MESSAGE TOPIC:
Do you think Helis are okay in the backcountry, or
should we all earn our turns?
Wasatch Powderbird Guides, the 25-year-old heli-skiing operation that's
served thousands of powder-seekers in the Wasatch-Cache and Uinta
National Forests in Utah, has opted to reject a temporary permit issued
by the National Forest Service, due to "severe limitations," according to
the WPG.
The big question: hike or heli.
Photo: Jon Boyer.
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"It is unjust," says Brandie Hardman, marketing director for the WPG,
regarding their new temporary permit. "The restrictions imposed by the
Forest Service will force us to shut down. It is a result of one interest
group, Save Our Canyons, in which the Forest Service favors, over
another."
The new temporary permit issued by the Forest Service allows the WPG to
fly every other weekend, rather than every weekend as it did in the past.
The WPG will also be restricted from entering certain areas when
backcountry tourers are present, and will have to leave when backcountry
tourers enter certain areas.
"The criteria [for the WPG] is narrower than in the past," admits Forest
Service spokesperson, Dan Jerome. "But our long-term goal is to do a
complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) so that we can issue a
long-term permit to the WPG. We want to find a way to let the WPG
operate, but we know there is controversy in this area between those who
choose to heli-ski and backcountry tourers. It is a tightrope act right
now. We're still trying to come up with something that Greg [Smith, owner
of the WPG] can work with, but we need to respond to all the parties
involved."
In 1991, the WPG completed an Environmental Assessment (EA)-a
medium-level assessment program, which they claim is rarely called for
among guide and outfitter operations-and applied again in 1996, one year
before their permit was to expire. But their EA in '96 went over budget
and behind schedule. In order for the WPG to continue operations last
season, Bernie Weingardt, the Forest Service Supervisor, determined that
a one year temporary permit would be issued to the WPG for the '96-97
season, but that another temporary permit would not be allowed.
Unfortunately, midway through the WPG's assessment last season, they were
advised by the Forest Service to abandon their EA and start anew with an
expanded EIS study-the highest level assessment reserved for areas with
significant environmental or social impacts.
Meanwhile, the heat was on from the Save Our Canyons people. They were
also interested in a complete EIS on the WPG. According to founder,
Alexis Kelner, "The WPG has been a constant issue since the mid-70's. Our
primary concern is public safety. There are concerns about avalanche
bombing and instances that have been reported about landing on people who
are ski touring and endangering them by skiing above them. There are
trespassing concerns and complaints from landowners for landing on
private properties and the problems with disturbances of golden eagle
nesting. There's one more issue: backcountry competition for powder
terrain."
The latter is perhaps the most poignant concern among all the backcountry
users in the Wasatch Range. Encroachment will always be an issue in
growing urban areas such as the Salt Lake Valley, and as humans, we all
have our blind spots. But for those seeking powder in the Wasatch, it's
become a three-way tie: the WPG is issuing documents to the public
listing their points of concern to solicit help, while the Save Our
Canyons people continue to publish their newsletter voicing strong
opinions against the WPG safety and encroachment factors. Sandwiched
in-between is the Forest Service, who says they're continuing to work on
an interim permit and an EIS statement with the WPG, which will take
"every bit of every day from now until next season to complete."
With public input more necessary than ever to resolve these issues, just
how one obtains fresh tracks in Utah this season, may be more loaded than
most powderhounds realize. Suddenly, the land with "The Greatest Snow on
Earth", just got smaller.
MESSAGE TOPIC:
Do you think Helis are okay in the backcountry, or
should we all earn our turns?