Mt. Spokane's Backside Expansion 


 

Backside Expansion Approved

In Thursday’s Commission decision, a large portion of the PASEA was classified as Natural Forest Area, which would set it aside for wildlife habitat and forest protection.  The proposed ski runs and lift, at approximately 80 acres, will be classified as Recreation and the remainder will be classified as Resource Recreation which would allow for back country skiing.

MS2000 will begin the permitting process immediately, and is hopeful of beginning construction in the summer of 2012.

The MS2000 Board of Directors and Staff want to thank everyone for all their support and encouragement through this long process leading up to this historic decision.  It was ultimately the broad based support of the Spokane Community that helped the Commission make this difficult decision.


Special Thanks To:

Commissioner Cindy Whaley from Spokane, who, on her own dime, spent hundreds of hours studying the data, researching the issues, touring the area and meeting with the public.  We are thankful to have her representing our community!

Mark Richard and the Spokane County Commissioners

Greater Spokane Incorporated

Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau

Spokane Parks and Recreation

Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol

Spokane Ski Racing Association

Spokane Regional Sports Commission

Spokane Ski Club

Prime Timers

And the Thousands of Skiers and Snowboarders who took the time to write the Commission and provide public testimony!

Thank You!!!

 


 

 


Improved Recreation for a Growing Population

Spokane and Inland Northwest families have made Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park a favorite destination for fun, affordable and safe winter sports recreation for 80 years. Hundreds of thousands have learned to ski or snowboard on the mountain, a regional icon that also generates positive economic impacts.

Mt. Spokane 2000 (MS2000) proposes to protect and enhance those interests for generations to come. The plan allows outdoor enthusiasts to recreate safely, safeguards natural areas and solidifies the long-term future of Mt. Spokane. The expansions area already exists within Mt. Spokane’s concession boundary on land that was gifted to Washington State Parks for the purpose of recreation.

Economic analysis indicates reclamation of the PASEA to be important to the long-term success and financial viability of the ski area, including lift and trail improvements. Studies have concluded that all environmental obstacles can be mitigated.


A Long-Term Plan Based on Extensive Community Input

MS2000 seeks to re-designate a small portion of Mt. Spokane State Park, known as the Proposed Alpine Ski Expansion Area (PASEA), for recreational use. The plan has been refined over several years and balances multiple interests. We sought feedback from numerous stakeholders, including members of the regulatory, recreational, environmental and regional communities, and acted on that input before asking the Washington State Parks Commission to classify the 800-acre PASEA as Recreation.


Improving the PASEA and reviving its historical use for recreational skiing has many benefits:


•    Continued and improved recreational opportunities for a growing population of skiers and snowboarders.

•    Positive economic impacts above and beyond the $110,000 that Mt. Spokane pays the state on average in annual rent and $250,000 in taxes.

•    New sources of revenue generated by the expansion will help offset the state’s budget shortfalls and also help fund planned improvements at Mt. Spokane.

•    Improved skier and rider safety and reduced risk to the Washington State Parks Department.

•    Increased employment opportunities above and beyond the 387 jobs Mt. Spokane already provides to the Spokane area.

•    Add, badly needed intermediate skiing terrain, and relief for the densely crowded “cat track” area used by all.


Expansion Has Broad Community Support

Business and community leaders, Spokane citizens and outdoor recreational enthusiasts understand the positive economic and recreational benefits for classifying the PASEA as Recreation.
 


“Being able to expand Mt. Spokane means they are going to draw more people to this region, growing our economy, at the same time, Mt. Spokane is a great place to showcase for new residents and new companies that are looking to come to this area.”

-    Rich Hadley
President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated
 


“Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park serves a regional population base of over 480,000 plus, as a result of that they are the gateway for many snow enthusiasts new to the sport… This community based non-profit organization is at a pivotal point in its journey and this expansion request is important in their success.”

-    Jim Van Loben Sels
Owner, Arbor Crest Winery
Board President, Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau
Member, Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol
 


“Over 4,000 acres or 29% is already classified as Natural Area Preserve or Natural Forest Area…with 14,000 acres of available, mostly gifted land, it has not been as recreational centered as it could be.”

-    Clyde Anderson
Former Washington State Parks Commissioner
 


“The Therapeutic Recreation Services at Spokane Parks and Recreation, fully supports the expansion plan as it would give us additional terrain for our students as well as improving the beginner teaching area significantly.”

-    Alice M. Busch C.T.R.S.

Spokane Parks and Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Services
 


Your Continued Support is Needed

Your support is critically important to successfully moving the project ahead. The Washington State Parks Commission is accepting public comment this month on the PASEA and hosting a public workshop.


Send letters of support for the PASEA by Mon., March 21 to randy.kline@parks.wa.gov.


Or via mail to:
Randy Kline
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650


Attend the public workshop, hosted by the Washington State Parks Department, on Wed., March 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Sub Lounge AB&C (also known as rooms 102, 103 and 104) in building 17 at Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive in Spokane.



 To: Friends of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

From:  Mt. Spokane 2000

Re: "Backside" Expansion


 

 We are again asking for your support for our plan to expand your ski area into the backside of the mountain by requesting that you write a letter or email in favor of this expansion concept and ask the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to classify the land as Recreation. 

Our plan calls for installing a lift and 7 formal trails, and managing the remainder of the PASEA as backcountry skiing on the backside of the mountain.

Starting today, there is a short public comment period.  Comments will be gathered and presented to the Commission in May 2011.  At that time, they will be asked to approve or disapprove of our expansion concept, then classify the land accordingly.

A Recreation classification will allow for the installation of a lift and winter and summer trails.  A Natural Forest Area (NFA) classification, will not allow any future improvements.

In May of 2007, the Commission allowed MS2000 to begin doing the design work and environmental studies needed to bring a formal proposal and land classification to the Commission.  Over the last four years, we have completed all the studies and have a formal proposal that we are confident will address the needs of the ski area and will simultaneously minimize the environmental impacts.  You can view all the documents related to the proposal at the State Parks website at http://www.parks.wa.gov/plans/mtspokane2/

We were thankful of the many letters of support that were sent in 2007.  That was the determining factor that allowed us to move forward to where we are today.  We need and ask for your show of support again!  There are many new Commissioners who have never heard from you, and this is the time!

Please consider the following talking points in presenting your comments:

  • MS2000 is a non-profit community based corporation operating under a "Concession Agreement" with State Parks since 1997 paying significant rent and taxes to the State in the process.  Being a non-profit entity, MS2000 reinvests all profits back into the mountain, its operations and facilities.  Simply, there is no payout of wages or profits to stockholders; all monies are retained in the operation.  This helps keep skiing and riding at Mt. Spokane affordable and accessible to a wider range of guests.  In addition, expansion will undoubtedly increase the amount of concession rent paid to an already under-budgeted State Park System. 

     

     

  • The "Potential Alpine Ski Expansion Area" (PASEA) is greater than 800 acres.  MS2000's proposal calls for utilizing only 279 acres, concentrated in the mostly gladed, historically developed portion of the ski area.  A majority of the PASEA will be left in its natural state. 

     

     

  • Classification as Recreation would allow for not only improvements in the Alpine Ski terrain at Mt. Spokane State Park, but for the future consideration of expansion of the summer trail network for hiking, biking, and equestrian use. 

     

     

  • There is a limited amount of terrain suitable for Alpine Skiing within a reasonable distance to metropolitan areas.  Mt. Spokane is fortunate to have existing terrain, within the concession area available for expansion. 

     

     

  • As currently configured, the Mt. Spokane operation is utterly reliant upon south-facing slopes.  In most winters, Mt. Spokane's deep snowpacks weather the highly erosive elements of south-facing slopes - solar exposure and wind - without detriment to its operation.  However, as the region-wide drought illustrated during the winter of 2004-2005, ski facilities with south-facing aspects are especially susceptible to dramatic reductions in their operating season (e.g., Mt. Spokane had a 29-day 'fiscal year' during the winter of 2004-2005).  Expansion into terrain with a northwestern aspect will not only yield a very high quality recreational experience, and better, overall snow quality, it will help add resilience to the financial performance of the ski area.  During years of modest natural snowfall, northwestern facing slopes will enjoy deeper snowpacks and will allow Mt. Spokane to open earlier in the winter and help the facility operate later into the ski season. 

     

     

  • Because skiers and snowboarders routinely utilize the PASEA for "out of bounds" skiing and riding, Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol assists and evacuates injured skiers and snowboarders from this area on a regular basis.  The PASEA is not currently managed consistently with the rest of the ski area.  The Patrol only knows of an injury or a lost skier, however, when someone makes a missing person report or calls by cell phone.  Lift serving and ski patrolling this terrain as a regular course of business would yield many public safety and ski patrol-related benefits, among them:

1.    members of the public would have a formal trail system and knowledge they need to safely ski the PASEA terrain;

2.    no longer will skiers/riders have to use a designated snowmobile road to access a lift;

3.    lift installation and trail development would improve ski patrol response time, decrease the patrol's number of search and rescue missions, and reduce the overall risk associated with search and rescue missions; and

4.    incorporation of the PASEA would augment Mt. Spokane's snow safety program (further improving public safety at the ski area).

In short, the safety of the guest, and ski patrollers, would greatly benefit from the redevelopment of the PASEA.
 

  • With the demand for snow sports projected to grow with the increase in population, ski area operators must size and invest in their facilities to ensure adequate capacity for safe and comfortable skiing and snowboarding.  Mt. Spokane's peak attendance in the next decade is projected to be significantly greater than peak attendance witnessed in the 1980s and 1990s, largely because of Spokane, Washington's sustained population growth and because a growing number of Mt. Spokane's guests are choosing to focus the majority of their skiing and snowboarding on weekends during the months of December, January and February.  As a result, it is vital that Mt. Spokane be allowed to expand so the facility is able to provide safe and uncongested ski trails - especially during periods of peak attendance when Mt. Spokane's guest population is comprised of individuals with limited ski and snowboard skills.  This is the only area in which Mt. Spokane can expand its lift-served terrain.

     

  • Family-oriented, winter sports facilities must provide a carefully planned progression of lifts and trails - alpine offerings that help park visitors develop skills and gain confidence.  An optimally designed facility provides a first-time beginner with an enjoyable, introductory experience.  It nurtures the skier/snowboarder, and helps build athleticism and sense of achievement.  Enhanced skiing/snowboarding proficiency, in turn, leads to a bigger mountain experience (i.e., park visitors are able to enjoy more of the mountain setting), higher levels of satisfaction with the park, and the higher likelihood of return visits to the Mt. Spokane winter sports facility. 

     

     

  • Mt. Spokane's expansion onto northwest-facing slopes will improve how Mt. Spokane's lifts and trails function as an integrated network.  The expansion proposal is the result of careful analysis of the application of uphill lift conveyance to existing and proposed alpine terrain of various degrees of difficulty.  Expansion into north-facing terrain is a critical component of Mt. Spokane's future because it enhances the recreational experience - principally for intermediates and experts - and helps improve the functioning of the facility during periods of limited natural snowfall. 

     

     

  • It is imperative that Mt. Spokane's existing winter sports facility be allowed to evolve and take steps forward to help accomodate the marketplace demand for skiing and snowboarding.  Equally important, it is critical that Mt. Spokane be allowed to develop the components of a winter sports facility that help sustain the ski facility in the highly competitive local and regional ski markets.


Please address your comments to:

Email: randy.kline@parks.wa.gov

Or Mail to:

Randy Kline
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA  98504-2650

Please copy Brad McQuarrie, General Manager of Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park at bradmcquarrie@mtspokane.com, so he can insure your comments were entered into the record.

Thank you in advance for your letter, as well as your continued support.

Kind regards,

Mt. Spokane 2000

Board of Directors