The Problem with the Wasatch

[tirolski]

The reason the lake is salty is because it has no outlet other than evaporation, so all the minerals accumulate. The reason the water level is so low is due to population growth and increased usage of water from the lake's tributaries. The idea of a pipeline from the ocean is that it would keep the lake at a safe level, while allowing the city to use freshwater from the tributaries. It's not an outlandish idea at all. We have oil and gas pipelines everywhere. Why not have one for water?

Your Diet Coke can could be in jeopardy if the Great Salt Lake dries up

As the Great Salt Lake shrinks, the impact of its decline grows. Industries from food to recreation stand to be affected by the lake's declining water levels.

kslnewsradio.com

Not my Diet Coke can.
I don’t drink that shit.

 

[Harvey]

What is the total horizontal of the proposed Gondola?

I see 55 mins of travel time, one gondi car every two minute.

But no distance.

 

[Harvey]

What is the total horizontal of the proposed Gondola?

8 miles.

The article I read said the drive time is 55 minutes. Wow.

 

[MarzNC]

The article I read said the drive time is 55 minutes. Wow.

The drive time from the start of LCC to Snowbird/Alta can vary a lot depending on traffic and road conditions. Doesn't take 55 minutes all the way from SLC airport on dry roads with no traffic slowdowns on RT210. The canyon driving is on the order of 10 miles and 15-20 minutes when clear.

Have you read Stuart's take on how Americans think of transport gondolas? Meaning gondolas that aren't just for people going skiing. There are a quite a few that have been build in recent years in a few countries where there is no snow at all.

 

[Harvey]

I did read Stuart's piece. That's where I saw the infographic withe the 55 minute drive time. What does that number refer to?

I haven't seen this articulated anywhere. Are locals against the Wasatch gondola for the same reason locals are against improved access to "their mountain" at every other mountain in the country?

 

[MarzNC]

I did read Stuart's piece. That's where I saw the infographic withe the 55 minute drive time. What does that number refer to?

I haven't seen this articulated anywhere. Are locals against the Wasatch gondola for the same reason locals are against improved access to "their mountain" at every other mountain in the country?

A bit more complicated than "every other mountain" given the unique aspects of SLC and LCC. LCC is a primary water source for the city. For example, a resident can't legally just bring a dog up but need some legal standing for the dog. When the detachable quad was proposed to replace the old Supreme triple, the reason a mid-station wasn't approvable was that building it would've damaged a marshy section.

I don't think it's just "locals" versus other people. There are plenty of locals on both sides of the issue. There probably is an element of people who pay taxes in SLC but don't spend time in the mountains versus those who moved to SLC in the last decade or two because of the short drive to the mountains.

SLC has a major international airport. Not only busy in the winter, but also in the summer. The number of visitors and locals who want to head up to hike in LCC during the summer months may well be larger than in the winter. Parking is just as much of an issue during the "green" season.

 

[raisingarizona]

Personally I love the idea of the gondola and the One but I don’t see many people using the gondola it if it’s 35 bucks a person for the day. That’s crazy.

 

[Harvey]

That is a lot.

It should be less than the parking. Is it?

 

[MarzNC]

That is a lot.

It should be less than the parking. Is it?

Parking at Alta was $25 in 2021-22. Got a $10 discount off parking if you bought a day ticket. That was only on weekends and holidays. Had to get it online in advance. No scanning when driving into the parking lot. They would get everyone parked the usual way. Later on, they were scanning license plates. The fine for not having paid for parking was $75 and doubled after 10 days. Or so I heard from a SLC resident.

Free parking at Alta for season pass holders. Still needed to make a reservation though. The whole point was to avoid people driving up the canyon only to find there was no place to park.

Snowbird had some free parking and some paid parking. Think it was $10 for Creekside.

Do you know much about the Telluride gondola? Goes from town to the main base to Mountain Village . . . for free. Runs late for people who want to eat in town but stay on the mountain. It's a private-public partnership. It's getting old, having been put into operation in 1996. The situation is very different from SLC. Telluride is a small ski town in a box canyon. Takes a long time to get to a big airport like Albuquerque. Even the airport in Montrose is an hour away in good weather.

Officials eye the gondola’s future

In a morning work session Tuesday, Telluride Town Council was briefed on what lies ahead for the gondola, the spectacular transportation link between the towns of Mountain Village and Telluride.

www.telluridenews.com

 

[raisingarizona]

Well, I’m officially priced out of skiing at these places.

I’ll admit though, it’s just no longer on my list of priorities. The cost isn’t really worth it for me personally at this time.