Developers discuss Wolf Creek resort

Developers discuss Wolf Creek resort

A crowd of 200 seeks answers to many questions about the massive proposed development.

By ERIN SMITH
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

ALAMOSA - The more than 200 people attending a meeting on the proposed Village at Wolf Creek at the Inn of the Rio Grande Friday night appeared divided in their support of the project.

After the announcement of the plan by developers Bob Honts and B.J. “Red” McCombs, Karla Willschau, a certified public accountant with the Alamosa accounting firm of Wall, Smith, Bateman, presented her analysis of what the village would do for Mineral County. She said the project could be worth $237 million in revenue to Mineral County over 20 years.

Honts also announced that he and his partner are closing Monday on Twin Pines Ranch in Rio Grande County and will be buying the more than 1,700-acre Flying W Ranch in the spring.

When asked later what is being proposed for the two properties, Honts replied, “We have no plans but to farm, fish and walk around.” That could change though, he admitted.

He called reports of the possible development and construction of employee housing on the property “Rumors. Rumors can be very dangerous. They approach slander.”

The Village at Wolf Creek, to the east of the Wolf Creek Ski Area, is designed as a self-contained village resort that could house up to 12,000 people, but that would be if every bed was filled, Honts told the standing-room-only crowd.

At full build-out, it could contain up to 1,200 hotel rooms, 222,000 square-feet of commercial space, 129 lots for single family units, and 1,643 multi-family units, 2,172 units in all.

Environmentalist Rio de la Vista, who expressed concern for the wetlands and suggested third-party monitoring of the development near the Continental Divide in Mineral County, asked for a show of hands of those for and against the project. There seemed to be a slight edge of those for it; however, much of the audience did not move.

While few actually verbalized why they were in favor of the development, those opposed were vocal.

Concerns were raised over water, wetlands, the burden of services to counties, the ability of the ski area to support a major increase in skiers on any given day, wastewater treatment and effluent, and altitude sickness.

Project supporters Jon Boyd and Dusty Hicks said there is enough water allotted to the project by the water court to support 12,000 residents. And, Hicks added, 12,000 residents would use only that amount of water it takes to irrigate an acre of alfalfa in a season.

However, a question from the audience about where the water for the subdivision came from went unanswered.

Honts said water from snowmelt would be held in underground tanks and released over a 12-month period into the river to replenish what the development uses, but that is not the water to be used in the village.

“It’s a big rip-off for the (San Luis) Valley,” retired physician Joel Kaufman shouted.

Area potato farmer Bill Ellithorpe expressed concern over wetlands.

“It’s our commitment. We will not harm wetlands,” Honts said.

Alamosa resident Don Thompson asked about the burden of services on neighboring counties. “Growth has never paid its way in Colorado,” he insisted.

Honts replied that the developers would be responsible for all the infrastructure and services at the development. It would not cost taxpayers anything.

Pointing to Willschau’s analysis, Honts referred to the estimated millions in revenues anticipated over a 20-year period for Mineral County.

Frequent skiers at Wolf Creek Ski Area questioned the potential for more skiers sharing their slopes. Honts said the area only runs at 50 percent or more capacity eight days a year. Filling the chairs will be good business. The response brought a moan from some in the audience who said that was what was so wonderful about the ski area - the lack of skiers.

Many in the audience seemed unconvinced after Honts remarked that developers want more stringent standards for their wastewater treatment system and effluent.

“You have a lot less to fear from the Village at Wolf Creek than (from) cities,” Honts said.

Kaufman, an emergency room physician in Alamosa for many years, cited a prestigious medical journal and asked if consideration had been given to travelers from low altitudes going to an elevation of 10,500 feet above sea level.

Honts replied that a study he had received showed altitude sickness abated after a few days.

McCombs, a former owner of the Denver Nuggets, said that altitude gave his team home-court advantage as visitors “were gassed out.”

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Wolf Creek: Some reasons why locals oppose Red McCombs' Village

Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Wolf Creek: Some reasons why locals oppose Red McCombs' Village

by Ian Vance

With all of the controversy surrounding the development of the Village at Wolf Creek, people may have difficulty in discerning the underlying reasons why there is so much resistance among locals on the Pagosa Springs side towards this project. The potential negative effect on businesses in Archuleta County is in itself enough to cause worry and opposition from those that depend on tourism as a financial foundation. More importantly, people are concerned about the environmental and psychological damage the advent of a resort such as the proposed Village is likely to cause.

Wolf Creek is a relative anomaly when compared to the rest of the ski industry of Colorado. Sheltered against an imposing mountain ridge that makes up part of the Continental Divide, Wolf Creek on average receives major snowfall accumulation, year after year; so much so that it proudly touts the moniker “The Most Snow in Colorado.” Local skiers and snowboarders – and the tourist hordes arriving from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona – find that Wolf Creek’s lack of infrastructure actually affords one the rare pleasure of untracked powder; it is sometimes possible to find ‘fresh tracks’ days and even weeks after the last major storm. Compare this to a mountain resort like Steamboat Springs, which has heavy traffic by way of its gondola, and the morning after a hard snow-dump, becomes tracked out within hours. By ten o’clock in the morning, finding a fresh line in Steamboat’s renowned aspen groves is essentially a futile pursuit.

Part of Wolf Creek’s charm lies in its rustic appearance, its lack of a highly developed commerce center and time-consuming lift lines, its propensity for ‘secret stashes’ and undiscovered glades. For many locals, Wolf Creek’s low-key aspect is a direct contrast from the clockwork complexity and efficiency of major corporation ski resorts such as Vail and Breckenridge, and a welcome one at that. Thus, the arrival of the Village and its desired developments are seen as an irreversible change to what makes Wolf Creek so special in the first place. Many new lifts would be needed, as would a complete overhaul of the current infrastructure at the ski-area base. ‘Our’ Wolf Creek, as it is known today, would cease to exist. The proposals by McCombs et al threaten the current ski area’s atmosphere of low-key hospitality, the warmth and human contact that a family-run business can easily provide, the communication and charm that the corporation often fails to fully comprehend – for although a façade of such can be erected, these necessary illusions are quickly belied by the sheer size and mechanical aspect of a profit-first oriented community.

Change cannot be prevented: growth is an inevitable result of this world’s expanding population. Archuleta County and its surrounding environs have experienced a massive surge of growth within the last ten years; it is a reflection of the continual extension of our surrounding world. However, there is a very large difference between controlled growth – by those who appreciate what makes this area special in the first place – and unregulated growth, by those who desire first and foremost the monetary rewards and ego-enhancement endemic to ‘empire building.’

The representative of Red McCombs, empire-builder extraordinaire, has already alienated a large segment of this area’s population with his grandstanding and heedless arrogance, fundamentally depicting the lack of concern the corporate entity has for the ‘little man.’ The questionable court decisions in Mineral County, the suspicious lack of concern for potential environmental repercussions, and overall the desperate speed these developers have worked at in order to erect the Village has sparked much of the current resistance. By displaying all of the dangerous attitudes of unregulated growth and doing very little to placate the worries of the surrounding communities, Bob Honts and Co. have caused much concern as to the intentions of Red McCombs.

Long term residents, such as myself (30 years), do not wish for this isolated part of the Rocky Mountains to turn into another Summit County, or worse an Aspen, with the subsequent rise in the standard of economics to such a point that we can no longer afford to live in the area we like to call home. By attempting to work with the surrounding communities, and respecting the living conditions and needs of those who chose to live here, The Village might have found its construction unhindered by multiple lawsuits and public outcry. Elderly ‘empire-builders,’ by nature, are in a rush to complete their vision as quickly as possible, and they like to display their proposed empire to the fullest extent; perhaps if Mr. Honts / McCombs had started smaller, with the concept of future growth on the back-burner, they wouldn’t have estranged potential support from this community. By ignoring these repercussions, be it out of greed or ego, they have instead caused the very quagmire they now find themselves struggling to escape from.

History is rife with similar examples of hubris and folly – and, as the famous proverb goes, those that do not learn from history are forced to repeat it, time and time again.

Planned Village Threatens to Block Wildlife Movement

Planned Village Threatens to Block Wildlife Movement

The Wolf Creek Pass Wildlife Linkage spans the Continental Divide at 10,857 feet and lies almost entirely within National Forest lands. The San Juan National Forest encompasses the west side of the Divide, while the Rio Grand National Forest lies on the east side. The Wiminuche Wilderness and the South San Juan Wilderness are “held together” by the Wolf Creek linkage. Despite this critical interconnectedness, a major development scheme to build a city of up to 10,000 people just below the Continental Divide is now being planned. This development would decimate the biological significance of this linkage. The planned Village at Wolf Creek threatens critical wildlife habitat, watersheds, and wetlands and would impair the San Juan core area and the designated Wolf Creek Pass Lynx Linkage that are vital to the recovery of the southern Rockies Lynx population. In addition to Lynx, a variety of wildlife is known to move through the area including mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, pine marten, elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep. Many birds, amphibians, other small mammals and plants depend on this rich habitat for year round use and migration as well.

The Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project (SREP) has been actively working to protect corridors and linkages in Colorado and the Southern Rockies. Fighting the monsoon weather that has dominated Colorado this summer, EcoFlight teamed up with SREP for a day of very successful flights, flying State Senator Isgar and staff from Senator Salazar’s office, along with reporters and photographers over this remote and threatened wilderness region. As often happens, the experience of flying this region brought this issue into sharp focus, allowing participants and the public, through press reports, a closer view of the great impact the Village project could impart upon this important wildlife linkage area. Following the flight Senator Salazar issued a press release stating, "At the end of the day, I just don't see how a project of this scope can continue. I've met with the involved parties and asked questions. With the Forest Service's latest answers, it has become even clearer the proposal would require many special concessions without the promise of any real gain for the greater community. Instead, the development brings the threat of dangerous roads, contaminated water and harm to the very wildlife and landscape that makes this area so unique. I will not support a project that hurts the community I represent."

Linkages and Corridors: Critical Connectivity

From the air it quickly becomes clear that sizable habitat for wildlife is rapidly disappearing. To prevent wildlands from becoming islands unable to sustain long-term ecosystem functions, scientists propose the use of corridors and linkages. A corridor implies animal migration travel routes; a linkage refers to a broad area of habitat where dependant species can find food, shelter and security and provide connectivity between larger habitat blocks.

Wolf Creek Ski 2006-2007

Pagosa Springs Colorado
Wolf Creek Ski 2006-2007


ELEVATION: Base: 10,300 Ft. Vertical Rise: 1,604 Ft. Summit: 11,904 Ft.

SEASON: Early November through Early April

TOTAL TRAIL MILEAGE: 42

Raven Lift - New for 2006 – 2007 Ski Season at Wolf Creek!

The new Raven Lift, a Doppelmayr - Ctec detachable quad, is replacing the 34 year old Dickey double chairlift. The Raven will have approximately the same location and initial capacity (1,200 skiers/hour) of the Dickey Lift. While the USFS has approved the uphill capacity of Raven at 1,200 skiers per hour; Wolf Creek has applied for approval for the maximum uphill capacity of 2,400 skiers per hour.

Raven lift is an exciting new improvement for Wolf Creek as that it adds flexibility to the beginners’ terrain and needs. With a downhill capacity of 300-600 skiers, the beginner teaching area can move uphill to the wide open location of Bunny Hop, this will free up the congestion of the base area during holiday periods. New skiers and boarders will have the option to ski or download on the detachable. This will become invaluable on years of low snow to reroute beginner and intermediate traffic from sparsely covered snow packed trails to download on the Raven Lift.
Improvements

Two modern water-free restrooms facilities have been given final approval by the USFS. These environmentally friendly restrooms are water-free, composting and certified with a zero discharge. The restrooms will be 800 square feet in size, heated and located at the tops of the Treasure Chairlift and the Raven Lift.

The ski patrol’s “Summit Building” is being upgraded into the 21st Century by being replaced this summer with a new summit building to provide for quick emergency response and continuing snow safety programs. Wolf Creek’s professional ski patrol is there to provide the highest level of care with fully certified EMT patrollers.

Wolf Creek’s forest, like most in the state of Colorado, is infested with the spruce beetle. As an expense to Wolf Creek and in an active role as steward to the forest, many of these infested trees are removed by helicopter to control beetle spread and devastation. These infested trees are air lifted away giving the rest of the forest a better chance of survival with far less impacts on the ground.

Festivities

To celebrate 30 years of cross country skiing in the Alberta Park area, Wolf Creek will host a series of fun cross country events including races, games, prizes, clinics, and demonstrations of equipment and technique for adults and children!

The location will be in Alberta Park near the bottom terminal of the Alberta Lift at Wolf Creek. The dates and times of the events will coincide with a few of the Local Appreciation Days and will be available on posters and listed on the web-site.
Environment and Proposals

This will be the ski area’s first season to run the lifts using wind-power! Wolf Creek Ski Area sees the importance of using renewable energy sources and feels that businesses should be setting an example in this area. For this reason, Wolf Creek is purchasing 100 percent of its usage of power from a green power energy supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, who in turn supplies the SLVREC, the local power company for Wolf Creek. This green power comes from two wind farms located near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Although this energy is currently more expensive, Wolf Creek is making a substantial commitment in showing the need for sustainable business practices. The average monthly usage for Wolf Creek is 145,900k.

Along with supporting renewable energy sources, customers and employees of the Wolf Creek Ski Area are encouraged to car pool on the commute up Wolf Creek Pass during the ski season especially over holiday periods.

Wolf Creek has also applied for approval from the USFS for a 14,000 sq/ft two story multi-use building which would be located in the base area below the Raven lift between the 4X4 and upper parking areas. This building would include ski and board rentals, lift ticket sales, restrooms and warming/seating areas. A higher level of service for all guests would be provided; congestion over peak periods in the base area lodges and rental would be significantly reduced.

In cooperation with the USFS, Wolf Creek is seeking approval to provide uphill transportation with a shuttle bus for easier backcountry accessibility along the western boundary run-out of the Wolf Creek Ski Area Special Use Permit. The shuttle bus service would be free of charge for outdoor enthusiasts who are recreating in the vicinity of Wolf Creek’s western boundary. Backcountry skiers, boarders, cross country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers would be able to pick up the shuttle a few miles west of the Wolf Creek Pass Summit at several locations returning to the summit or Wolf Creek’s base area.

Summary of 2005-2006

Despite the slow start of the 2005 – 2006 season, skiers were encouraged to come out early providing the invaluable snow compaction, which the mountain requires on low snow years. This process kept the mountain in relatively good shape and made conditions excellent when Mother Nature finally divvied out Wolf Creek’s share.

A record breaking skier count for the month of March was set as a result of established excellent mountain conditions and the rerouting of many of New Mexico’s visitors to Wolf Creek. This threw attendance over the top for a record spring break day of 6,340 skiers. Although skimpy at the start, total snowfall for the season was recorded at 354 inches with a skier count at 197,052. Down by 8.7 percent from the previous year of 215,821 skiers but still a good outcome from a rocky start. Wolf Creek is looking forward to an exciting agenda with the initiation of the Raven quad to the mountain profile.

More detailed information about Wolf Creek Ski Area can be found by calling 970-264-5639 or visiting Wolf Creek’s web-site at www.wolfcreekski.com.


Click on map to view larger.

Wolf Creek's Website can be visited at www.wolfcreekski.com.

Friends of Wolf Creek Update

Friends of Wolf Creek Update
November 22, 2006
Court Suspends “Village” Construction – Another Wild Winter at Wolf Creek

Hello Friends,

I’m writing to share great news. In response to the lawsuit we filed in October, US Federal District Judge Kane issued a 10 day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) last Thursday ceasing road construction and other activities related to the proposed Village at Wolf Creek. After negotiating with the other parties, we reached an agreement this week converting this Order into a Preliminary Injunction (PI) prohibiting construction and permitting activities from going forward until the Court can rule on our case sometime next spring.

This is a huge victory for our efforts, ensuring that the Village is essentially held at a standstill until our concerns are heard by the court. As a result, we’ll all enjoy another winter at Wolf Creek without any Village activities.

Specifically, the agreement bars road construction, application for highway access permits from CDOT, or any other ground disturbing activities. The Forest Service had refused to delay road construction for even a few days, so we were forced to seek the court's intervention. Thankfully, you and I can now rest assured that the developer and the Forest Service can't continue to rush this project forward.

Meanwhile, thanks to our successful lawsuit last year which overturned Mineral County’s approval of the Village development plan, McCombs can’t go back to the County for approval until after receiving a permit for access from CDOT. Thanks to our injunction, that won’t happen anytime soon.

Once the court takes a close look at the Forest Service's flawed decision, we believe that the agency will have to go back and consider all of the impacts associated with its decision to allow access from US Highway 160 to the proposed Village site, not just those arising from the footprint of the access roads themselves. Beyond the substantial delay, we believe that this would result in major changes to the access granted, and the proposed Village itself.

As 2006 draws to a close, McCombs still needs permits from CDOT, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, Mineral County, and others before he can legally begin construction of the Village. With your help, ongoing FOWC efforts will scrutinize and, if necessary, challenge every one of these processes to ensure that the project remains at a standstill until all of the government agencies involved take a hard look at the project and its thus far unregulated impacts.

Thanks again for making all of this possible. Together, we are well poised to make 2007 a victorious year for Wolf Creek, and for everyone that has done so much to see it protected.

Ryan

Moonlight on the San Juan

From pagosadailypost.com/

Airport Receives Pilot Association Award

Airport Receives Pilot Association Award


Colorado Pilots Association at its annual meeting on November 4 gave airport recognition awards to Stevens Field in Pagosa Springs and Harriet Alexander Field in Salida. The awards are part of a recognition program in which members of the organization, based on their flying experiences, identify and make recommendations of those Colorado airports that have gone out of their way to provide exceptional services and facilities for General Aviation. Separate awards are typically presented annually to a Commercial Service and a General Aviation airport. This year both awards were given to airports in the general aviation category in consideration of the extraordinary effort and contribution to growth of aviation in Colorado.

The award to Stevens Field was given in recognition of efforts over the last three years to revitalize the airport through a major construction program that converted the airport into one of the most outstanding facilities serving Colorado mountain recreational areas. One of our members wrote, “The new general manager Bob Gobitz has brought new energy and enthusiasm to the operation and has created a new atmosphere of professionalism and friendliness that is welcomed by local pilots and serves as an enticement for visitors to the area.” Unfavorable soil conditions at the airport caused serious pavement failures and severely limited types of aicraft that could operate there. With the current improvements the facility now has capability of accommodating aircraft of weights up to 75,000 pounds gross weight. Willingness to undertake the development demonstrates a recognition of the value of air access to Pagosa Springs and gives further testimony to this community's support for General Aviation.

The Harriet Alexander Field award was given in recognition of its contribution to General Aviation by airport management and staff that truly care about the welfare of visiting aircraft as demonstrated by outstanding efforts in accommodating the needs of visitors. As one member wrote, "Airport manager Carl Hasselrink greets arriving pilots with a smile and helpful information related to flight planning as well as information about local restaurants and accommodations. On hot days he provides bottled water to the cockpit as soon as the aircraft taxies to parking. There are numerous tie downs and three courtesy cars available for arriving pilots and passengers. In the event that all three of the city cars are being used, Carl offers the use of his personal vehicle. If anyone in Colorado deserves this award, Carl should be at the top of the list.” This airport is one of the rare exceptions to business as usual and a delightful stop for General Aviation travelers.

Colorado Pilots Association is a statewide organization of over 700 members dedicated to making Colorado a better, safer, and more desirable place to fly. Objectives of the organization are to promote General Aviation, flying safety, protect the rights of the flying community, and to provide information and assistance to the general public in aviation matters. For more information about the association, visit their web site: www.ColoradoPilots.org

Pagosa Springs Daily News: Airport Receives Pilot Association Award