News from Stevens Pass

[grrrr]

Stevens Pass wants to give mountain bikes a lift
By ANDY RATHBUN - THE DAILY HERALD

EVERETT - Stevens Pass ski resort officials want to break ground on the state's only lift-access mountain bike park after the snow melts, but the U.S. Forest Service could tap the brakes on that plan.

It needs to hear from the public on an environmental assessment before giving the green light to Stevens Pass, a private company that operates on public land.

While that input could slow things down, officials at the pass are optimistic construction will begin this spring.

"I wouldn't be doing a lot of the work we're doing now if I thought there was no chance," Stevens Pass director of operations Joel Martinez said.

Discussions for a bike park at Stevens Pass began about five years ago, Martinez said.

The pass worked with Gravity Logic to create a trail system. The design group won praise for its work on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia.

The first round of plans call for five trails covering seven miles of terrain, all located on existing ski runs in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The project will cost about $925,000.

Mountain bikers will use ski lifts to get to the top of the trails. Bicycles will use one seat. Riders will sit on another.

Before that happens, the project needs to clear an environmental assessment conducted by the Forest Service. That assessment began its 30-day public comment period on Dec. 17.

Projects at the pass have faced criticism from environmental groups before. For instance, the Sierra Club faulted a broader plan in 2008 that called for the bike park and new ski trails.

The Forest Service met with various stakeholders as it conducted its review for the bike park.

Sean Wetterberg, Forest Service team leader on the plan, said the assessment addresses concerns that came out of those meetings.

"The general conclusion is that the projects don't have significant environmental consequences," Wetterberg said.

Individuals get to see if they agree. The public input process lets them check the Forest Service's homework, and bring to light anything that has been overlooked.

Some already have found fault. Wetterberg received a letter from Conservation Northwest earlier this week questioning the bike park's effect on wildlife habitat. The Forest Service will have to make sure that is not an issue.

Others see reason for Stevens Pass officials to be optimistic, however.

Fran Troje, a Bellevue resident who belongs to the Mountaineers in Seattle, reviewed the assessment, agreeing with the most of the findings.

"A full-time, year-round operation is the way to go," she said. "Other ski areas throughout the nation are also going toward this."

If construction begins this spring, Stevens Pass could open an intermediate trail and an expert trail by July. Three other trails, including one for beginners, would follow.

In the long term, the pass might add 20 or more other mountain bike trails.

That could turn Stevens Pass into a destination spot for mountain bikers such as Jon Kennedy, the acting executive director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance in Seattle.

"The closest thing we have to any lift-assisted bike park is Whistler, and that's a pretty substantial drive," he said. "I think Stevens Pass is primed for it."

[Toofus]

I'll believe it when I see it.....and then I'll be a very happy camper.

[GordonShumway]

I'm pretty excited about this as well, but I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm for this summer. It seems like every year this comes up and we're still waiting... but I understand it's a long process and out of the control of Stevens Pass. I just hope I can be riding trails this summer.

In case anyone wants to check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steven...1954910?ref=mf

http://stevenspassbikepark.com/

[skiingsamurai]

looks like its all systems go

schweet
only a handfull of trails, but its one hell of a lot closed than whistler

[Stikki]

Tulalip Tribes appeal Stevens Pass bike proposal

Huh? The tribe known for a massive outlet mall, Walmart/Home Depot complex, and large casino/hotel suddenly cares about the environmental impact of something 70+ miles from their land?

There has to be something else driving this, like most things I'm guessing money. Anybody have insider info?

[skiingsamurai]

dont know the real reasons. The Sierra Club is getting in the way claiming that the bike park will displace the wolverines. The same animals that are clearly not disturbed by 5 months of skiers.
These must be some sort of tropical wolverines.
Its total bullshit.

[kidwoo]

I love how a clearcut mountainside with thousands of people and heavy machinery half the year catches shit for 7 miles of trail that will see about 5% of the ski presence.

[GordonShumway]

I love how a clearcut mountainside with thousands of people and heavy machinery half the year catches shit for 7 miles of trail that will see about 5% of the ski presence.

It makes no sense. There's roads all over the place out there. Shit, highway 2 is a giant scar that runs for miles and miles and no one gives two shits. But you break out the shovels and build a couple trails and all the enviro-whackos come out of the woodwork.

[PeachesN'Cream]

Joel (the lead guys at Stevens) had this to say over on RideMonkey — this was before the Tulalip decided to appeal — which sort of explains where we are at.

"Honestly everyone I was not surprised by the appeals and was fully expecting them. It is part of the process and it is what it is. I don't like it anymore than anyone else. The end of the next 45 day review period will be the big one. The appeals don't have any information that was not already addressed in the original EA so in theory there should not be any issues found by an appeal committee. Once this next 45 days ends is when we will actually get the stamp of approval. The last hurdle would be if the SC, CNW or the tribes wants to sue the government and make them prove it in court. If this happens that is when we can start the uprising!"

So it sounds like the Tulalip would need to file a lawsuit over the studies and approval from the USFS. The article in the paper only says they want to see the expected environmental impact on the whole project, which again is a nice request but if it ain't how it works it probably doesn't matter.

Finally here is a decent place to follow what's going on
http://www.facebook.com/stevenspassbikepark

[skiingsamurai]

According to Wikipedia:

Steven’s Pass Ski area = 1.76 square miles (lift serviced)

Male Wolverine’s territory = 240 square miles “Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep non-overlapping ranges with adults of the same sex”
Female Wolverine’s territory = 50-100 square miles (overlapping with male’s territory).

(4.2 Wolverines/240 miles^2) * 1.76 miles^2 = 0.031 Wolverines

My heart goes out to the 0.031 Wolverines that were displaced by the ski area. Especially the uber rare tropical Wolverines that prefer the warmer climes of Steven’s Pass in the summer, when the bike park will be used.

[fish]

im very disappointed in this

[Gunder]

According to Wikipedia:

Steven’s Pass Ski area = 1.76 square miles (lift serviced)

Male Wolverine’s territory = 240 square miles “Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep non-overlapping ranges with adults of the same sex”
Female Wolverine’s territory = 50-100 square miles (overlapping with male’s territory).

(4.2 Wolverines/240 miles^2) * 1.76 miles^2 = 0.031 Wolverines

My heart goes out to the 0.031 Wolverines that were displaced by the ski area. Especially the uber rare tropical Wolverines that prefer the warmer climes of Steven’s Pass in the summer, when the bike park will be used.

You know you are 110% right.

Funny I spend more time in the WA BC than almost anyone and I have NEVER EVER seen a wolverine. I have not heard of anyone seeing them either. Saw one once way north in BC but c'mon.... your high as fuck if you believe there are wolverines in WA. FUCK you sierra club. Once again SC is just getting involved to flex there muscles even though they don't know shit.

[creaky fossil]

Interesting.

In Missoula, the USFS said that the National Policy in the USFS is to move toward ski areas for bikes. They used that as an excuse repeatedly to tell us why all their new MTB trails in our area are Gomer-level "flowy" trails. They said they want all technical challenge to be located at ski areas with lift-service on USFS leased acreage. They've been saying this for at least 6 or 7 years.

Re the Sierra Club: they're all about aesthetics, they're a bunch of whiny NPR-fan latte-sipping yuppies. Fuckin' trust-funding, investment-banking douchenozzles.

[RootSkier]

They said they want all technical challenge to be located at ski areas with lift-service on USFS leased acreage.

Quick, call Ronnie! I'm sure Pat will get right on that.

[GordonShumway]

From Stevens Pass:
"It is not a done deal yet. These appeals get reviewed by a comittee in Portland and they will come to a final decision middle to end of July. The last hurdle will be if someone files a lawsuit?

I still have a plan to start construction as soon as we can once given approval.

Joel"

Looks like there still may be hope for getting some trails built this year, not sure what the likelihood is of escaping this committee, but hopefully there's someone out there that doesn't have their heads shoved up their assess and can green light this mother

[Greydon Clark]

your high as fuck if you believe there are wolverines in WA.

I believe it is possible that wolverines are in Washington waiting to eat the finger tips of little children, but I doubt they're hangin' at Stevens Pass. (Wolverines were recently documented in the northern Sierra for the 1st time in 50 or 60 years.)

It seems that the local chapters of the Sierra Club started out as well meaning folk, but have morphed into curmudgeonly, out of touch Dr. No(s). Seriously, think of what you drive past on your way to Stevens Pass, shitty suburban sprawl, paved over farmland, clear cuts and these eco-warriors are taking on the heavy lift of fighting mountain biking at a ski area. How fucking courageous.

[fish]

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/na.../97400324.html

sounds like a lot of bullshit. fucking tulalips

[noparking]

They should stick to drinking fire water and gambling.

[Hugh Conway]

Silly opposition but I'm sure they feel like they're doing something.

your high as fuck if you believe there are wolverines in WA.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/200...WS01/582190873

New research shows there is a widely dispersed population of wolverines that live at high elevation in the north Cascade Mountains, including in some remote, rugged sections of Snohomish County. Wolverines have been spotted in the mountains as far south as Mount Adams.

[huckster989]

I bet they aren't wolverines but actually are marmots that have become tired of everyone taking really close pictures of them so they grew sharp teeth and claws to get revenge on the backpackers and hikers.

I'd love to see stevens get a bike park I hope this actually happens at some point

[Dug]

Has something to say to you...

[Chugachjed]

They should stick to drinking fire water and gambling.

Maybe you should get back to cleaning the carb on your broke down dodge dart in front of your trailer. Or maybe your local tea party needs another idiot.

[noparking]

Maybe you should get back to cleaning the carb on your broke down dodge dart in front of your trailer. Or maybe your local tea party needs another idiot.

Actually quite the opposite but it sounds like I much of stuck a cord with you, that hit a little to close to home? Someone must not have a sense of humor. You throw a fuss and go on the defensive throwing accusations about where I must reside or my political affiliation? Sounds like someone has some issues they should really get sorted out. By the way it's a ford in the av, and it's far from broken down.

[Chugachjed]

Yea bald callow racists strike a chord with me. I do have a sense of humor but it does not stoop to denigrating first nations. Your callous racism is appalling and is an example of the worst part of western culture.

[MeowWoofWoof]

If the "Native Amerikins" are holding up the bike park for no good reason, fuck em (and their 'culture').