November 18, 2003

Keystone Expansion Comments Due Friday, November 21, 2003

Please comment on the proposed Keystone Resort Expansion into Little Bowl and Erickson Bowl by this Friday November 21, 2003. Your input is needed to let the Forest Service know that expansions of ski areas into backcountry terrain are not acceptable.

The Place: Keystone Resort would like to make Little Bowl and Erickson Bowl which are prime backcountry areas, available to snowcat skiing. These bowls are located on the east side of the ski area, and can be reached by backcountry skiers via skiing from Montezuma, past Sts. John and over the ridge to the west. It can also be reached by taking a gondola or surface lift to Summit House, then hiking to either of the bowls.

The Problem: These areas, used by some backcountry recreationists to access fresh powder, would be open to Snowcat skiers and boarders from the resort. This would add more people to the area, and the snowcats would end up grooming the area from time to time. The backcountry enthusiast seeking quiet and solitude would no longer find this because there would be a lot of people in the bowls who could not normally get there under their own power in the area. Powder would be limited due to an excessive number of people in the area and because the snowcat would essentially end up grooming the area at unspecified times.

YOU Can Help Retain this area as Backcountry

The Forest Service is taking comments on its Environmental Assessment of the area. Letting them know that you care about retaining backcountry areas for people who can get there under their own power will help keep in check the continued expansions of ski areas. Please take a moment to save this small area from snowcat use and retain it for human-powered users by writing a short letter asking the forest service to decline this expansion proposal. Your time, energy, thoughts, and concern will make a huge difference.

Send comments by November 21, 2003

In your letter, please tell the Forest Service to:

  • Refrain from removing even more ungroomed, untracked powder from human-powered backcountry enthusiasts.
  • Refrain from giving a ski area that already has 1,861 skiable/ridable acres even more access to backcountry places that people have been accessing with their own power for years.
  • Postpone this expansion consideration until after the appeals to the White River National Forest Plan are resolved. BSA's appeal protested the allowed eastward expansion of Keystone.

Thank you for taking the time to voice your opinion. Please send your letter by November 21, 2003, to:

Be sure to include your snail mail address with any comments sent in. This information is crucial.
J. Richard Newton
District Ranger
Dillon Ranger District
PO Box 620
Silverthorne, CO 80498

Or by fax to:

970.468.7735

Unfortunately, they are not taking e-mail comments at this time. They have not put any information on their website concerning this expansion, perhaps suggesting that they are not interested in hearing many comments from the public.

If you would like more information, please call or e-mail Rocky Smith at 303.839.5900 or rocky@coloradowild.org.