Snowbird wants to expand into MEG

[Greg]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11056598

Snowbird ski resort is seeking approval to expand into another canyon off its back side and to build a new tram to provide access to it.

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort wants to expand into Mary Ellen Gulch, adjacent to Mineral Basin, and build a tram running from Hidden Peak to the West Twin of American Fork Twin Peaks.

U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Cathy Kahlow says her staff is evaluating the proposal and will decide by early fall whether to accept it.

If accepted, she says, the expansion will require a full-blown environmental impact statement and changes to the Wasatch-Cache-Uinta National Forest plan.

Carl Fisher of Save Our Canyons criticizes what he calls "another ski area expansion where resorts take public lands and give up nothing in return."

I'd imagine they will block access onto the expanded property in Mary Ellen Gulch, much like the Mineral Basin ski area.

 

[rollover]

I think Kurt will have a view on this one for sure.

Any in-site Kurt?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

This has been in the works for a long, long time. Snowbirds owner made a statement in one of the ski magazines nearly 10 years ago that the would have a lift on Miller Hill in the coming years... guess that time is coming. They have been buying old mine claims for years in the area, they own much of Miller Hill, the Globe, the Live Yankee, etc. Hard to say what it means for canyon in general. They have been very gracious to continue to allow travel on Miller Hill through there private property (though there may be some legal R.O.W. access), I'd like to think they will continue to do so up into Mary Ellen Gulch just not right to their lift?

 

[scoutabout]

The same people who oppose OHV use in the canyon will be all in favor of using heavy machinery to install permanent fixtures for use by the ski resort. Hypocritical at the least.

 

[Greg]

Mary Ellen Gulch map, area & trails thread just for more info-

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=49575

 

[scoutabout]

Here's a quicky map I just did to show the private property in relation to the FS boundaries and roads. Zoomed in on the end of the trail, near the top. White is the private property we'll likely lose access to. And I'm sure they'll want a "buffer", so the road will likely be cut back even further like on 007 in Mineral Basin. Those of us very familiar with the area can see what we're losing.

What happened to "no net loss" or "take back utah"?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It would be ideal if we could arrange a meeting with Snowbird up the canyon when the snow melts off completely and see what they have in mind. They have good to work with user groups in the past and allow access where feasible.

 

[Grim]

i would go to that meeting

 

[JL Rockies]

I participated in "Take Back UT" because I don't like Mordor on the Potomac possessing most of the land mass west of Denver and then restricting access to that land from the states it sits in. In fact, the awesome anti-fed vibe here in UT is what attracted me to move here.
I believe capitalism is boss and in this case a company wants to expand to increase revenue... I'm all about that. It's an example of recreational access and the land being put to a revenue-generating use that would bring $ to our economy. We don't know if motorized access will be blocked and so far I don't understand why it violates any "Take Back UT" principles.

 

[Shawn]

I love this comment,

Carl Fisher of Save Our Canyons criticizes what he calls "another ski area expansion where resorts take public lands and give up nothing in return."

Humm.. let see, how can it be public land when Snowbird is purchasing mining claims therefor owning the land on those claims. The claims are out there. If someone has/had a problem with these claims be purchased by a specific company/person they should have bought them first.

Have we forgot about all the tailings cleanup Snowbird has done in mineral basin?

Ski resorts our one of Utah's largest tourist attractions and bring in millions and millions of dollars into our state. Ski resorts have to expand to maintain capabilities and expectations for it's consumers.

If this was being done in an area that we don't wheel in this topic would probably not be addressed on this site. I personally think Snowbird has be very generous by allowing the offroard community to still access the Miller Hill area for the past many years. Do I think this will change? yes, yes I do. Not for the fact that they don't want people on it's property, but I imagine it is for liability reasons and vandalism.

These comments are my own, none of my statements reflect anything on Snowbirds behalf.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...I personally think Snowbird has be very generous by allowing the offroard community to still access the Miller Hill area for the past many years. Do I think this will change? yes, yes I do. Not for the fact that they don't want people on it's property, but I imagine it is for liability reasons and vandalism...

Agreed, they have been generous. However Miller Hill is quite a bit different than Mary Ellen Gulch. In MEG they own 100% of the land that the road is on, and the road terminates on private property so there is no ROW claim. Miller Hill however is slightly different. The road crosses Snowbird property but doesn't terminate on it completely, therefore its protected to some degree by right-of-way access laws. It will be interesting to see how it plays out on both accounts.

 

[JL Rockies]

werd

 

[Shawn]

Agreed, they have been generous. However Miller Hill is quite a bit different than Mary Ellen Gulch. In MEG they own 100% of the land that the road is on, and the road terminates on private property so there is no ROW claim. Miller Hill however is slightly different. The road crosses Snowbird property but doesn't terminate on it completely, therefore its protected to some degree by right-of-way access laws. It will be interesting to see how it plays out on both accounts.

Sorry, getting my MEG and MH mixed up.........

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Sorry, getting my MEG and MH mixed up.........

They are pretty close in fact the lift would likely go from Miller hill into MEG I would assume?

 

[jackjoh]

Bottom line me on this. After hearing all the Redford condemnations and jokes I am reading something else here. I also don't like the $7 sandwiches at snowbird that would seem to exclude people.

 

[Panos]

I think that a company expanding in the current situation of the economy is a good thing. I think bringing more money into this state via tourism is even better; tourists spend money, period! To be honest I am in favor of this expansion. Then again I am an avid skier and would love to ski that other side. And if you don’t like the 7$ sandwiches..Pack a lunch haha.

 

[JL Rockies]

I'm all about excluding peeps but I think skiing is silly.

 

[XJEEPER]

As as avid snowboarder, I like the expansion. As an avid OHVer.......not sure.

I've wheeled the AF Canyon area much more than I snowboard at the Bird, so I'll say losing access to these trails, if they decide to close them, is a huge loss.

 

[scoutabout]

In this situation, my love of capitalism is trumped by my love of 4x4 access.