(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.
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