Update: Crystal Mountain Boundary Closure
Background:
Several years ago, Crystal Mountain filed a Master Development Plan (MPD) that included requests to build new lifts, all within the Special Use Permit (SUP) area defined when the area was created in 1964.
Included in the SUP area are the usual "backcountry" areas of North Backcountry (Northway to Brand-X) and South Backcountry (the Throne, Avalanche Basin, Silver King and Silver Basin) and East Peak.
The MPD requested permission to build lifts in North Backcountry, South Backcountry and East Peak. North Backcountry is easily accessible via traversing or a 5 minute hike. The highest point in South Backcountry, Silver King, is accessible via an average 30 minute hike. East Peak has no lifts currently, although a lower lift was built, then removed in the early 90s.
The USFS has submitted a Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the MDP that grants approval for the construction of lifts in North Backcountry, a tram from the base to the top and a lift on lower East Peak. In addition, it stipulates that the SUP boundaries be closed to ticketed skiers.
In addition to the "backcountry" areas specified above, there are several other areas outside the SUP that can be accessed from the lifts. For example:
1) Sand Flats to the NW of North Backcountry, a designated equestrian area.
2) Pickhandle above the Gold Creek private housing area.
3) Morris Creek, to the S. of the Three Way Peak- Silver King saddle
4) Crystal Lakes Basin, to the SW of Silver King.
and
5) "410", the slopes leading from the ridge between The Throne and NW of Northway Peak which lies with the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park (MRNP) which cover about 3500+ vertical feet.
Each of these 5 areas have traditionally used by skiers for more than 30 years. The ROD seeks to set a precedent by restricting ticketed skiers from accessing these public lands. Moreover, it seeks to do so by placing the onus of enforcement on the private entity of Crystal Mountain where there is no public forum for appeal.
Thanks to those of you who took the time to write an appeal.
The USFS is now calling a meeting for all "qualified" appellants. In this case "qualified" means that the appellant had to participate in the MDP process over the last 4 years.
As such, there's 8 appeals pending and at least 4 of them address the boundary closure. The appeals are based on the fact that MRNP and the USFS are not following their own guidelines in managing public lands. They have no data regarding the impact of skiers in these areas. Moreover, even though "410" is classified "pristine", it still should allow for the access of up to about 120 skiers per day. In addition, the ROD restricts skiers from accessing non wilderness areas from the lifts and provides no guidelines on how the boundary closure is to be enforced. It's notable though that the ROD also calls for the sale of single ride tickets for backcountry skiers, a somewhat inconsistent position.
There has been a tradition of using these areas by ticketed skiers. We hope to negotiate with the USFS to continue to allow access for skiers to all these areas.
While numerous ski areas have opened their boundaries in the last 10 years, including Arapahoe Basin, Telluride and Jackson Hole, we hope that the current USFS and National Parks administrations are not seeking to regress in this regard.
Aside from freedom of glisse, it's alarming that the government is seeking to force a corporation into enforcing it's rules regarding access to public resources. So as much as we bitch about politics here, I do hope that you write your congresspeople and bitch like wild about activities such as unreasonable restrictions on access to public lands.
