CBMR already offers under-utilized, lift-served skiing and hiking and mountain biking on Crested Butte Mountain for those who seek that experience. Snodgrass, on the other hand, provides easily-accessible, FREE backcountry recreation that differs significantly from the activities on Crested Butte Mountain. Why not preserve the diversity of our recreational offerings which includes backcountry, non-motorized recreation on one side of the road, or a lift ride up the mountain on the other side? (read what a retired US Forester says about such recreational opportunity.) A lift-free Snodgrass is an asset that we need in our recreational quiver in order to maintain as much diversity as possible in our tourism economy.

Year-round backcountry recreation on Snodgrass is not limited to just the main Snodgrass Trail and Glory Hole areas that CBMR discussed in its letter. Recreation currently occurs all over the mountain, including the full length of Snodgrass Road, the aspen and conifer groves on the eastern aspect of the mountain, and in the two valleys at the southern and northern bases of the mountain.

According to CBMR’s 2009 Master Development Plan (MDP), Snodgrass would have been substantially altered via: 200+ acres of forest clear-cutting; 55+ acres of slope blasting and grading; the installation of ski-lifts and snowmaking systems; “aggressive surface and subsurface drainage systems”; and restaurants and maintenance facilities. The peaceful backcountry experience would have been eliminated by the noise, visual impacts and activities of year-round ski area operations which include: truck, snowmobile and groomer traffic; ski-lifts; facilities construction and maintenance; snowmaking; slope re-grading, brush-trimming and tree-cutting. Recreation would no longer have occurred in intact alpine forests and undisturbed wildflower meadows. Rather, it would have been interrupted by extensive fields of stumps and graded rock areas. Major hydrological drainage systems would have damaged the rich complexity of Snodgrass’ wetlands, seeps and streams that provide so much habitat, ecological diversity and an enchanting forest experience.

Even skiers on Crested Butte Mountain would have found an altered experience. Their views today are of breathtaking mountain ranges, with Snodgrass’ beautiful forests in the center of the view. In fact, lifts and runs would have been highly visible from many vantage points, affecting the experience for recreationists and the economic draw of an unspoiled viewshed. The US EPA notes that, “...expansion of existing ski areas must be evaluated in light of their much broader influence outside permit boundaries". Putting lifts on Snodgrass would have meant abandoning the hard work to craft a winter use agreement among recreationists in Washington Gulch. The new Washington Gulch experience would have included increased motorized use and the noise of ski area maintenance activities. Our only non-motorized winter valley, the Upper East River Valley, would have been impacted as well.

Snodgrass’s unlimited, free winter access would have been eliminated during ski area operations, just as it is now on Crested Butte Mountain. Nordic/AT use of Snodgrass Road, glade skiing during high avalanche cycles, forested show-shoe hikes and just-plain-walking-up-the-road-with-your-kids-and-dog would all have been unavailable from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 7 days a week during the resort's ski season.

Avalanche control and backcountry access issues associated with a Snodgrass development remain unresolved. In March 2009, the Forest Service informed CBMR of the following:“The elimination of the Glory Hole from the permit boundary does not solve the problem. Rather, CBMR’s proposal would create a new backcountry access trail, outside ski area boundaries, which would shift the issues, consequences and liabilities of the backcountry access/avalanche problem onto the public as a result of the development of Snodgrass Mountain...This is further highlighted by CBMR’s proposed location for an access point [to the Glory Hole], which, given the history of backcountry skiing on Snodgrass Mountain, will not succeed as designed...The plan shows a proposed skin track going up through the starting zone of a large avalanche path [“Snowbeast”]. Uphill traffic would mix with downhill skiers in an avalanche start zone" (CBMR Appeal, Exhibit #24, p8, item 71) .To further complicate the safety risks, this proposed access trail would traverse the side-slopes of the steep avalanche terrain directly above Gothic Road, endangering our only non-motorized winter Nordic skiing corridor. (Hartman/Mears Avalanche Report)

In the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, the home of Fat Tire Bike Week and birthplace of mountain biking, why would we even consider changing a bike trail that travels through renowned wildflower meadows and a well-known trail that Outside Magazine called "Colorado's best climb"? The Crested Butte area has lost access to many close-to-town recreation areas over the years, and fought hard to retain and protect others. Snodgrass is Mt Crested Butte’s Lower Loop! It is one of our most valuable backcountry recreation areas and a tourism amenity that serves to diversify our tourism economy.