Wasatch Powderbirds get 5 year permit

(however, they lost a significant number of runs allowed, down from over 19k to around 13k, interesting decision, however you look at it)

BC-UT--HelicopterSkiing 10-16
Forest Service approves five-year helicopter skiing permit

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Forest Service has approved another
five-year permit for a helicopter skiing company to operate in the
Wasatch Range and nearby mountains.

The permit signed Friday by supervisors of the Uinta and
Wasatch-Cache national forests allows Wasatch Powerbird Guides to
run helicopters and drop skiers off on certain ridges from Weber
Canyon in the north to Hobble Creek Canyon in the south.

Nearly 400 people and organizations commented on the plan before
the decision, and many were opposed to renewing the permit, said
Wasatch-Cache National Forest Supervisor Tom Tidwell.

Some backcountry skiing advocates don't like the practice
because they have to compete for powder with heli-skiers and find
the helicopter noise disruptive.

"A lot of people who will take the time to hike into the
backcountry to ski or snowshoe, they are looking for more of a
solitude experience, and the noise of the helicopter would
definitely impact them," Tidwell said. "And there is competition
for snow. They spend two hours hiking to the ridge and right before
they get there, a helicopter drops skiers on the ridge."

Environmentalists were also concerned that it would harm the
region's golden eagle population.
Those opposed will now have 45 days to appeal the decision.

The new permit reduces the number of runs that skiers may make
from helicopters from 19,200 a year to 12,800 a year, and forbids
heli-skiing on Sundays and most Mondays in the three most popular
canyons: Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek, Tidwell
said.

To protect the birds, the agreement also forbids flying
helicopters within a half-mile on either side of golden eagle
nests, and places a 30-acre no-fly buffer zone around goshawk
habitats.

Gale Dick, president of Save Our Canyons, an environmental group
that works for the preservation of the Wasatch Range, said the
group may appeal the decision. He said the forest service addressed
some of their concerns, but others remain.

The group would like to see more protection for golden eagles, a
ban on the use of explosives for avalanche testing, up-to-date data
on the number of backcountry skiers, and a ban on heli-skiing in
wilderness areas.

"I think the Forest Service is beginning to address the
conflicts and seems to be warming up to backcountry skiers a little
bit," he said. "It is kind of leaving some wildlife issues out in
the cold at the same time, but by and large I think this decision
is a step forward."

Wasatch Powderbird Guides has been ferrying heli-skiers to
ridges along the Wasatch Front since 1973.

Wow, am I glad I did it last year before they reduced potential runs by a third and will have to raise the price even more to cover for the shortfall. :eek:

Wow. I think it's clearly a victory for us Backcountry skiers. I don't think people were expecting to hold on to the Sunday/Monday closures. In addition they trimmed down their skier days apparently (?) and didn't allow heli-assisted Alpine Tours into the Twin Peaks Wilderness like WPG wanted. I'm happy.
Here's the email I got from them:

Dear Forest User:
October 15, 2004

We are pleased to share with you the decision for a Special Use Permit
authorizing Wasatch Powderbird Guides to continue a helicopter skiing
outfitter and guide service on portions of the Wasatch-Cache and Uinta
National Forests. This document presents the summary of decision elements
for the Supervisorâ€™s of both National Forests. The Record of Decision
provides detailed rationale for this decision and is attached below.

This decision was based on an environmental analysis of a range of
activities proposed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS)
for this project. The Final EIS provides detailed information about the
purpose and need, issues, alternatives, and consequences related to the
proposal and its alternatives. We have considered this information
carefully before making our decision. The Forest Service has been working
with individuals, groups, and government agencies since 2002 to understand
their needs and concerns. To the best of our ability, we have responded to
these concerns in this decision.
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SUMMARY OF DECISION ELEMENTS |
| |
| Season of Use: Authorize a December 15 to April 15 operating season. |
| Additionally, a seasonal limit of five operating days outside the December 15|
| to April 15 season will be authorized. Days used prior to December 15 must |
| be for non-commercial purposes only. |
| |
| Tri-Canyon Area Use (weekends): Continue the closure of the Tri-Canyon Area |
| to heli-skiing Sundays and Mondays season-long. Within this framework, |
| exceptions are allowed for home runs as described below and a seasonal limit |
| of three Monday operating days. WPG may â€œearnâ€? these Monday exceptions in |
| advance by choosing not to operate in the Tri-Canyon Area on an equal number |
| of Saturdays. |
| |
| Home Runs: Authorize home runs in Little Cottonwood Canyon when the |
| Tri-Canyon Area is otherwise closed, i.e., on Sundays and Mondays. In |
| particular, the permittee will be authorized a seasonal limit of three |
| closed weekend day home runs in the Patsy Marly area. In addition, WPG may|
| use White Pine Canyon for home runs when the Tri-Canyon Area is otherwise |
| closed without any seasonal limitations. All home runs will count towards |
| Tri-Canyon Area skier-day limits, or "caps". |
| |
| Tri-Canyon Area Use by Two Helicopters: Tri-Canyon use by two helicopters at|
| the same time is authorized on five days per season with prior Forest Service|
| notification. |
| |
| Alpine Tours: Alpine Tours will continue to be authorized only in the Lone |
| Peak Wilderness. |
| |
| Skier-Days: Heli-skiing will be authorized with the following seasonal |
| limits on skier-days: |
| - Permit area: 1,600 skier-days. |
| - Tri-Canyon Area: 800 of the 1,600 skier-days in the permit area. |
| - Northern Powder Circuit: 650 of the 800 skier-days in the |
| Tri-Canyon Area. |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Developing the Final EIS has been a long and challenging task for all
parties involved. Many of you have participated for several years. We
would like to thank all of you who participated in meetings or sent us
written comments during the preparation of this EIS. All of these comments
were reviewed and considered in reaching our decision.

The Record of Decision, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Response to
Comments, and a summary are posted on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Website http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/projects/decisions. Additionally,
these documents are available in CD ROM or hard copy format at the Salt
Lake Ranger District office located at 6944 South 3000 East Salt Lake City,
UT 84121. Please contact Steve Scheid, project manager, at 801-733-2689 or
sscheid@fs.fed.us if you need additional information.

If WPB terrain wasn't next to a major metropolis full of all sorts of different winter user groups, I don't think there would be such a controversy. But when they are tracking out terrain in the 'front country' that people spend all day hiking too, that chaps some hides.

I am neutral on their 5 year permit. Partly because I don't live in the valley of 2 million skiers and I use a sled at times. In the four years and over 200+ days of backcountry skiing there, I only arrived to an area tracked out by WPB twice.

I think heli-skiing is a really cool thing, and I'd love the opportunity to be able to do it sometime. But you know what? Not through Wasatch Powderbirds. I think it makes no sense to have a heli-skiing operation operating in the LCC and BCC. This is a small piece of terrain that is accessible to many and is heavily used for BC skiing. WPG is asking for conflict, and they're getting it. Ironically, the only places they probably wouldn't have too many conflicts with BC skiers are the places that are protected by Wilderness designations. They are competing for the prime real estate right off the road that hordes of people ski under their own steam. Maybe it made sense 20 years ago, but with the amount of people that are now out there due to population increase and equipment advances, I think it's pretty nuts for helis to be dropping people off in White Pine, Day's Fork, Cardiff etc - especially on the weekends. I mean there are literally hundreds of BC skiers out in this relatively small area on a good Saturday. I'm new to the Wasatch, and my inexperienced opinions don't count for much, but I took the time to write a letter this year, and I'm glad I did now that I see the final decision.

Here's the Permit Renewal Record of Decision. (Kind of an indepth summary of the actual decision). It's really a pretty good read, and I thought it was pretty encouraging because it seems like the Forest Service is actually paying attention and making informed decisions.

WPG permit renewal link (.pdf)

Quote:

The new permit reduces the number of runs that skiers may make
from helicopters from 19,200 a year to 12,800 a year, and forbids
heli-skiing on Sundays and most Mondays in the three most popular
canyons: Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek, Tidwell
said.

Those limits in runs are meaningless, since the WPG have never been able to do that much business in a single season and probably never will.

That's basically what the FS says about the reductions they made. Also the only place I've seen this 19k to 13k runs thing is in that AP news clipping. The Forest Service stuff only talks about a 17% reduction in the number of skier days. So I think the actual reduction might be more likle 17% than a third.