Mr. Owens in the news for his new permits
Congrats CO,
I am sure this was not easy.
nice quote on Seattle Creek.
Keep up the good work & I hope ta join ya soon
Quote:
Heli-skiing plans rile Alaskans
-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted November 14 2004
The U.S. Forest Service has granted a five-year permit for heli-skiing despite the protests of some Kenai Peninsula residents concerned about increased air traffic and possible wildlife disturbances.
The permits allow Chugach Powder Guides to use helicopters to drop skiers in 160,000 acres of hard-to-access backcountry terrain through 2010, said owner Chris Owens. The company also received new one-year permits for about another 100,000 acres.
Heli-skiing has been a part of Alaska's growing outdoor-adventure economy for more than 10 years, but the industry has been tied to the annual permits. The five-year permit will allow the company to plan for long-term growth.
The heli-skiing season runs from February through mid-April.
The new conditional permits give guides access to slopes that haven't been commercially skied before. Owens said he's most excited about the Seattle Creek area visible across Turnagain Arm.
"I've been staring at it since I was 6 years old, and I've always wanted to ski it," he said.
Some residents are upset over the permit. "I don't want 30 landings a day in my yard," Moose Pass librarian Deanna Thomas said.
Moose Pass resident Iva Cooney said most of the small roadside town is still upset about the permit.
"It seems like what the Forest Service is about these days is to let private business do its thing on taxpayer land," Cooney said.
But there will be some no-fly zones and limits on days the helicopters can operate.
