The controversial proposed gondola that may someday link the Canyons to Solitude is getting some help from Utah legislators, who have submitted a bill called the Wasatch Range Recreation Access Enhancement Act. If passed, this would allow the federal government to sell 30.3 acres of public land in Big Cottonwood Canyon to Talisker, the company that owns Canyons Resort. In addition, Canyons has officially released their plan and launched a public relations campaign, calling the gondola, “SkiLink.”
SkiLink, if built, would be the first step in creating the much debated Interconnect, a European-style system of linking all seven of the central Wasatch ski resorts. Proponents of the project say SkiLink will be good for the economy, will boost Utah’s skier visits and tourism, and will reduce vehicle traffic in Big Cottonwood Canyon by as much as 10%. Opponents are concerned about environmental issues, overcrowding in Big Cottonwood, less pristine backcountry ski terrain, and accusations that Talisker is only doing this only to further fatten their wallets.
SkiLink is an 8-passenger gondola that will connect Canyons and Solitude Mountain Resort by way of the Wasatch Crest. Riders would be able to go from one resort to the other in 11 minutes with a total capacity of 1,000 people per hour. If built, the company says they will use environmentally safe techniques like using helicopters to install lift towers.
As part of their public relations campaign, Canyons has posted a new website at www.skilink.com that touts the benefits of building a gondola from the Wasatch Back to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It includes pictures, maps, and information about the proposed project.
Opponents of SkiLink are organizing to try and stop the project. A Facebook Page called Stop the Tram is creating a central place for anyone who thinks the gondola is a bad idea and wants to voice their opposition.
The legislation being proposed to sell public lands for SkiLink can be read here.
The following statement from http://www.skilink.com sums up how differently the developer’s mind set is to mine: “The corridor and SkiLink structures would be designed to complement
the surrounding natural landscape.” Since when can ski lift towers and cables actually complement the natural landscape. Do these people even go outside of ski resort boundaries and experience the natural landscape other than multi-million dollar second homes, cut ski runs and lift lines?
The scariest thing about this proposal is that people seem to be believing the “facts” that are being stated by Talisker. How can 500 additional permanent jobs be created by this lift?