Homewood Mountain Resort wants to offer guided snowcat skiing and snowboarding tours in the Ellis Peak area this winter.

Before it can do so the U.S. Forest Service must approve the proposal. The feds until Oct. 31 are taking comments on the idea.

Homewood wants to provide six to eight trips per day, three days per week depending on weather and snow conditions. Each trip would transport 10 to 12 passengers via a snowcat to the Ellis Peak area. Passengers and guides would ski back to the resort via existing glades, bowls and trees.

If the proposal is approved, the Forest Service would issue a temporary special use permit and evaluate the operation to determine the viability and appropriateness of the use for future seasons.

Comments or concerns should be sent to Jonathan Cook-Fisher at jcfisher@fs.fed.us.