While we were all distracted by the mess Vail has made of Stowe and Hunter, and by ORDA's various missteps, the new owners off Jackson Hole want to regrade the Alta chutes:
https://www.skimag.com/news/jackson-hole-alta-chutes/
WTF? Is nothing sacred?
mm
On one hand we have this:
"In a prepared statement, JJ Markman, director of (JH) resort development, reiterated that focus.
“We have submitted a proposal for rock removal and select tree thinning/limbing in the Alta Chutes with the goal of earlier openings and less closures throughout the season,” Markman said. “We do not wish to take the character or difficulty away from the Alta Chutes as it’s one of the premier steep skiing spots at JHMR.”"
On the other hand we have this:
"Michael Werner, a Jackson Hole ski patroller of 26 years, said he was worried about the Alta Chutes work making avalanche problems worse — and creating a gnarlier, but more inviting, trail for intermediate skiers.
“The blasting of rock and trees out of big, steep, avalanche-prone slopes could possibly add to our avalanche mitigation problems, adding more unknown risks to our patrollers working in that terrain prior to opening it,” Werner said, adding that the work could create “slide for life” scenarios in the chutes.
“The Alta Chutes’ natural terrain is limiting for guests who might not venture into them due to their natural hazards,” Werner wrote. “This keeps people who should not ski terrain like this out of harm’s way.”"
