Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort wants to grow, and owner Dick Bass is thinking big. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Snowbird President Bob Bonar has submitted a proposed master plan amendment to the U.S. Forest Service, seeking approval of a huge resort expansion and ski lift upgrades. Here is Snowbird’s wishlist:
New tram: A second tram would be built that will connect Hidden Peak to the West Peak of American Fork Twin Peaks.
Terrain expansion: New terrain in Mary Ellen Gulch on Snowbird’s back side, adding 780 acres of skiable terrain to Snowbird’s boundaries below Mineral Basin.
New and expanded chair lifts: A brand new chair lift would be built to service Mary Ellen Gulch, and the Mineral Basin lift would be lengthened to enable skiers to return from Mary Ellen Gulch.
Expansion of a new beginner area: Additional terrain expansion near the Baby Thunder lift on the resort’s west side.
Night skiing: Snowbird proposes night skiing on the runs beneath the Gadzoom lift.
Gad II upgrade: The current Gad II double chair would be upgraded to a high speed quad.
Additional resort upgrades: Includes new mountain bike trails, renovations to Gad Valley day lodges, expansion of offices and facilities, and a new yurt.
The Forest Service will now evaluate the plans, which can take several months. If accepted, even more time would be spent on environmental impact statements and revisions to the Wasatch/Cache/Uinta National Forest master plan.
Ski resort expansion can be controversial, and Snowbird’s pie-in-the-sky expansion is sure to drum up a lot of debate between resort officials, inbounds skiers, backcountry users, and watershed protectors.
To check out a map of Snowbird’s proposed expansion and to read the article, head over to the Salt Lake Tribune’s website.
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