Tom Richardson, Kamas, Author at Park Record

Guest Editorial, March 9-12, 2013

Tom Richardson, Kamas — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Donna McAleer's recent guest editorial is confusing and misleading. First off, how can she say that she and others disagree with the SkiLink positives when numerous studies demonstrate that it will reduce vehicle traffic and carbon emissions in the Cottonwood Canyons, that it will generate new jobs, and that it will have a positive impact on the local economy? Further, pure logic would indicate that if built, it will be an enhancement to the skier experience and that it would be a differentiator in being competitive in the industry.

Let's not forget that Canyons Resort in the late 1990s was a small resort with well less than one hundred thousand skier visits. Look at it today. It's ranked in the Top 10 nationally and hosts hundreds of thousands of skiers per season. It's helped fuel the economic growth of Park City and Summit County.

What made that growth occur were creative minds coming together to plan a great resort and the investment of over 100 million dollars in its infrastructure since late 1998. McAleer makes it seem that, because it will be only be a seasonal "bump," it will do nothing to help our economy long term. Park City is "seasonal" and those "bumps" are critical to our local economy, short term and long term.

As for the 11-minute ride it will take, that's actually fairly normal for these types of lifts, and the skiers coming from Solitude to Canyons, or vice-versa, rather than driving up to one hour by car/SUV, won't mind the length of time and will be enjoying the beautiful vistas.

As for the resorts pricing themselves out of business, I can remember when I thought crossing the $50 lift ticket mark would kill the industry. It has not and we are now over $100 in some places. Skier visits in the U.S. remain stable with up and down spikes typically based on weather, not cost. Resorts need to be competitive and they do so by investing in infrastructure and real estate developments.

SkiLink does not set any "dangerous" precedents, as she states. All future projects involving the sale or leasing of state and/or federal lands will be analyzed on a case-by-case basis and will have to go through rigorous, already-in-place, local jurisdictional approvals, just as SkiLink will if the sale is approved in Washington.

Also, I never really saw or got her point about "the one thing it (being SkiLink) is." So, let me try to answer what I believe SkiLink is. It is one of many transportation solutions to growing problems in the Wasatch Front and Back, as well an economic stimulus to our local economy that will put Utah on the world map as a destination to come ski and/or to enjoy the pristine and popular recreational land in the Wasatch Mountains.

Kamas resident Tom Richardson is the founder of Ski Our Canyons Responsibly.

The post Guest Editorial, March 9-12, 2013 appeared first on Park Record.

Guest Editorial

Tom Richardson, Kamas — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Paul Kirwin’s recent guest letter called "SkiLink selling our national heritage" is full of inaccuracies and questions that I would like to address.

SkiLink is only 3 miles (as the crow flies) and not 11 miles between Canyons and Solitude ski resorts. A lot closer than one might think and adds more reasons why the two resorts should interconnect.

He asks if the passage of legislation to sell land to Talisker makes all Forest Service land vulnerable? Obviously, the sale will only occur if Senate and House leadership feel it is in the best interest to do so. Each case thereafter would be viewed on an individual basis and does not and will not set a precedent.

As for the Salt Lake City watershed, no need to look beyond the water quality records which show that lifts have been developed in adjacent areas with similar slope, soil, and vegetation with no adverse impact to water quality. There are currently around 2,200 acres of skiable terrain in Big Cottonwood Canyon, with 14 ski lifts, yet according to Salt Lake City’s 2011 water quality report, Big Cottonwood Creek has the best water quality of all six of the city’s water sources. One more gondola will not cause adverse environmental impacts on Salt Lake City’s watershed.

SkiLink is not the silver bullet that will solve all transportation problems, but SkiLink offers a way to attract more skiers and substantially grow our economy while actually reducing traffic. Traffic studies that are accessible on SkiLink.com indicate a 10% yearly savings in car traffic. It will also save 1,000,000 miles driven per year and 1,000,000 greenhouse-gas-emission pounds per year by interconnecting the two resorts. That’s not "greenwashing," that’s reality.

Talisker has stated publicly that it will not develop any of the land that is part of the sale. Development is impossible because the 30-acre strip is only 150 feet wide with Forest Service land adjacent on both sides. No roads are allowed. For more development to occur, it would literally take another Act of Congress.

"A serious intrusion into the back country" is simply not the case, as the lift will not allow downhill skiers or riders to access this backcountry as it does not unload until the bottom terminals of either side. Backcountry access will not change from the access provided today now from the top of 9990 or from people hiking. Ski resorts currently use only 3% of the Salt Lake Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and 97% still can be used as backcountry ski terrain.

If you are interested in learning more or staying in the loop, then go to Facebook.com/SkiOurCanyonsResponsibly and like our group page. I encourage all Park City residents to not sit back, get involved and don’t let the opponents cloud the facts. Visit SkiLink.com for more information