The Longer Season Argument

Chair One, Photo Taken from Lodge 1, May 1, 2008

Chair Two, Lodge 2 in foreground, May 1, 2008

Chair three, Chair 5 in foreground, Photo Taken from Lodge 2, May 1, 2008

Excerpt from Pages 10-11

Mt Spokane 2000 attempts to make a case for the need to expand into north facing terrain and snow making facilities in order to extend the length of the ski season for fiscal viability. Mt Spokane closed for the season on April 6, 2008 with more than adequate snow for operations. There were several days of snow accumulation after the closing date. All photographs on this page were taken in May, still plenty of snow for operations.*

*The photos shown here, and the point of the page, are to demonstrate an argument against moving into the North and West slopes of the mountain in order to extend or lengthen the season. Lengthening the season is one of the points to the expansion proposed by Mt Spokane 2000. This year the season could have been much longer for the Mt Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, the closing was not due to inadequate snow, but to inadequate attendance. The push to lengthen the season is truly a push to open earlier and to ensure capture of the holiday season patrons. Is opening a week earlier worth the destruction of unique native habitat that once disturbed cannot be replaced or allowed to recover? The Save Mt Spokane Coalition does not think so.

One of the problems with adding ski runs to the North and West slopes of Mt Spokane as an answer to low snow years is access to these new ski runs. The ski area would have to make snow in order to have enough snow to allow access to the North and West from the current lodges located on the more protected SE exposure of the mountain. There was a proposal for a lodge in the expansion area, but that has been deleted from the proposal as it is not considered viable . What that means is, if there is inadequate snow in the current ski area, access to the new area is compromised. Currently there would not be access to the proposed expansion area in low snow years without also making snow, a very expensive proposition.

The Save Mt Spokane Coalition is in support of an economically viable ski area. We support renovation to the existing infrastructure. We ourselves are skiers that wish to see the ski area succeed. We do not feel that this economic viability should come at the expense of fragmenting the last intact large natural forest area near Spokane, and disrupting a wildlife corridor that connects the Selkirks/Salmo-Priest Wilderness in the north to the Antoine Peaks Natural Area in the south.

If we work together, we can all win. There will be adequate recreation for skiers in the concessionaire area of the park, and adequate access for other recreational pursuits during all seasons in the State Park. It is important to remember we are talking about a concessionaire expanding into public land that is currently available year round for multiple human and non-human uses. If developed by the ski area, winter pursuits such as snowshoeing and back-country skiing will no longer have winter season access to the area of proposed development.

The Save Mt Spokane Coalition welcomes your comments and/or questions regarding the Save Mt Spokane Coalition's position on the ski area expansion. Also, please forward the website information to others so we can work on informing the public of the proposed expansion.

Let's balance our desire for an improved and thriving ski area with our need to protect this unique and ecologically important landscape in our community.

Chair One, Photo Taken from Lodge 1, May 1, 2008