Summit County Citizens Voice

The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments on planned infrastructure improvements at Vail and Beaver Creek.

Eagle County resorts to add some six-seater lifts

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Vail Resorts is looking to boost uphill capacity at its Eagle County resorts by replacing a few aging quad chairlifts with six-seaters, as well as making a few other on-mountain infrastructure improvements. The upgrades are consistent with previously approved master plans for Vail and Beaver Creek, but the U.S. Forest Service is taking  public input on the projects before approving them.

Specifically, proposed activities at Vail Mountain include:

•    Replace and upgrade the Mountain Top Express (Chair #4) chairlift from a detachable quad to a six person chairlift
•    Replace and upgrade the Gopher Hill (Chair #12) chairlift from a double to a triple chairlift

Proposed activities at Beaver Creek Resort include:
•    Replace and upgrade the Centennial Express (Chair #6) chairlift from a detachable quad to a six person chairlift
•    Relocate the Maintenance Facility Access Road through the Fire Station parcel
•    Install a water tank for the restrooms at Patrol Headquarters
•    Relocate the explosives storage facilities
•    Widen Cinch from below Allie’s Cabin to Gold Dust
•    Construct a snowcat bypass route through Dally Alley
•    Create a snowmobile route from the Brink to the top of the Birds of Prey Express (Chair #9)
•    Install a race storage building on Westfall Road

Decisions on the actual timing and implementation of approved projects are at the discretion of the ski area operator with appropriate Forest Service oversight.

“We see these projects as another example of a commitment to enhancing the guest experience for our Forest visitors,” said White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams. “The public input part of this process is key to our understanding of any concerns regarding this proposal.”

Public comments are requested by March 29, 2013 in order to help inform the decision to be made by identifying resource issues and concerns as well as how they may be addressed.  Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral and electronic comments will be accepted.

Comments should be addressed to: Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, c/o. Don Dressler, Winter Sports Administrator, White River National Forest, PO Box 190 Minturn, CO 81645; FAX (970) 827-9343 or by email to: drdressler@fs.fed.us

Filed under: Colorado, recreation, Ski Resorts, skiing and riding, Vail Resorts Tagged: | Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado, lift improvements, skiing, United States Forest Service, Vail, Vail Colorado, White River National Forest