cal transport feet reveals a different pattern of relative 

 downhill skiing opportunities among the regions 

 (table 3.10). Because longer lifts and steeper moun- 

 tains are common to the western States, these States 

 generally produce more capacity per lift than lifts 

 located elsewhere. For example, while the Rocky 

 Mountain and Great Plains region has 22 percent of 

 the total number of lifts, this represents 34 percent of 

 the capacity in vertical transport feet. Similarly, the 

 National Forest percentage of capacity in vertical 

 transport feet increases from 30 percent for the 

 number of lifts to 54 percent of the national study. 



A cross-country ski trail network has been devel- 

 oped in the last 10 years through the efforts of public 

 agencies and private enterprise. Much of this trail 

 system is comprised of those snow-covered roads and 

 hiking trails used by both cross-country skiers and 

 snowmobilers. Although in some areas snow- and 

 cross-country skiers recreate in relative harmony, in 

 others the quiet recreational encounter sought by 

 some skiers is disrupted by passing snowmobiles. The 

 creation of specially designed trails on some public 

 lands for cross-country skiing reflects the sensitivity 

 of land managers to this situation. Altogether, the 

 supply of trails for cross-country skiing totals 3,442 

 miles on National Forest lands. So far, these trails 

 have been relatively inexpensive to construct. 



Despite the significant progress made in the last 

 decade, prospects for increasing opportunities for 

 snow and ice recreation are not all favorable. The 

 most controversial issue deterring further develop- 

 ment is the allocation of public lands for specific uses. 

 An example is the development of downhill skiing 

 facilities. National and local groups have effectively 

 prevented the development of most new ski areas on 

 public land from being approved. Initially, ski area 

 developments were not controversial, because they 

 were few in number and did not create major impacts. 

 It was not until the sixties that such impacts as exten- 

 sive private land development, the need for expanded 

 community services, and environmental damage were 

 noticed. Since then, planning and construction 

 controls have lessened direct environmental effects of 

 developed ski slopes. 



Current issues concerning new developments on 

 public lands relate less to the site itself than to the 

 overall character changes in the area. These issues 

 include such impacts as development encroachment 

 on unroaded or undeveloped areas of public land, 

 development of new communities and changes in 

 existing ones, proliferation of second-home develop- 

 ments, and the effects of these developments on water 

 and air quality. Coupled with these concerns is the 

 long planning period required on public lands for 



these types of developments. Figure 3.7 illustrates the 

 timing and extent of various aspects of planning, 

 financing, and construction that are necessary to 

 develop a major resort under current conditions on a 

 National Forest. The cost of planning a development 

 of this type is estimated to be over $500,000, exclud- 

 ing private land options and carrying costs. Overall 

 costs to the investors for a 4-year planning effort at 

 Ski Yellowstone, Mont., was reported in 1978 to be 

 $2 million. Those individuals have no assurance of 

 any return on their investment. 



Because of these development issues, construction 

 of winter sport complexes featuring downhill skiing 

 has slowed on public lands. Only one new site, Beaver 

 Creek, Colo., is scheduled to open in 1980, and it has 

 been in the planning stage since 1970. The future of 

 other areas in various phases of planning is uncertain. 

 Several key areas that have undergone intensive analy- 

 sis will probably not be developed in the foreseeable 

 future because of land-use conflicts or the inability of 

 the private sector to continue studies and investment 

 with little hope of a return. Until land-use allocation 

 questions are resolved, most ski lift expansion will 

 have to occur within existing special-use permit areas 

 or on private lands. 



The problems associated with increasing opportuni- 

 ties for dispersed snow and ice activities differ from 

 the developed ones. Although land-use allocations 

 can significantly affect such activities as snow- 

 mobiling, environmental effects and social impacts 

 caused by cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are 

 relatively minor when compared to winter sport 

 complexes. However, with increasing interest in these 

 activities, a loss in solitude and more frequent dis- 

 ruptions of wildlife are occurring in some locations. 

 Also, conflicts have arisen between cross-country ski- 

 ers, snowmobilers, recreationists, and private land- 

 owners, particularly those whose land adjoins public 

 lands. Some of these problems occur because rights- 

 of-way currently used by snowmobilers and cross- 

 country skiers are informal and without full legal 

 status. Also, there is a concern, especially in the north- 

 eastern States, that access to private lands for snow- 

 mobiles and cross-country skiers may be curtailed. 

 Rights-of-way, agreements with States for payment, 

 and insurance have reduced this concern, but a long 

 term problem still exists. 



Snow avalanches, which are killing an increasing 

 number of snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, moun- 

 tain climbers, and others each year, constitute 

 another growing problem. Research findings attrib- 

 ute this increase to one cause. More and more people 

 are venturing into steep mountain terrain. With the 

 desire to get away from crowds and ski lift expenses, 



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