Did anyone go to this or know more specifics about what they are thinking of doing? hopefully more terrain, more terrain, more terrain, the place is so crowded.
Stevens Pass Hosts Open House for NEW MASTER PLAN!
Hello Stevens Pass Skiers and Snowboarders,
For the past several years Stevens Pass has been doing preliminary work toward creating a new Master Plan to upgrade the resort—officially called a Master Development Plan (MDP). We want Stevens to continue to be a rewarding place to visit, with new terrain, improved lifts and day lodges, yet preserving the characteristics that make it special. Whatever changes we plan need to be carried out in a careful, well-designed and balanced manner, so that our impacts on both the social and physical environments are kept to a minimum. We do not want to jeopardize the beauty of the physical setting we have—the Cascade Range that makes Stevens a special place to visit. We also need to protect wildlife habitat and other values of our National Forest setting. Likewise, our goal is sustainable development that is compatible with the growing communities in the Puget Sound Region, especially those along Highway 2.
We are asking for your ideas and feelings about the future of Stevens Pass. What improvements would you like to see at the resort? What priorities would you have for various projects? Are new runs and lifts highest on your list, or perhaps renovated day lodges and improved parking areas? What concerns do you have about the idea of Stevens Pass changing and growing? Knowing your views is central to the success of the Stevens Pass MDP project.
We will have MDP open houses in the Pacific Crest Lodge, first floor in the Trail Side Room (where Kids’ Club was located last season) beginning Sunday, December 10th. Two other days are scheduled for Saturday, December 16th and Sunday, December 17th. These informal open houses will run from 9am to 3pm, with maps and photos on the wall. Stevens Pass staff will be there to describe the content of our preliminary MDP at this point; we want your reactions, as well as additional ideas. You will be asked to provide feedback using a form given at the open house.
We encourage guests and employees to participate in the open houses.
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Stevens Pass planning new Master Plan
Started by brandon, Dec 17 2006 11:32 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 27 December 2006 - 08:48 PM
I found this account of a person who posted this at turnsallyear.com and thought it was pretty interesting..
On Sunday, Stevens Pass unveiled the development plan that they wish to execute over the next 8 years or so. I thought that some of you might be interested in what they would like to do to the ski area and the surrounding environment. I apologize if I get any of this wrong, but I will be working from memory. Anyone who wants to learn more about can go to the first floor of the Pacific Crest Lodge and see the maps and photos. (Where Kids Club used to be.) They will be posted again on the 16th and 17th. I did also speak with Chester Marler, Director of Planning Services at Stevens and told him that I would let TAYers know that they are making plans and info is available. He welcomes any and all input and he gave me his card so that I might relay his contact info. His phone is: 206.812-7357. email: cmarler@stevenspass.com.
I should preface my comments in saying that I ski quite a lot at this area, especially since I have a kid who trains in a race program at Stevens. I also do backcountry, though mostly not in the area, I do like Heather ridge and the environs off of Smith Brook road. My first impression of the plan is that this will not generate the same negative response from the backcountry community as did the Crystal plan, since it will not impact terrain that is commonly used by many, except for some of the expansion on the backside, off of Big Chief, but this seemed to be relatively small in scope, no new lifts and mostly glading.
An overview:
Grace Lakes: Opening up of the Grace lakes area for skiing. My guess is that this will be the most controversial part of the plan. There will be one new lift. The lift seemed to be mostly lower down and its purpose appears to be a means to return skiers who bottom out above the highway back to elevation so that they can return to Brooks or Skyline lifts. There will be a cluster of trails around the lift though. The majority of the terrain higher up will be accessed via the existing Skyline lift. It also appeared to me that the creation of trails may be minimal with the emphasis on gladed skiing, with some trails to direct traffic. Winter photos show that with deep snow cover the area already has largely open areas and glading as is. I hike the area this summer and to me the terrain is varied, mostly low angle and interesting for those who are not seeking steep thrills. Some might see this as a sensitive area that should be off limits. That may be true, but such winter use may have minimal impact, especially if trail cutting is minimal.
Big Chief: A new lift is proposed that will start at the east end of the RV lot and open up the terrain east of the Big Chief Bowl and Showcase to below Big Chief Mountain itself. Again, I recall that trails will be cut, but there seemed an emphasis on glading much of the area to varying degrees. I talked to Chester about the glading that is to be done, giving my opinion that I hoped that they left a lot of fairly tight tree skiing for more advanced skiers. He said the goal was to make fairly open areas of about one cat track width on either side of the trail, then intermediate for another cat track width beyond as tighter, finally followed by even tighter trees. The idea is that there would be beginner, intermediate and expert level tree skiing along and between the trails. The expansion would go nowhere near as far as Yodelin, as some have speculated in the past. He said that there are many old growth trees left in the area and the goal would be to preserve as much of a multilayer canopy as possible.
Backside: As I stated above, the area northeast of the current boundary (gulch) would be opened. No lift for access, still a short hike if you want to start from the top. Some trails but the area is already gladed and fairly open. Trails towards the bottom to direct traffic to contour back to the lifts. My guess is that this may cause the most irritation to TAYers since it is one area that skiers like to hike to. But even at this time backcountry skiers have to share the area with lift skiers since they already get back there anyway.
Within existing boundaries: They want to expand the amount of skiable terrain by opening up thick areas, such as around Wild Katz and Schim's Meadow.
Parking: I didn't see any additional proposed.
Lodges: A lodge at the top of Skyline. (I did not get a chance to talk to Chester about this, but a friend did. My impression is that they want a mountain top lodge and road access allows them to do it at that location. Personally, I feel that, at least currently, this is a rather isolated locale for a lodge. I think that the top of Tye Mill or nearby would be more centrally located. My guess is the expense of doing that would make it prohibitive.)
Lifts: In addition to the new lifts, they would replace Big Chief with a new lift and relocate its footing so that skiers do not have to walk uphill.
The old "SPAC" rope tow has been removed this year, and there is a lift proposed to somewhere part way up the hill above Trapper? (I kind of forget where this one will go but not very high.)
They are inviting comments on the plan and have forms to fill out at the display.
My feeling was that they are expecting at least some opposition, but hope that others will see benefit.
Comments refer to the goal as being a means to spread a similar number of skiers over a larger area, rather than increasing the total number of skiers drastically. What appears to be a lack of new parking would suggest that this is part of the plan, though the expansion of busing could add lots of skiers.
They will NOT attempt to conduct cat skiing on Heather Ridge. They had explored that possibility, but decided that it was not worth it. Their permit boundary only allowed access to the south slopes and that is rather limited. (the best is in the back anyway!).
On Sunday, Stevens Pass unveiled the development plan that they wish to execute over the next 8 years or so. I thought that some of you might be interested in what they would like to do to the ski area and the surrounding environment. I apologize if I get any of this wrong, but I will be working from memory. Anyone who wants to learn more about can go to the first floor of the Pacific Crest Lodge and see the maps and photos. (Where Kids Club used to be.) They will be posted again on the 16th and 17th. I did also speak with Chester Marler, Director of Planning Services at Stevens and told him that I would let TAYers know that they are making plans and info is available. He welcomes any and all input and he gave me his card so that I might relay his contact info. His phone is: 206.812-7357. email: cmarler@stevenspass.com.
I should preface my comments in saying that I ski quite a lot at this area, especially since I have a kid who trains in a race program at Stevens. I also do backcountry, though mostly not in the area, I do like Heather ridge and the environs off of Smith Brook road. My first impression of the plan is that this will not generate the same negative response from the backcountry community as did the Crystal plan, since it will not impact terrain that is commonly used by many, except for some of the expansion on the backside, off of Big Chief, but this seemed to be relatively small in scope, no new lifts and mostly glading.
An overview:
Grace Lakes: Opening up of the Grace lakes area for skiing. My guess is that this will be the most controversial part of the plan. There will be one new lift. The lift seemed to be mostly lower down and its purpose appears to be a means to return skiers who bottom out above the highway back to elevation so that they can return to Brooks or Skyline lifts. There will be a cluster of trails around the lift though. The majority of the terrain higher up will be accessed via the existing Skyline lift. It also appeared to me that the creation of trails may be minimal with the emphasis on gladed skiing, with some trails to direct traffic. Winter photos show that with deep snow cover the area already has largely open areas and glading as is. I hike the area this summer and to me the terrain is varied, mostly low angle and interesting for those who are not seeking steep thrills. Some might see this as a sensitive area that should be off limits. That may be true, but such winter use may have minimal impact, especially if trail cutting is minimal.
Big Chief: A new lift is proposed that will start at the east end of the RV lot and open up the terrain east of the Big Chief Bowl and Showcase to below Big Chief Mountain itself. Again, I recall that trails will be cut, but there seemed an emphasis on glading much of the area to varying degrees. I talked to Chester about the glading that is to be done, giving my opinion that I hoped that they left a lot of fairly tight tree skiing for more advanced skiers. He said the goal was to make fairly open areas of about one cat track width on either side of the trail, then intermediate for another cat track width beyond as tighter, finally followed by even tighter trees. The idea is that there would be beginner, intermediate and expert level tree skiing along and between the trails. The expansion would go nowhere near as far as Yodelin, as some have speculated in the past. He said that there are many old growth trees left in the area and the goal would be to preserve as much of a multilayer canopy as possible.
Backside: As I stated above, the area northeast of the current boundary (gulch) would be opened. No lift for access, still a short hike if you want to start from the top. Some trails but the area is already gladed and fairly open. Trails towards the bottom to direct traffic to contour back to the lifts. My guess is that this may cause the most irritation to TAYers since it is one area that skiers like to hike to. But even at this time backcountry skiers have to share the area with lift skiers since they already get back there anyway.
Within existing boundaries: They want to expand the amount of skiable terrain by opening up thick areas, such as around Wild Katz and Schim's Meadow.
Parking: I didn't see any additional proposed.
Lodges: A lodge at the top of Skyline. (I did not get a chance to talk to Chester about this, but a friend did. My impression is that they want a mountain top lodge and road access allows them to do it at that location. Personally, I feel that, at least currently, this is a rather isolated locale for a lodge. I think that the top of Tye Mill or nearby would be more centrally located. My guess is the expense of doing that would make it prohibitive.)
Lifts: In addition to the new lifts, they would replace Big Chief with a new lift and relocate its footing so that skiers do not have to walk uphill.
The old "SPAC" rope tow has been removed this year, and there is a lift proposed to somewhere part way up the hill above Trapper? (I kind of forget where this one will go but not very high.)
They are inviting comments on the plan and have forms to fill out at the display.
My feeling was that they are expecting at least some opposition, but hope that others will see benefit.
Comments refer to the goal as being a means to spread a similar number of skiers over a larger area, rather than increasing the total number of skiers drastically. What appears to be a lack of new parking would suggest that this is part of the plan, though the expansion of busing could add lots of skiers.
They will NOT attempt to conduct cat skiing on Heather Ridge. They had explored that possibility, but decided that it was not worth it. Their permit boundary only allowed access to the south slopes and that is rather limited. (the best is in the back anyway!).
#3
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Posted 27 December 2006 - 09:05 PM
Can someone who is familiar with Stevens maybe draw a map of these potential new lifts. Boy with Crystal getting 6 new lifts approved, The Summit well on their way to a bunch of new lifts and now Stevens too there are a lot of new lifts going in soon. Then with Mission, 49 Degrees North and Baker all getting new lift recently, Washington is booming.
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Posted 04 January 2007 - 05:51 AM
Washington is getting press, for the first time in years. This is generating a great deal of new skiers visits within the state. People who did not ski much are going more, and those who had been interested in getting up to the hills are finally doing it. I still don't think WA will ever be much of a national destination such as Colorado and Utah, but there is a strong local base to draw from.
I agree, Brandon- top of Skyline/Barrier Ridge is an isolated locale for an on-mountain facility. I imagine many more people visiting a lodge up on Tye Mill/Jupiter, since one could ski Mill Valley without having to return to the base for food. No plans to return to Yodelin, then? I suppose the avy danger that killed the original area, even with better control techniques today, is still a huge factor.
I agree, Brandon- top of Skyline/Barrier Ridge is an isolated locale for an on-mountain facility. I imagine many more people visiting a lodge up on Tye Mill/Jupiter, since one could ski Mill Valley without having to return to the base for food. No plans to return to Yodelin, then? I suppose the avy danger that killed the original area, even with better control techniques today, is still a huge factor.
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