Letter: Stop Heavenly’s fire break plans

To the community,

An emergency snowcat access route would be cleared at strategic locations along the (Heavenly Mountain Resort) gondola line below the gondola midstation. This access route would facilitate evacuations of the gondola during emergency situations. It would allow Heavenly employees to deliver rescue supplies and personnel and transport passengers in the event of a gondola evacuation. It would be used during the winter in times of operational emergencies.

The clearing would be 25-30 feet wide to allow a standard-sized snowcat to access the gondola line in key locations. The route would begin to the southwest of the gondola midstation at the existing midstation access road and terminate near gondola line tower number 16, for a total length of approximately 6,830 feet, resulting in approximately 4.7 acres of tree removal. The entire route would be located on National Forest system lands. No permanent ground disturbance or development of a new permanent road prism or platform would be necessary for the emergency snow cat route. Tree stumps would be cut at a height of approximately 6 inches — up to 12 inches on steeper slopes — and large rocks/boulders would be reduced to a height of approximately 12 to 18 inches.

A Cat track down the Fire Break.

Please read the full plan at the TRPA’s website.

1. Tell everyone. The TRPA vote is March 11 and March 24. Please act fast.

2. Let the TRPA know how you feel.

3. Let the Forest Service know how you feel.

4. Tell everyone you know no cat track down the fire break.

Sean Rutkowski, Stateline