'Bird Update: Summer Expansions

[thetrailboss]

I had heard from folks at the mountain in management positions that the Gad II and Little Cloud Doubles were going to be replaced. Yesterday, Unofficial Networks reported that Snowbird is moving ahead on these replacements.

This summer they are replacing the Little Cloud Double. Personally, this is one of my favorite lifts because I can lap some nice high elevation terrain that includes some nice bowls, open areas, and even some good groomers. I know it is slow, but it is a good rest. One of the mountain ops folks told me that they will realign the lift so that it ends a little further to looker's right in the Little Cloud Basin. How far, I don't know.

In 2013 they will replace the Gad II Double. I had heard that they will realign this lift as well so that it ends up in the Baldy Bowl, but as you can see in the comments there is some avi concern with doing this.

There may be some developments with the Mary Ellen project. In order to appease opponents, it is reported that Snowbird is willing to swap its land on Mount Superior for land in the Mary Ellen Gulch. The Superior Land was going to be the site of a Mountain Coaster (ugh) that was going to run across Route 210.

Save Our Canyons has some info on the project, including this from last year: http://saveourcanyons.org/files/images/MDP addendum_0.pdf

 

[thetrailboss]

And with regards to some friction between Snowbird and Alta, apparently one reason for this might be that Snowbird has been opposed to Alta expanding onto Flagstaff Mountain, which is one of the peaks directly across Route 210 from the Wildcat Base Area.

 

[ScottySkis]

And with regards to some friction between Snowbird and Alta, apparently one reason for this might be that Snowbird has been opposed to Alta expanding onto Flagstaff Mountain, which is one of the peaks directly across Route 210 from the Wildcat Base Area.

That would be sweet if they open skiing and riding their.

 

[marcski]

And with regards to some friction between Snowbird and Alta, apparently one reason for this might be that Snowbird has been opposed to Alta expanding onto Flagstaff Mountain, which is one of the peaks directly across Route 210 from the Wildcat Base Area.

That would be sweet if they open skiing and riding their.

I believe, it's mostly southern exposure over there, no? Not so sure it would be great skiing given its' exposure.

 

[kingslug]

I heard a rumor that they will close zone 5 maybe for good after the avi..???

 

[thetrailboss]

I believe, it's mostly southern exposure over there, no? Not so sure it would be great skiing given its' exposure.

That was my thought as well. Like MB, it faces towards the south and gets a lot of sun. I had to look at a map to get a sense as to where this expansion was going to be, and when I saw it, I was not really surprised (nice open areas right over the small hamlet) but the exposure is a problem. I don't know why Snowbird was opposed to it (who cares?) and then pushed their big expansion. Why not be on the same side of the issue? But then again, with the area being SLC watershed, I wonder if Snowbird sees land use as a zero-sum game, with any Alta expansion limiting the size of anything Snowbird wanted to do.

 

[thetrailboss]

I heard a rumor that they will close zone 5 maybe for good after the avi..???

I have not heard that, but that was a real freaky day. A lot of avalanches everywhere.

 

[kingslug]

Heard someone had to resign because of the one in Blackjack..

 

[thetrailboss]

Heard someone had to resign because of the one in Blackjack..

Not surprised. It did not sound good because they did the control work and, through an act of God, it warmed up and avalanched anyway. That work does not guarantee that the area is safe...that is part of the inherent risk. But......well, you know how it is......

 

[marcski]