Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and the U.S. Forest Service conducted two in-depth geological hazards investigations with the goal of determining the suitability of Snodgrass Mountain for lift-serviced alpine skiing and snowboarding. These two studies are in addition to several others that have been conducted on the mountain going as far back as 1976, making Snodgrass one of the most studied ski mountains in the country.
Rex Baum of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a report dated January 8, 2009 that reviewed the two studies. Baum has reviewed other studies in the past and issued his own report on Snodgrass in 1996. The current report expressed two primary locations of concern that have consistently been identified as areas of concern in other previous reports.
The Forest Service has reviewed the findings of the geology report and Baum’s summary findings and will submit a letter to CBMR on the areas of exclusion for ski resort use on Snodgrass Mountain.
CBMR will be refining its Master Plan over the next several weeks to address the concerns expressed by the Forest Service over items in the report and will then submit the plan to the Forest Service. The Forest Service has told CBMR that as long the plan addresses the geology concerns and stays within specified guidelines it will accept the Snodgrass proposal.
“After four years of pre-NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) evaluation, we are very pleased to have the geology issue answered and now behind us. We look forward to moving the Snodgrass plan along in the process with the Forest Service and into NEPA,” said Michael Kraatz Vice President of Planning and Development for CBMR. “We anticipate having the adjustments to the Master Plan including Snodgrass complete by the end of February. The formal Snodgrass proposal and the Master Plan will then be submitted to the Forest Service at that point. We anticipate the Forest Service will take several weeks to review the proposal and Master Plan and we hope to be in NEPA by late spring.”
