Ski industry pushing for outdoor authority
WASHINGTON D.C.—The U.S. ski industry last year began trying to get legislation in Congress to allow broader use of federal land, where most ski areas are located. Current legislation formally allows only skiing and a few other uses. Ski areas hope to get clear authority for such congregated activities such as zip-lines, alpine slides and mountain-bike parks.
The Forest Service more traditionally has frowned on such congregated activities, viewing national forest lands—even ski areas—as places of more dispersed activities.
Among those making the case for the ski industry at a recent Congressional hearing was Rob Katz, chief executive officer for Vail Resorts.
"Ski areas are the perfect place to accommodate these large numbers of forest visitors, and not just in the winter," Katz said. He said ski areas not only "inspire appreciation for the natural environment," but they're also developed areas that are accessible and convenient for visitors.
More glimmers of better times in tourism biz
VAIL, Colo.—Some glimmers of recovery in the destination ski business are being detected in Vail. Advanced flight bookings for the winter have risen 4.5 percent, compared to a 3 percent decline last year. Lodging reservations recorded by the Vail Valley Partnerships are up 20 percent from last year. However, Vail municipal officials tell the Vail Daily that lodging bookings they monitor are down for November, December and January. Despite the downhill slide, Vail officials figure the drop-off is nowhere as precipitous as it has been for many other resorts.
Whistler starting to catch Olympic fever
WHISTLER, B.C.—Whistler's rank-and-file residents have been remarkably ambivalent about the Winter Olympics, which will be held in February. Sure, some of the town's residents have been out in force with pom-poms. But Pique Newsmagazine as recently as last summer commented at length on the diffidence of town residents, and not just a few people who would rather the Olympics just went away.
That curmudgeonly spirit may be disappearing. Pique tells of a major rally in Whistler that organizers had hoped would attract 600 people. Instead, the event drew 2,200 people, perhaps a fifth of the town's population.
But some within the community continue to grate at the sound of helicopters blades chopping in the air. "We will have something like 3,500 police, army and security in Whistler by February," writes Sean Crickmer, in a letter published in the newspaper. "How do you know when you have a police state? One sure way is when most of the people in your state are police."
Aspen Skiing takes cost of ski racing 'on the chin'
ASPEN, Colo.—The Aspen Skiing Co. studied the numbers hard before gulping and committing to hosting the World Cup races again this year. Company officials won't divulge just what it costs them to host the races, reports the Aspen Times, but they described it as "taking it on the chin."
Why it is worth so much?
"It's a marketing vehicle," said John Rigney, the vice president of sales and events. "It's a portal to the international skiing community. It keeps Aspen front and center."
The races last year were watched live by 10 million viewers, primarily in Europe, Rigney said. A total of 110 million people worldwide saw at least a snippet of the races.
But probably the most "compelling reason" for keeping the races is because they are so ingrained in Aspen's culture and history as a ski town, Rigney told The Aspen Times. Aspen Mountain hosted its first sanctioned ski races in 1939, and attracted the World Alpine Ski Championships in1958. It has held World Cup races regularly since 1968, save for a brief span in the mid-1990s. Actions by the International Ski Federation, the World Cup's governing body, had caused heartburn in Aspen.
I-70 town sets out to create downtown core
SILVERTHORNE, Colo.—Silverthorne is out to recreate itself. It roared to prominence in the 1950s as the base for construction of Dillon Dam. Later, it became known as a pit stop on I-70, a place loaded with fast-food restaurants and gas stations. It became an outlet for factory stores. But a new plan calls for a more walkable town core. Town officials hope to attract developers interested in creating buildings with inviting storefronts and attractive landscaping—what the Summit Daily News describes as a "village-like setting."
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Aspen neighbors doubt impact of hydro plant
ASPEN, Colo.—Neighbors of a hydroelectric plant being planned in Aspen have been questioning whether the water diverted to turn the turbines will harm their interests.
The Aspen Times explains that the plant could remove about two-thirds of the water from Castle Creek in early November, one of the lowest-flowing times of the year for the creek. Aspen voters a year ago approved funding for the hydroelectric plant, which is to be built at the same location where a similar plant existed from 1892 to 1958.
If completed, the hydroelectric plant will displace power currently purchased by the city government from coal-fired power plants. The water-based generation would increase the carbon-free power supply by 8 percent, to about 75 percent of total power needed by Aspen.
$10,000 gift launches 'green gondola' quest
MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, Colo.—Last May, the mayors of Telluride and Mountain Village—the two municipalities connected by the gondola—announced an ambitious goal. By 2020, they said, they wanted the broader Telluride community to be offsetting 100 percent of its electrical use with energy from renewable sources.
That idea is audacious on the face of it. But bit by small bit, a strategy has been taking shape. The first public strategy sets the goal of offsetting electrical use required to operate the gondola, 2.3 million kilowatt hours annually. Given existing prices of photovoltaic collectors, town officials estimate they will need $2.3 million to pay for solar panels somewhere, probably in a place with more consistent sunshine. The first $10,000 donation, from an anonymous donor, has been received.
"Because the gondola runs purely on electricity, it feels green," said Mountain Village Mayor Bob Delves. "But in reality it burns coal-fired power. It's time to change that."
However, Telluride intends to apply for grants for solar collectors to be placed at the town's wastewater treatment plant. Such plants typically are among the largest consumers of electricity in any community.
Telluride utility officials are also investigating the possibility of harnessing the power of water that runs downhill from within the town's water supply system, called "microhydro."
Can Telluride succeed in this improbable quest? For evidence, locals point to the fact that they have been able to raise $45 million to purchase an open space parcel, despite a relatively small tax base.
'Microhydro' to be used at mill near Silverton
SILVERTON, Colo.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $20,000 grant to be used toward creation of a small hydroelectric generator at the Mayflower Mill, two miles east of Silverton.
The small generator, sometimes called microhydro, will be capable of generating 8 kilowatts of electricity by harnessing the power that flows through a pipeline down Arrastra Gulch to the mill. The project is a partnership of the San Juan County Historical Society, which has preserved the mill, and Telluride Energy.
Assisted-care facility bumps up eligibility requirements
ASPEN, Colo.—As the waiting list grows, the Aspen Valley Hospital has bumped up the eligibility requirements for people wanting to get into its assisted-living facility, called Whitcome Terrace. Previous rules required that people had to live in the Aspen area for a year; but the new rules require a 10-year residence, reports the Aspen Times.
Crested Butte has much heartburn these days
CRESTED BUTTE, Colo.—The expansion of the Crested Butte ski area onto Snodgrass Mountain has been talked about off and on since the early 1980s. First, the community opposed it, and then the ski area owners withdrew plans.
The most recent push goes back to around 2001, a time of economic lull in Crested Butte. The ski company's argument is that it needs more intermediate terrain to balance its experts-heavy existing mountain layout if it is to maintain the loyalty of destination skiers. Both Vail Resorts and Aspen Skiing have that kind of variety, and both have a high rate of return among skiing customers.
Recently, the U.S. Forest Service shocked just about everybody when it announced it would not accept the proposal for review under the provisions of the National Environmental Protection Act. There just wasn't enough clear support from local government bodies, said Charlie Richmond, supervisor of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest.
The agency time and again through the years has demonstrated that it doesn't like to get involved in community fights.
It seems certain that the case will be appealed to Richmond's superiors in Washington, D.C. After all, the owners of the Crested Butte ski area had already invested $2 million. With that kind of money on the line, one can bet they're not going to roll over.
Banff officials directed to increase visitation
BANFF, Alberta—Managers of Banff National Park have been ordered by federal officials to boost visitor numbers 2 percent annually. Among the techniques for drawing more visitors, reports the Rocky Mountain Outlook, are introduction of activities such as zip-lines, via ferrata, adventure courses and canopy tours.
Via ferrata is a rock-climbing route equipped with fixed cables, ladders, and other devices to increase safety and lower the difficulty. Zip lines are becoming increasingly popular at upscale resorts.
Kevin Van Tighem, superintendent of Banff, Canada's flagship park, defended the orders. "It is potentially controversial in places like Banff, where there's lots of discussion about numbers and use, but this is really about creating a memorable visitor experience," he told the Outlook. Growth, he added, is not inherently a problem. "We think we know how to manage ecological integrity."
