CRESTED BUTTE PRODUCES NEW MASTER PLAN

News Search

24 January 2013

Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—Mt. Crested Butte, Colo., Jan. 24, 2013—Crested Butte Mountain Resort has submitted a new Master Development Plan to the U.S. Forest Service. The plan incorporates previous approvals at the main mountain, along with adjacent private land development projects, new proposals for terrain outside the resort's existing permit area on Crested Butte, and a much-reduced proposal for Snodgrass Mountain, which has been the source of controversy (and rejected proposals) in the past.

The new plan proposes study for different levels and types of low-impact winter and summer activities on Snodgrass, such as backcountry skiing and riding or snowcat operations. Unlike previous proposals, there are no plans for lift service there.

Instead, the new plan focuses on expanding terrain and lift capacity on Crested Butte itself. This includes expanding the amount of intermediate terrain, which has been a goal of previous plans for Snodgrass.

The new plan adds 14 new trails and four previously-approved trails for 133 new acres of developed terrain. When fully implemented, CBMR would have 101 trails on 771 acres, a 21 percent increase. The plan also adds more than 300 acres of undeveloped sidecountry-style intermediate and expert terrain, a 33 percent increase. CBMR is seeking a 440-acre expansion of the current Special Use Permit (SUP) boundary to make all this possible.

The plan also adds expanded on-mountain restaurant space, snowmaking, and summer operations—primarily expanded mountain biking and hiking trails, including some on Snodgrass Mountain.

The plan is now subject to a Forest Service review, prior to opening the NEPA review process.