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To develop this treasure is to deprive
the many outdoor enthusiasts (who also ski with you) of the pleasure of a solitary
hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski. While you may think that there are plenty
of mountains out there, not one is as well-positioned as Snodgrass.
- CB Resident (11/07) |
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| Unified Voices |
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| High Country
Citizens' Alliance |
| Since 1977, High Country Citizens' Alliance has been at work protecting
the extraordinary natural areas of the Upper Gunnison River Basin. Conservation
is at the root of all they do. Facing challenges large and small, they believe
that integrity and cooperation are their best tools. This approach has enabled
them to resolve many difficult issues over the years. Today, their programs
range from preservation of our national forests, rangelands and water resources
to land use planning and fostering sustainable communities. |
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| Colorado
Wild |
Skiing in Colorado, while an appropriate (and fun!) use of
our National Forests, can threaten the forests, rivers, and our mountains’ magnificent beauty − often
the very attributes that drew us here in the first place. With skier numbers stagnant
nationally for over two decades, some ski companies continue to greatly expand terrain
simply to retain “market share” over other ski areas also in our National
Forests – destroying wetlands, old-growth, and pristine mountain valleys in
the process. Driven by the lure of real estate development profits, many resorts
also over-develop exclusive ski-in/ski-out homes, further destroying Colorado’s
natural beauty and harming crucial lynx, bear, elk, and deer migration corridors.
As the founder and nationwide leader of the nationwide Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition, Colorado Wild is the only group working state-wide to curb environmentally harmful or real estate driven ski area expansions. With our partner organizations throughout the western U.S., we grade ski resorts each year on their environmental friendliness with the Ski Area Environmental Scorecard – a
widely acclaimed, user friendly tool thousands of skiers use to make a real difference.
Submitted to Ski Magainze by Paul Joyce on May 11, 2010 - 5:46pm as a post to this article:
"The best that Crested Butte could hope for is if CBMR stopped trying to keep up with the Jones’ and embraced what they have. What the decision reveals is that the Snodgrass expansion proposal was fundamentally flawed. Instead of pursuing an unlikely and risky expansion CBMR needs to focus on its positive attributes - like some of Colorado’s best terrain, the incredible setting of the Gunnison Valley and the unique Crested Butte community - to find success within its current footprint. Thank you to the Forest Service for its broad and balanced examination of the issues, its objective analysis of law and policy, and its decision to protect the environment by turning down requests for inappropriate development. Long Live Snodgrass Lift Free Forever!!" |
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| Town of Crested
Butte |
In May 2008, the Town Council of Crested Butte submitted a letter
to the USFS with the following comments: "We
find that too many of the people of the Town of Crested Butte, many people
in the Upper East River Valley, and many people in Gunnison County, do not
want lift served skiing expanded onto Snodgrass Mountain. Therefore,
the majority of the Town Council finds there is not enough community support for
this project.
“We ask that the Forest Service help Crested Butte become
an environmental leader. Help Crested Butte and the Gunnison National Forest
become the place that everyone else tries to emulate. There
are alternatives for ski areas to lead the path in environmental stewardship. We
feel this could be an opportunity for the Forest Service to be an inspiration and
a leader by using public land for something other than private fiscal speculation
by a few people."
On February 3, 2010, the Town Council approved
a letter to be sent to Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond about the current
Snodgrass issue. The letter states that the current council has not taken
a formal position on CBMR's Master Development Plan or its lift-served
skiing development proposal.
Click
here to read the letter.
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| Colorado
Environmental Coalition |
Colorado Environmental Coalition unites Coloradans to protect our natural heritage and quality of life. Every year, the Coalition mobilizes scores of organizations and hundreds of individuals who, like you, care deeply about Colorado. From soccer moms to steelworkers, from students to ranchers, from commuters to backpackers enjoying the world-famous Rocky Mountains, the Coalition's membership is as diverse as our state. CEC placed a Snodgrass action alert on their website in January and February 2010, urging members to write letters in support of the Forest Service decision. They are signers of this letter from the Colorado Conservation Community:
• Letter
from the Colorado Conservation Community (12/9/09)
• Colorado Environmental Coaltion home page |
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