NWSCC - Northwest Ski Club Council

NWSA NEWS
SUCCESS STORIES

Mt. Hood Meadows

Mt. Hood Meadows has added its first new lift since 2005. Stadium (known as “Yellow”), one of Meadows’ original lifts, has been replaced with a new generation Poma high speed detachable quad. The new lift is a significant upgrade - increasing maximum uphill capacity from 1,200 people per hour to 2,000 per hour. The new lift will be more stable in high winds and will run at maximum capacity more often.

The bottom terminal is much closer to the lodge. The top terminal is now on the ridge near the top of Heather lift, which significantly improves access to the North side areas, including Heather Canyon, Shooting Star, and Hood River Meadows. The lift also may join Mt. Hood Express for night operations so evening riders will have two high speed quads, maximizing their night riding experience. The lift will also provide improved service to racers on the Stadium courses.

According to Mt. Hood Meadows CEO Matthew Drake, “A significant element of this project is the restoration of the wetland complex at the base of Blue chair over to the bottom of Mt. Hood Express and continuing to the base of Stadium. This project will restore approximately 1.5 acres of wetland within our area.”

For more details, see the Mt. Hood Meadows web site, located here.

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Stevens Pass

After six years of design, process, and public involvement, the Stevens Pass Bike Park is a reality. In partnership with Gravity Logic, construction has been pushing seven days a week, ushering in a new era of year-round operation at Stevens Pass. Stevens Pass Resort will reopen its bike park this spring as soon the melting snow allows, and will operate as long as the fall weather allows. A big "thank you" goes out to all the Drop In Alliance members who made the bike park a reality!"

For more details, see the Stevens Pass web site, located here.

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Mt. Ashland

The Mt. Ashland Association is pleased with the decision of the U.S. Forest Service allowing the ski area to proceed with planned improvements. The Forest Service exhaustively studied the few issues upon which the Federal Court of Appeals ruling required further evaluation and concluded there would be no adverse impact upon the Ashland Watershed. Mt. Ashland will proceed with improvements pursuant to the requirements of the Forest Service. The planned improvements will include the following:

The construction of two chairlifts, two surface lifts, and approximately 71 acres of associated new ski run terrain primarily within the western half of the Special Use Permit area (the Middle Fork area), including widening of existing runs.
Approximately 4 acres of clearing for lift corridors, helispot, and staging areas.
A 4-acre tubing facility in the southern portion of the Special Use Permit area; three guest services buildings and a yurt; additional night lighting; additional maintenance access road segments; additional power, water and sewer lines; a water storage tank, an additional snow fence and an increase in parking by 220 spaces.
Watershed restoration projects including structural storm water control and non-structural controls, such as the placement of large and small woody material.

For more details, see the Mount Ashland web site, located here.

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White Pass Expansion

After years of environmental analysis, White Pass has completed construction of chairlifts in the Basin adjacent to the ski area.

The following was unveiled to the public in time for the start of the 2010-2011 ski season:

Chairlift 5 is a fixed grip quad chairlift – approximately 3,700 feet in length – with a top terminal elevation of 6,220'. Chairlift 5 will feature five ski trails, a mid-mountain lodge access trail, an access trail from the existing Holiday ski trail, and an egress trail to the existing Quail ski trail.
Chairlift 6 is a detachable quad chairlift – approximately 4,200 feet in length – with a top terminal elevation of 6,550'. Chairlift 6 will feature eight ski trails and an egress trail to the mid-mountain lodge and existing Quail ski trail.
Skiable Terrain will be accessible on developed and undeveloped trails. These pistes are in a sub-alpine area with myriad openings in the vegetative cover (which means the ski area operators have had to do very little tree removal and almost no ground disturbance).
Mid-Mountain Lodge is located on a slight ridgeline between chairlifts 5 and 6. This structure is a critical component in the development of this Basin, and will allow guests to enjoy the new upper chairlifts without returning to the base area for services. The structure will have two levels and will offer the guests tremendous vistas.

(Click map to learn more)

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Stevens Pass Receives Approval
for Lift-Served Bike Trails

Stevens Pass asked the Forest Service for permission to build lift-served downhill mountain bike trails. This request has recently been approved.

"The Forest Service has approved Phase 1 of the 2007 Master Development Plan for Stevens Pass Ski Area. The project includes the construction and operation of lift served downhill mountain bike trails and associated skill development parks. A replacement water treatment system is also approved.

"The cover letter and the Decision Notice including the Finding of No Significant Impact and a response to public comments is posted online here. These documents describe in detail the decision and rationale including various required mitigation measures."

See also the discussion on the Stevens Pass web site, located here.

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Ski Areas Involved

The following ski areas are participants in the Northwest Snowsports Advocates project:

• Cooper Spur	• Crystal Mountain
• 49º North Mountain Resort	• Mt. Ashland
• Mt. Hood Meadows	• Ski Anthony Lakes
• Stevens Pass Resort	• The Summit at Snoqualmie
• Timberline Ski Area	• White Pass Ski Area

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Overview

In September of 2003, Northwest Ski Club Council formed a new on-line organization called Northwest Snowsports Advocates. The purpose of NWSA is to inform and engage Northwest skiers on public issues related to ski area development, the environment, safety, and highway planning.

The NWSA activities and communiques, including details on the development plans at ten Northwest ski areas will be documented on on this website. In addition, find below links to all participating ski areas providing complete summaries and a “call to action” for all skiers to get involved.

Visit the NWSA blog for more info!
Find NWSA on facebook, too!

Your Help is Needed

The USDA Forest Service is moving forward with its forest plan revisions. As the Forest Service considers rewriting the long-term regulations and guidelines for management of public forests and lands, all concerned citizens are urged to stay in contact with both their local forest office and the Region 6 headquarters. The USDA Forest Service needs to hear from the people who recreate on public lands, especially how, where, and when you recreate, and, perhaps more importantly, what future plans you believe the Forest Service should be considering in its land use regulations and guidelines.

When ski area rehabilitation and expansion plans are debated, the collective voice of alpine skiers and snowboarders is barely audible.

As plans are debated, you will hear from the proponent of the ski area project (i.e., ski area management), the agency responsible for ski area permit administration, and the well financed environmental activists who are generally opposed to ski area rehabilitation and expansion projects. At key junctures of ski area expansion deliberations, the positive attributes of winter recreation are rarely discussed. Land use decisions involving ski areas almost always involve law and science, as well as the ongoing implementation of federal and state land management directives. We encourage supporters of ski area projects to actively participate in the decision making process.

Our region’s ski area operations are committed to continual improvement. The operators are happy to provide the Northwest Snowsports Advocates, as well as other groups, with detailed information on the numerous ski area projects that are currently under consideration. With the additional involvement of user groups, the operators expect the policy making process will better reflect the gamut of environmental, social, and economic concerns.

Editorial Note

There are always many sides to any environmental issue, something well understood by NWSCC. Our P.I.E. program is a comprehensive approach to snow sport education and safety awareness. The "E" in P.I.E. stands for Ecological.

We encourage everyone not only to think ecologically, but to act towards their environment ecologically as well. How that is defined in practice is key. NWSA and the ski areas understand the challenges in bringing us our treasured winter ski recreation, while at the same time making sure our equally treasured environment is protected. The hard work of NWSA and our partners is key to maintaining the beautiful recreational areas we sometimes take for granted.

We encourage all NWSCC members to support development of recreational lands in as ecological a manner as possible. Not an easy task, but one we all must promote.