Backcountry Beacon

Remember our article about Alta’s recently hoped-for expansion plans?

Well, there have been some interesting ski-world developments here in the Mothership (an affectionate outsider’s term for our salty state, Utah).

Apparently local government wasn’t too keen on the idea of Alta (and Wasatch-neighbor Solitude Ski Resort) expanding into Salt Lake City’s watershed areas because under UT congressman Jim Matheson’s Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act (HR5009), all of Alta and Solitude’s expansion plans got the white-collar “talk to the hand.”

A move to limit ski area expansion by a Democratic congressman in an extremely red state wasn’t all that surprising. However, what is somewhat intriguing is that, while Congressman Matheson’s budding bill puts the wet blanket on Alta and Solitude’s separate plans, Snowbird Ski Resort’s Dick Bass and Bob Bonar (yeah, completely real names of Snowbird owner and president, respectively) are making out like Mav and Goose after Cougar turned in his wings. Apparently, Snowbird offered a land-swap deal that traded land in watershed areas (right next door to where Alta and Solitude wanted to expand, believe it or not) for a swath in the Mary Ellen Gulch area (not watershed)—thereby allowing Snowbird to win where the other Cottonwood Canyon competition failed in their expansion attempts.

The result? Well, it looks like the ‘Bird has some big plans—including a new tram, night skiing, and expansion into an entirely new canyon (780 acres of it). This is huge news for the Wasatch. You want more intrigue? OK. Since Mary Ellen Gulch (where Snowbird plans to expand) runs right into the currently unpaved section of the American Fork Canyon Road, I can’t help but speculate that Snowbird has its eyes on an eventual second entry point from Utah County (to the south) to relieve pressure from the sole, often-closed, avalanche-prone, high-traffic, two-lane entrance via SR 210 in Salt Lake County.

All that said, reactions to the news have been mixed. Snowbird is expanding, but at least the area doesn’t affect watershed nor is it a frequented touring locale (relative term, of course) for non-paying, non-lift-riding locals. And like Wasatch powder in April, stoke and hate from disparate snow-going groups have precipitated, creating priceless off-season conversation fodder.

Snowbird’s plans are still in the proposal stages, and a lot can happen between the present and the pouring of concrete for new tram towers, so we’ll keep you posted. Ain’t it exciting?

Related Posts:

• Confessions of a Snow Snob
• Zen and the Art of Managing Powder Panic
• The Ski Area Formerly Known as Elk Meadows Opens Next Week

Tags: environment, resorts, skiing, wasatch mountains