Judge OKs White Pass ski resort expansion

I say "yes" to the development. White pass is a crowded mess and this will distribute the crowds (a little). There is really only a handfull of ski areas in Washington, yet there is more backcountry areas than one could even possibly enjoy in one lifetime. No use shedding tears over that small area, go find a new area to explore. Frankly i wish more ski areas were developed in the cascades, then there might be funding to keep more mountain roads open and driveable through the winter. The world is getting crowded, there is no use in overcrowding a ski area and not letting younger generations enjoy relatively uncrowded slopes as we all once did.

I think the expansion at WP is a blessing and should have happened many many years ago. The beauty of the backcountry is that it is all over the place. Ski resorts are only located where the there are lifts to serve an area. For all you backcountry skiers that think expansion is a negative I advise you to look in the mirror and tell yourself to stay off the chair lifts and get back to the backcountry. Thats all for now.

I think the expansion at WP is a blessing and should have happened many many years ago.  The beauty of the backcountry is that it is all over the place.  Ski resorts are only located where the there are lifts to serve an area.  For all you backcountry skiers that think expansion is a negative I advise you to look in the mirror and tell yourself to stay off the chair lifts and get back to the backcountry.  Thats all for now.   

I like ski areas as much as the next guy, but your argument is too simplistic.

Ski areas are located where plowed roads reach snow country. Those are the same places where the vast majority of mid-winter backcountry skiing takes place. Both lift skiers and backcountry skiers need road access to get close to where they ski. As a ski area expands from its base, the amount of backcountry terrain accessible from the same base shrinks. Eventually, the only way to reach the backcountry is to ride lifts to get there because it's too far to tour in a day trip.

I honestly don't have an opinion one way or another about the White Pass expansion, but let's be accurate about what's going on.

Hail to the preservationists!  There is only one way to "make more backcountry accessible":
don't develop it. 
I'll go even further and put this out there:  There should be absolutely no development or expansion of lift-served sking, anywhere, ever.  Kyle Miller is right about the Northway; picture Silver King with a lift to the top of it.  How about a lift to the top of Baker or St. Helens? 
Ansel Adams thought a tram to the top of Half Dome would be good for environmental awareness, and there are companies willing to build it!

Try reading this book for info. and perspective:
 
Clifford, Hal.  Downhill Slide:  Why the Corporate Ski Industry is Bad for Skiing, Ski     
     Towns, and the Environment.  San Francisco:  Sierra Club Books, 2002.

(Don't dis. the publisher until you have read it.)

I love endless lift laps too, and just bought my first season's pass since I worked at Crested Butte in 1975-6.  But the resort days are all blended together in my mind, and every BC day is a brilliant, distinct experience.  I expect to lift ski when I'm too old to skin, but I hope I won't be a cheerleader for more terrain no matter what the cost.

Frankly I am quite disturbed by the preservationist attitude of many backcountry users, and I hope I don’t offend anyone. I feel it is hypocritical and creates a double standard. I agree that preservation is great, that’s why we have wilderness boundaries and forestry and limited recreation regulations in place. And I believe for the most part they work. I personally, in my own dream-world, wish that all ski areas went out of business and all the roads stayed plowed, but unfortunately there is this thing called procreation, and everyone is participating in it. For those of you who have been around for a while and reaped the benefits for years of un-crowded ski areas should thank there lucky stars they had those days (even if they blurred together) and feel sorry for all the beginners out there waiting in 1-hour lift lines to enjoy the same experience we all enjoyed years ago. I do not agree with backountry users who find themselves in a position to say (in a nutshell) screw ski areas, I liked Northback (I am just using northback as an example) how it used to be, and you know what “there should be absolutely no development or expansion of lift served skiing, anywhere, ever”. I see this as backountry user elitism. “how about a lift to the top of baker or St. Helens?” Well, that’s why there are wilderness boundaries in place – to prevent this. I don’t know the entire story about how white pass got permits to extend into the expansion area, but they went through the long painstaking process to do it and succeeded, as of now. I am sure all our beloved ski areas expanded at some point in the past and I’m sure not everyone was pumped on it, but look at us now riding up the Green Valley chair with no regrets, perhaps that was someone elses “northback”.

This discussion parallels discussion on TAY in the past regarding snowmobiling. Many feel that snowmobiling should be banned in any area where there might be a backountry skier in hearing-distance. Yet these people who bash snowmo users drive their SUV’s all over wilderness areas with the masses all year long while pointing there finger and shaming those snowmobilers, who for instance, drive up white river road, yes all those 2 snowmobiles a day. Give me a break.

Well, that’s my opinion and everyone has one. I do respect all your positions on the issue, and enjoy these discussions.

Check out this video, very rarely do I get nervous watching ski/snowboard movies, but this is pretty narly.

I deliberately overstated a philosophical position. I'd actually like to see MORE backcountry users; unless people see the wonders of unspoiled nature, we will lose what little we have even faster.
Don't expect the resort skiing market to grow much more; it's been flattening for years, and the income and demographics of post-boomers
won't be conducive to it. One of the main reasons for resort expansion is to market real estate and vacation packages.
Again, check out the book. There are many negative consequences of ski development; it is not elitist to point this out.