Hidden Peak Plans Revealed

 Site Plan, Aerial View

West Exterior Facade

 

Snowbird's expansionist dreams have reached new heights.  At 11000ft. in elevation, the Hidden Peak structure will soon mar the Hidden Peak Horizon.  Snowbird has demonstrated the power it has at achieving what they want, when they want it.  From mountain coasters to revolving restaurants, one by one, iconic mountains sides and mountain tops are opened up to some sort of ski area expansion.  Whether the actions are taking place on private or public lands, the measures to control development have to little to no ability to actually stop ridiculous development from happening.   

We fought to prevent this atrocity from ever gracing the Wasatch landscape, exhausting all avenues for action and public comment.  There is not much we can do now, but go out into the Wasatch and enjoy it.  Breath in the fresh air, take in the sublime views, pray for some snow so that we may play in the worlds greatest snow.  The Wasatch as we have all come to know it is becoming a vastly different place, so let’s enjoy it while we can.

Some of the FOIA highlights are.

1.  Construction will begin next year

2. At approx 32,000sqft it will attach to the existing tram docking station

3. It will be constructed primarily out of glass

4. It will contain an observation deck and rotating restaurant on the 4th floor, a coffee bar, cafeteria, ski patrol and restroom facilities.

Check out the full FOIA request.

Stop SkiLink Event! Nov. 2nd

HELP Stop SkiLink: Sign the petition!

Sign on to the following letter by signing the online petition! 

Change.org|Online Petition Template

Greetings,

As a lover of the Wasatch Range, I am asking you to please withdraw and oppose The Wasatch Range Recreation Enhancement Act (HR3452, S1883), a piece of federal legislation mandating the sale of public watershed lands to Talisker, Inc. a global real estate development company and managing corporation of the Canyons Ski Resort in Park City, Utah. Instead we urge you to join and participate in currently ongoing local public processes involving comprehensive transportation and resource planning. Pursuing legislation like HR3452 and S1883 is counterproductive to local efforts that have been taking place since at least 2010. By continuing important public dialogue we can work toward finding solutions that benefit the long term future of the central Wasatch for recreationists, skiers, tourists and the overall health and productiveness of our municipal watershed. While the ski industry is a prominent user of our public lands in the central Wasatch, they should not trump the many other uses that take place in these mountains. Experiences enjoyed by people hiking, climbing, bird watching, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, snowshoeing are equally important to visitors of these public lands and will be directly impacted by the proposed legislation. The reduction of vehicle miles travelled is a noble cause. However, SkiLink caters to a small minority, yet stands to displace a majority. We need year-round, comprehensive transportation solutions that reduce vehicle miles travelled in the canyons and serves the multiple uses that access these amazing canyons 365 days per year. Solutions need to help the Ski industry as much as they help other recreationists, but the ultimate goal must be protection of the water resources while maintaining the scenic beauty of the canyons which draws over 5 million visits annually. As an elected official, representing the diverse interests of the citizens of Utah, we urge you to participate in civic dialogues, aimed at solving the many issues confronting the sustainment of this resource that is vital to our quality of life, our economy, and most of all that provides high quality water needed both for industry and life in this arid valley. Please represent me and work towards supportable solutions and withdraw and oppose these divisive pieces of legislation. ---------------- Sincerely, [Your name]

THIS PETITION WILL BE SENT TO: 

• 
  
• The U.S. Senate
• The U.S. House of Representatives
• The Governor of UT
• Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01)
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-03)
• Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT)
• Sen. Mike Lee (UT)
• Utah Congressional Delegation and Governor Herbert

Summer Support is Needed!

Dear Friend of the Wasatch,

We can’t believe that 2012 is already at its halfway point. The past six months have been some of the busiest months we can remember (and that’s saying a lot, considering we’ve been around for 40 years). One major highlight of the year so far has been working collaboratively with the US Forest Service, Congressman Matheson’s office, and interested stakeholders to address and resolve concerns that led the Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act to an impasse in 2010 and to have it reintroduced in March by Representative Jim Matheson! We couldn’t have done it without your support and we can’t thank you enough for allowing us to put our time, energy, and attention toward this important process.

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL: $208,000
Click here NOW to give a tax-deductible gift to Save Our Canyons

While the reintroduction was a huge success in and of itself, ensuring that this important piece of legislation passes is more critical now than ever, especially when proposals such as SkiLink are on the table to develop these sensitive, wilderness quality lands. Our continued efforts in this area, however, can only be made possible with your continued support. By making a tax-deductible contribution today, you can help us see this process through and make expanded Wasatch Wilderness a reality!

In addition to the work that we are doing to designate additional Wilderness in the Wasatch and our continued efforts to address other projects and proposals that threaten the scenic beauty and wildness of our canyons, mountains, and foothills, your financial support will enable us to work with numerous local entities and agencies in a collaborative and proactive manner to plan for the future of the Wasatch. As we face population growth and increased demand on the sensitive ecosystems, resources, and watersheds of our mountains, it is imperative that we look to the future and that we participate in processes to formulate new ways to balance development, transportation, recreation opportunities, and the preservation of our unique and extraordinary canyons, mountains, and foothills. By donating today, you will be supporting our participation and contribution to this effort and helping shape the future of the Wasatch!

YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WILL HELP US:

• Participate in the Steering Committee to update the 1989 Salt Lake County Wasatch Canyons Master Plan

• Partner with Salt Lake County, its consultants, and other community organizations to conduct a series of transportation studies within Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, and Mill Creek Canyon to create a more environmentally and economically sustainable transportation system in the Canyons.

• Serve on Salt Lake County’s Blue Ribbon Commission to update the Foothills, Canyons Overlay Zone, which regulates building and development in the canyons and foothills.

• Participate in the Wasatch Watershed Legacy Partnership, which is focused on enhancing protection of watershed areas in light of increasing pressures from population growth and increased recreational uses.

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* We have raised just over $60,000 this year so far. We need your help to meet our 2012 budget of $208,000 by the end of the year! Please give a tax-deductible donation today to help support Save Our Canyons and our work to protect the Wasatch!

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Recent News Articles on SkiLink and Interconnect

Concurrent Resolution Supporting Utah’s Interconnected Ski and Snowboard Industry - S.C.R.010

Utah Legislators are pushing for a resolution supporting a system interconnecting seven central Wasatch ski resorts between Salt Lake County and Summit County. It is no coincidence that this resolution is being proposed concurrent to the SkiLink legislation. It is a means to advance support for the idea of SkiLink and interconnecting all of the Wasatch. The resolution was drafted by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy and urges interconnection as a means to bolster the ski and snowboard industry and enhance Utah’s economy. S.C.R.010 is up for consideration at the Senate Workforce Service Community and Economic Development Standing Committee.

The hearing was held on Monday, February 27, 2012, 8:00AM
215 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

Here is Save Our Canyons' testimony on SCR 10 that we delivered earlier this morning:

Thank you for the opportunity.

We cannot support the resolution as written, but would like to get it
to a point where we can be supportive. The ski industry is part of our
community, however, S.C.R 10 stops short and fails to include or
recognize the contributions of the other businesses, retailers and
manufacturers that play an integral role in our local vibrant ski
industry. Companies like Black Diamond, Voile USA, Wasatch Touring,
and many others are generally people's first point of contact for the
local ski industry. Ensuring for transportation solutions that
consider these businesses clientele and use of these mountains is
integral to our local recreation economy.

Next, it gives no recognition of the current collaborative process
concerning the construction of a mountain transportation system which
is looking at long range, multiple use, year round transportation
solutions for the benefit of all users, residents and visitors, our
municipal water supply, and environmental integrity. This local
collaborative process could use the support of the legislature and
lending support to only one industry participating in the process
undermines the hard work being put in by all stakeholders who want to
find the best way to move people about these treasured mountains.
Understanding use, patterns of travel through studies and public
dialog is the surest way to invest in good transportation solutions
supported by the many diverse interests who utilize this area for any
number of reasons.

In 2010, Envision Utah completed the Wasatch Canyons Tomorrow report
which found the public was supportive of a variety of transportation
methods and was the impetus for the collaborative mountain
transportation study currently underway today. The study also went on
to say that the public is supportive of our local ski industry, but
that 94% wanted no further infringements on lands that lie outside of
existing resort boundaries. We feel S.CR 10 goes too far by tacitly
supporting controversial expansions which would place infrastructure
in these treasured areas and are not in the interest of the public.

We too have concerns about the economic longevity of the greater ski
industry locally. So to is the National Ski Area Association who has
been lobbying congress to enact measures to curb greenhouse gas
emissions to protect the economic viability of the ski industry. We
feel acknowledgement of this problem of climate change and laying a
foundation to start locally protecting the snow which is integral to
the monies generated by this industry is one of the most important
steps the state can take to protect the ski economy. Failure to act on
this will result in this industry to melt away. Park city mountain
resort recently did a study on the severity if these impacts and found
that nearly $120 million in lost economic revenues by 2030 inclusive
of 1,137 jobs. These numbers will more than double by 2050.

To fully support our community, our local ski economy, and our
environment we ask you today to work with Save Our Canyons, local
governments, the greater ski industry and the public at large to send
a message that we all want to support Local industry but ensure that
we don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg in the process.

We look forward to working with Sen. Neiderhauser on reworking this
resolution to get it to a point where the public and other members of
the ski industry and members of the Wasatch mountain transportation
committee can support this resolution.

Thank you

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Here are some recent articles on the subject of interconnect and Skilink:

Viewpoint: Save our Canyons
Deseret News
This number is not supported by a study, merely a conversation between the Canyons and a ski lift salesman. This arbitrary number forms the basis for the ...

Senate resolution pushes ski interconnect
Salt Lake Tribune
Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, SCR10 contends that linking the resorts would ... in local processes," said Save Our Canyons Executive Director Carl Fisher.

Utah Senate panel OKs ski interconnect resolution
Salt Lake Tribune
The conservation group Save Our Canyons testified Monday that it could not support the resolution because its approach to use and care for the central ...

State legislators show support for SkiLink
Park Record
The controversial lift system SkiLink, which would connect Canyons ... Carl Fisher of Save Our Canyons said the resolution undercuts the public process.

Wasatch Interconnect Idea Seeks Political Support
OnTheSnow.com
The resolution drew immediate fire from Save Our Canyons, a conservation group that has battled with commercial interests over various plans to build lifts ...

Utah Officials Want 7 Ski Areas Connected Euro-Style
Boulder Weekly
Late last year a proposal to tie together Solitude and The Canyons ski resorts raised ... Save Our Canyons Executive Director Carl Fisher told the Salt Lake ...

SkiLink proposal divides users over access and environment
Deseret News
s the Canyons resort wants to link its Park City runs with Solitude in Big ... Carl Fisher, director of the nonprofit Save our Canyons, said the Forest ...

Backcountry.com: The Goat » save our canyons
A study on the effects of the lift that would run from Park City to Big Cottonwood Canyon is ongoing. The resolution doesn't specify what kind of interconnect ...
thegoat.backcountry.com/tag/save-our-canyons/