Crystal is getting a gondola

If Crystal Mt didn't have to spend $5 million in EIS, they could have had a tram built 13 years ago , without extra costs in lift tickets.

Thank your Sierra Club, PETA and every other environmental wacko group for stalling improvements at Crystal Mt.

Just remember that those same "wackos" stepped in to cry foul just as Boyne was set to sign-off on the deal to close backcountry access to the USFS land adjacent to the ski area, and was set to pay the NPS to employ multiple full-time Snow Rangers to police the NPS boundary from their cozy watchtower in the new tram station.  Worth the wait in my book...

Just remember that those same "wackos" stepped in to cry foul just as Boyne was set to sign-off on the deal to close backcountry access to the USFS land adjacent to the ski area, and was set to pay the NPS to employ multiple full-time Snow Rangers to police the NPS boundary from their cozy watchtower in the new tram station.  Worth the wait in my book...

Where have you been? Skiing Utah? That has already happened. Except for the cozy watchtower.


Worth the wait? Not at all.

Where have you been? Skiing Utah?

If so, it would seem to be somewhat "typical" according to Kim Kircher who has posted some new blog entries. At SKI INDUSTRY MYTH OF EARLY CLOSURE , she reports that in "Washington state...more people from WA ski out of state than in."  (Me so far, 25 days at Crystal, 22 days out of state.)

The other concerns the new gondola: CRYSTAL: IT'S NOT JUST FOR WINTER ANYMORE . She makes the point that the gondola will allow for earlier and later season access to the Green Valley for skiing.

As for mountain biking and the gondola, that will require a revision of the master plan. Yes, the master plan again.

While railing against the obstacles erected toward unfettered expansion of Crystal and the name calling (tree huggers and wackos) might strike a populist chord,  the regulations and red tape are a recognition that Crystal, which is built on our land and is a public trust, is not an island. It is part of the ecosystem where every action effects another part of the surrounding ecosystem. And these environmental protection laws grew out of necessity to curb the abuses of those who would exploit and rape our lands for short term gain.

The millions spent toward working within these regulations is part of doing business.

While railing against the obstacles erected toward unfettered expansion of Crystal and the name calling (tree huggers and wackos) might strike a populist chord,  the regulations and red tape are a recognition that Crystal, which is built on our land and is a public trust, is not an island. It is part of the ecosystem where every action effects another part of the surrounding ecosystem. And these environmental protection laws grew out of necessity to curb the abuses of those who would exploit and rape our lands for short term gain.

The millions spent toward working within these regulations is part of doing business.

I have mixed feelings about this.
When I see the effects of lands that are being logged just miles away from the Crystal that are making our community scramble to save our private lands and water supply, it makes me wonder how much they (FS) really care. Since our community has to go through all the same red tape as Crystal to save our resources, it makes me feel that a lot of folks are more concerned with making a job out of nothing and wasting the taxpayers dollar. Our community is being proactive and looking at potential losses due to the increased erosive effects of continual logging upstream. We spend lots of dollars on people who plan solutions and think about the potential affect of the saving our resources, but not curbing the cause. If or better yet, when a large dangerous flood comes and takes our water supply away or threatens our lives, trying to save every species goes out the door and resolution to save personal lives overrides fish, salamanders, dear, elk ect...So what was the use of all the studies when they just will built a big rock wall on the river and save the people?
Bottom line...It all boils down the the almighty dollar.

Since Crystal borders one of the worlds greatest National Parks it gets more ecological attention and increased bureaucracy.
The gondola is a great contribution to the enjoyment of nature, it makes it possible for people to get out of the weather and see the mountain. My aged parents may be able to finally come up and see what makes their son disappear for several months a year.
Crystal thinks it is important to save the resources to, they want sightseers to see nature and the wildlife, not drums of diesel poured on the land.
Since there are limited areas that one can get up in nature without risking their lives on logging roads, it is important to develop the playgrounds that support these values already.
The balance of private industry doing good on public lands is better than what the government can provide.
If only we can decrease the importune leaches that make red tape the cesspool of public debt.

BTW: Crystal does not pay any wages (other than taxes) for the national park ranger that patrols MRNP boundary on Crystal Ridge. The wages and benefits, vehicle driven every day, maintenance, the lift pass are all paid by the taxpayers.
To dedicate that much tax dollars in hard times; there is a reason she is working that area beyond serving the public and protecting the park lands.
My mind thinks it is to collect data to limit future skier access to our park.

I am always embarrassed when I take visitors to Crystal for the first time, not by Crystal but by the clearcuts and absolute desolation and ervironmental damage evident on the 410 road to Crystal caused by the logging.
Now I'm no tree hugger but Jesus H. Christ what a mess! 

As to JDclimbers list, thanks for taking the time to be specific. Can't say I agree with them all.
The Crystal lifties are always OK as far as I am concerned except for Bandit who once stole a line of untracked I had been eyeing from the Chair 6 line. Never forgiven him for that.!!!

I can't remember the Baker lifites coming across as more happy.
I think food choices are OK at Base and Campbell but the summit house resturant isn't working for me. I'd like to see that changed back to a cafeteria style.
I kinda like getting wacked by the bamboo pole at Forest Queen and in fact have been asked to be hit by it.... but that's me!!!!
Ski patrol seems efficient and great so do you have specific information from them that they feel they need more people or aren't being looked after. The ones I know think its great and like management policies. They'd like more money and benefits but wouldn't we all.

The only thing I've heard about ski patrol at Crystal is that they've thinned out their volunteer ski patrol ranks pretty heavily -- not sure why that is, or what effect it's had, but the vollys I've talked to were puzzled by it, at best.