with his famous horse, "Popeye," as the leader and flagbearer. Pat Korogi found the flag and gave encouragement encourage-ment with humor for which I am grateful. The Park City High School cheerleaders ' added lots of pizzazz and came through at the last minute looking lovely. We were lucky to have beautiful, open cars for celebrities to ride in. Thank you Pat and Mike Barnes for the use of your Mercedes and Bruce Barnes for driving it. Thanks to Jim Lynn for his fantastic Rolls Royce and Max Vierig for the Model T and the terrific clown get-up. There were also three official ski team cars driven bv Jodv |