Mr. Owens in the news for his new permits

[Woodsy]

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

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.

[Buster Highmen]

Congrats Grand Master MagiONS. May your business's breasts bulge.

[AKturnanburn]

"Owens said he's most excited about the Seattle Creek area visible across Turnagain Arm."

[epic]

I hope business is good and Moose Pass librarian Deanna Thomas' yard sees 45 landings per day.

[Mcwop]

Moose Pass librarian Deanna Thomas' (aka Mrs. Choksondik):

http://images.southparkstudios.com/i...acters/77a.gif

[Lone Star]

What does CPG have to provide for the forest service (monetarily or otherwise) in exchange for use of USFS land?

[Owens Never Sleeps]

What does CPG have to provide for the forest service (monetarily or otherwise) in exchange for use of USFS land?

Ther eare yearly permit fees, and a ton of compliance measures (we carry a GPS that proves we don't bust into no-fly zones). And we just went throug ha full blown, four year Environemental Impact Study.

[iceman]

"Owens said he's most excited about the Seattle Creek area visible across Turnagain Arm."

Care to elucidate?

[Owens Never Sleeps]

Care to elucidate?

I'm really excited about this zone for a few of reasons.

1. It has both high alpine and tree skiing.
2. It is close to our ops center
3. It usually hold clear when Girdwood is socked in. It should reduce our no-fly days alot.

[Shredhead]

It should reduce our no-fly days alot.

Yeah, we'll see about that!

[iceman]

I'm really excited about this zone for a few of reasons.

1. It has both high alpine and tree skiing.
2. It is close to our ops center
3. It usually hold clear when Girdwood is socked in. It should reduce our no-fly days alot.

Oh, I can see why you'd be stoked, I was wondering why all the sad faces from AKturnanburn.

[Owens Never Sleeps]

Oh, I can see why you'd be stoked, I was wondering why all the sad faces from AKturnanburn.

His orginal message before editing was wondering why I would be stoked when snowmachiners cna get in there and track it up. The answer is that the zone is bigger than just the area that the machiners use and there are parts that they can't touch. Also, having a holdover area that stays clear when our core use areas are shitty is worth it's weight in gold. We only have the area on certain days of the week so we aren't always in the machiners faces...

[Owens Never Sleeps]

I hope business is good and Moose Pass librarian Deanna Thomas' yard sees 45 landings per day.

They won't see or hear us at all. Our closest point of operation is 12.5 to 20 miles away with a 5800 ft line of mountains in between. We really don't wantto bum people out with this or take away their enjoyment of the backcountry. That's not what we're about.