SAM Magazine—Copper Mountain, Colo., Oct. 2, 2013—The Forest Service has approved Copper's high alpine project, The 12's, a multi-year enhancement of the resort's high alpine skiing and riding. The 12's encompass three peaks with elevations in excess of 12,000 feet: Tucker Mountain, Union Peak and Copper Peak. The project will expand terrain, improve lift access and expand cat skiing operations for intermediate, advanced, and expert level skiers and riders.

Phase I construction is already underway and set for completion in time for the 2013-14 season. That includes the upgrade and replacement of the Storm King platter lift with a new T-bar, doubling its uphill capacity for serving Spaulding Bowl, Upper Enchanted Forest and Copper Bowl. Also in the works for this season are Celebrity Ridge, a new platter lift at the top of the Sierra chairlift that eases access to Union Peak, Union Meadows, West Ridge and Copper Bowl; improved egress from Spaulding Bowl; and regarding of terrain within the Sierra area, allowing the high alpine terrain at Copper Mountain to open earlier and stay open longer.

Phase II of Copper's High Alpine Project will include enhancements to current terrain and opening more acreage. This includes lift service to expert steeps on Tucker Mountain (which currently has hike-to and snowcat access) as well as a snowcat-accessed terrain expansion. The new lift will serve more than 260 skiable acres currently served by snowcat.

“The 12's provide our loyal guests, who love skiing and riding the high alpine, the opportunity to experience over 1,000 acres of advanced intermediate and expert terrain above tree line. They will be amazed at the improvements we have made and will continue to make to enhance the high alpine experience unique to Copper Mountain,” said Gary Rodgers, Copper Mountain president and GM.

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