That looks like sweet singletrack.
2
Canyons, Solitude plan to build tram linking resorts
Started by CH3skier, Sep 27 2011 03:58 PM
31 replies to this topic
#22
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Posted 16 October 2012 - 09:09 AM
http://fox13now.com/...kilink-project/
SALT LAKE CITY – One of Utah’s most controversial political issues pits economic benefits versus environmental impact. Supporters of SkiLink – a gondola that would connect the Solitude and Canyons resorts – say it will bring jobs and money to Utah’s economy but opponents are worried about hurting the environment.
The SkiLink gondola would shorten the trip between Solitude and The Canyons from 45 minutes to just 11 minutes.
“The ability to connect these resorts which cannot be done anywhere else in North America where we can connect a number of resorts and provide an experience that is absolutely extraordinary,” said Mike Goar with The Canyons. “The lift would come up over the ridge at this first peak right here, continue over the hillside then you can see down below toward Solitude. Where the Solitude terminal would be.”
The resorts say the gondola would create 500 new jobs and add at least $50 million in revenue and tourism to Utah, but opponents want the resorts to stay within their boundaries, fearing the project would have a negative impact on the environment.
“There would be a fairly extensive area where you would have to remove a lot of vegetation. That’s just not a good idea for an area we rely on for clean drinking water,” said Mark Clemons with the Sierra Club.
Utah’s Republican lawmakers support legislation that now sits before Congress that would move the approval process of the SkiLink into the hands of local government. The Sierra Club says the approval of the gondola depends on who has control of Congress.
If approved, the completion date of the project is unknown.
SALT LAKE CITY – One of Utah’s most controversial political issues pits economic benefits versus environmental impact. Supporters of SkiLink – a gondola that would connect the Solitude and Canyons resorts – say it will bring jobs and money to Utah’s economy but opponents are worried about hurting the environment.
The SkiLink gondola would shorten the trip between Solitude and The Canyons from 45 minutes to just 11 minutes.
“The ability to connect these resorts which cannot be done anywhere else in North America where we can connect a number of resorts and provide an experience that is absolutely extraordinary,” said Mike Goar with The Canyons. “The lift would come up over the ridge at this first peak right here, continue over the hillside then you can see down below toward Solitude. Where the Solitude terminal would be.”
The resorts say the gondola would create 500 new jobs and add at least $50 million in revenue and tourism to Utah, but opponents want the resorts to stay within their boundaries, fearing the project would have a negative impact on the environment.
“There would be a fairly extensive area where you would have to remove a lot of vegetation. That’s just not a good idea for an area we rely on for clean drinking water,” said Mark Clemons with the Sierra Club.
Utah’s Republican lawmakers support legislation that now sits before Congress that would move the approval process of the SkiLink into the hands of local government. The Sierra Club says the approval of the gondola depends on who has control of Congress.
If approved, the completion date of the project is unknown.
#23
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Posted 01 November 2012 - 04:12 PM
More than 80 companies and groups sign petition against SkiLink
By Mike Gorrell | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Oct 31 2012 04:38 Pm • Last Updated Oct 31 2012 09:48 Pm
More than 80 outdoors companies or conservation groups have signed a petition initiated by Black Diamond, Inc. that opposes SkiLink, a proposal to connect Canyons Resort near Park City and Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon with a ridge-spanning gondola.
Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Holladay-based Black Diamond, said the petition includes signatures from national-level businesses and advocacy groups such as Patagonia, Petzl, Voile, The Wilderness Society, Mountain Hardware, Armada Skis, The Conservation Alliance, Eastern Mountain Sports, the Swedish company POC Sports, Protect Our Winters and Jones Snowboards.
Local signatories, he added, include Save Our Canyons, Alta Lodge, Wasatch Touring, Friends of Alta, International Mountain Equipment (IME), Pagan Mountaineering of Moab and Utah Rivers Council.
"What is being publicly sold as a solution to traffic is a private-interest land grab of some of the most pristine and heavily used recreational public land in the Wasatch for the benefit of a single real estate developer," said Metcalf, referring to Canadian-based Talisker Inc.’s efforts to forge the first interconnect between ski resorts in Salt Lake and Summit counties, tying its Canyons Resort to Solitude.
Republican members of Utah’s congressional delegation are sponsoring a bill that would remove the U.S. Forest Service from the regulatory process overseeing any applications for a gondola.
The bill would require the Forest Service to sell 30 acres of public land within the tramway’s corridor to Talisker at fair market value. That would leave regulation of any proposed lifts to local government authorities.
Studies produced by Talisker said the proposal gondola will benefit the state’s economy by giving Utah a unique quality in interconnected resorts and would reduce vehicular traffic flowing daily on roads between Canyons and Solitude.
Metcalf maintained "SkiLink threatens our precious watershed, and shuts out the interests of the multitude of existing stakeholders involved. The industry is against SkiLink but in favor of more sustainable and true Wasatch-wide transportation solutions that benefit all ski areas and the entire community."
Save Our Canyons Executive Director Carl Fisher said it was ironic that "snow sports companies are speaking out against what is being sold to the public as a pro-snow proposition — a proposition that is definitely not for the ski community at large. SkiLink is simply a vehicle to enrich a Canadian real estate developer at the expense of all outdoor enthusiasts."
Talisker did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
By Mike Gorrell | The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Oct 31 2012 04:38 Pm • Last Updated Oct 31 2012 09:48 Pm
More than 80 outdoors companies or conservation groups have signed a petition initiated by Black Diamond, Inc. that opposes SkiLink, a proposal to connect Canyons Resort near Park City and Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon with a ridge-spanning gondola.
Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Holladay-based Black Diamond, said the petition includes signatures from national-level businesses and advocacy groups such as Patagonia, Petzl, Voile, The Wilderness Society, Mountain Hardware, Armada Skis, The Conservation Alliance, Eastern Mountain Sports, the Swedish company POC Sports, Protect Our Winters and Jones Snowboards.
Local signatories, he added, include Save Our Canyons, Alta Lodge, Wasatch Touring, Friends of Alta, International Mountain Equipment (IME), Pagan Mountaineering of Moab and Utah Rivers Council.
"What is being publicly sold as a solution to traffic is a private-interest land grab of some of the most pristine and heavily used recreational public land in the Wasatch for the benefit of a single real estate developer," said Metcalf, referring to Canadian-based Talisker Inc.’s efforts to forge the first interconnect between ski resorts in Salt Lake and Summit counties, tying its Canyons Resort to Solitude.
Republican members of Utah’s congressional delegation are sponsoring a bill that would remove the U.S. Forest Service from the regulatory process overseeing any applications for a gondola.
The bill would require the Forest Service to sell 30 acres of public land within the tramway’s corridor to Talisker at fair market value. That would leave regulation of any proposed lifts to local government authorities.
Studies produced by Talisker said the proposal gondola will benefit the state’s economy by giving Utah a unique quality in interconnected resorts and would reduce vehicular traffic flowing daily on roads between Canyons and Solitude.
Metcalf maintained "SkiLink threatens our precious watershed, and shuts out the interests of the multitude of existing stakeholders involved. The industry is against SkiLink but in favor of more sustainable and true Wasatch-wide transportation solutions that benefit all ski areas and the entire community."
Save Our Canyons Executive Director Carl Fisher said it was ironic that "snow sports companies are speaking out against what is being sold to the public as a pro-snow proposition — a proposition that is definitely not for the ski community at large. SkiLink is simply a vehicle to enrich a Canadian real estate developer at the expense of all outdoor enthusiasts."
Talisker did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
- Peter<br />
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#24
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Posted 02 November 2012 - 09:40 PM
Honestly, I'd like to know how many towers would be necessary to build such a connection. If it were base to base (Canyons Base to Solitude Base), might make some sense, but not much.
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#26
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Posted 03 November 2012 - 05:53 AM
SuperRat, on 03 November 2012 - 03:29 AM, said:
SkiLink would be close to 12,000 feet long so I'd say more than 40 towers.
I seem to recall another 11,000 foot long connector lift built in the 90's that is lightly used today. Probably not a fair comparison.
I seem to recall another 11,000 foot long connector lift built in the 90's that is lightly used today. Probably not a fair comparison.
Is it the gondola at Silver Mountain in Idaho you are thinking of?? Over 3 miles long, 45 towers, 17 minute ride according to stats listed.
Skiing since 1977, snowboarding since 1989
#27
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Posted 03 November 2012 - 05:56 AM
boardski, on 03 November 2012 - 05:53 AM, said:
Is it the gondola at Silver Mountain in Idaho you are thinking of?? Over 3 miles long, 45 towers, 17 minute ride according to stats listed.
I would suspect he's talking about Sugarbush.
#28
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Posted 03 November 2012 - 01:38 PM
Build the damn thing already. Just like the Portland Tram, People will use it and those opposed will get used to it. It is the opposition to progress for the sake of opposition that chokes this country right now.
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#29
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Posted 03 November 2012 - 03:48 PM
timberlaker, on 03 November 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:
Build the damn thing already. Just like the Portland Tram, People will use it and those opposed will get used to it. It is the opposition to progress for the sake of opposition that chokes this country right now.
Except that the Portland tram was built by a public university and a city. Here we're talking about selling part of a National Forest to a private Canadian company. The Forest Service has a public process that most expansions go through, and Talisker has chosen to ignore it and instead try and get a special deal through Congress.
I'm sure it would be a cool lift though and I'd probably ride it.
- Peter<br />
Liftblog.com
Liftblog.com
#31
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Posted 03 November 2012 - 10:50 PM
Considering the minimal footprint of a few cement tour foundations versus the development of a whole ski 'area' (which would require cutting and grading), I really don't see the cause for concern here. I mean, is it practical? No. But is it any more environmentally unfriendly than any ski development already approved by the Forest Service? No.
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