Heavenly plans to tweak ski experience for ’16
Improvements are in the works to make it easier to get back to the Tamarack lift. Photo/LTN file
By Kathryn Reed
Changes to Heavenly Mountain Resort that are expected to be ready for the 2016-17 ski season are mostly based on what skiers have requested.
The resort wants to:
· Build a permanent 300-square-foot ticket sales kiosk adjacent to the Bear Cave Ski School near Tamarack Lodge;
· Relocate the Red Fir handle tow lift to the right side of the Easy Street Trail to reduce user conflicts;
· Install a nearly 300-foot magic carpet surface to primarily be used for ski school activities on the lower Easy Street Trail near the relocated Red Fir lift;
· Widen Tamarack Return Trail by about 125 feet on 1.3 acres;
· Limb and remove trees under the Blue Streak Zipline to provide easier seasonal removal and installation of the lines.
“This is what guests have asked for,” Russ Pecoraro, spokesman for Heavenly, told Lake Tahoe News. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve the experience.”
The U.S. Forest Service, whose land the projects would be built on, is asking the public to weigh in on the proposals.
“This proposal does not amend the master plan. The project is consistent with the vision described in Heavenly’s Master Development Plan,” Lisa Herron with the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit told Lake Tahoe News.
It’s possible as many as 200 trees will be removed. Pecoraro said widening California Trail will make it easier for riders to get back to Tamarack Express.
“With some of the teaching terrain up there we don’t have the lifts in the ideal places to access the terrain for beginners,” Pecoraro said.
The kiosk being built next to the Bear Cave Ski School would also be open in the summer to sell tickets for the ropes courses and other amenities available when there isn’t snow on the ground. It would replace the temporary structures that exist today.
Pecoraro, per company policy, would not reveal what the price tag is for these improvements.
The goal is to secure necessary permits this winter and begin work in the spring after the resort closes for the winter season. It is not anticipated that the construction will impact summer activities, Pecoraro said.
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Notes:
· The deadline to comment is Dec. 21.
· The proposal is available online.
· For more info, contact Matt Dickinson at the USFS at 530.543.2769.
Leave it how it is. No need to remove 200 trees!
Remember when TRPA said we couldn’t cut ANY trees on our own property, and yet Heavenly wants to remove 200? WTH?
Trees no loss. No one can see them from anywhere anyway. But I don’t see from this article what the improvement is. All I know is that unless one shoots a dangerous speed from any direction, they have to pull their board off and hike to the bottom of T. chair. Were the original designers stoned beyond comprehension? As for the rest of the list, uh, is that it? Call that an improvement as my pass rates skyrocket by comparison? I don’t begrudge Heavenly. SLT doesn’t exist without it. But where can I go to see the master plan? I am far more grateful, sincerely, that Kirkwood is included on my pass now. That’s 100x the improvement they’ve done to anything inside Heavenly as far as I can remember.
Guests asked Heavenly to build a permanent ticket booth? I don’t think so. There are many small improvements that Heavenly can make to streamline their operations, but to put those in terms of “guest requests” is somewhat silly.
Skiers/boarders want Galaxy chair replaced, easier access to Tamarack chair from the Gondola…
I can’t even imagine guests saying, “We want you to ‘Limb and remove trees under the Blue Streak Zipline to provide easier seasonal removal and installation of the lines.'”
I know every time i have skied heavenly, especially when I’m riding North Bowl or Galaxy for 20 minutes, I’m thinking “Boy I wish they would build a sales kiosk and limb some trees over at the gondola”. Stupid stuff. Do something that matters Heavenly especially if you are going to promote it.
These comments are spot on! Love it.