Eclipse Snowpark
On Tuesday June 10, representatives from the Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) met with the group planning to develop a new ski area, Eclipse Snowpark, in the St. Mary's Glacier area in Clear Creek County, Colorado. The informational meeting, attended by BSA Executive Director Brian Holcombe, BSA Directors Heath Mackay and Rocky Smith, Eclipse Snowpark developer Michael Coors, and Eclipse Snowpark advisor Andrew Spielman, was the second meeting between the groups since early 2007.
Coors and his team plan to develop the Eclipse Snowpark on private land owned by Coors near James Peak and the community of Alice, adjacent to the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest.
The meeting held an open, constructive air and provided an opportunity for BSA to gain the following information:
The Eclipse Snowpark development team began working with Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) to introduce legislation allowing for a land swap between Michael Coors and the US Forest Service. The Eclipse team began talks with Udall staff following 12 months of limited response from the Clear Creek Ranger District to requests for an administrative land swap.
The current version of the land swap legislation for Eclipse Snowpark mandates that a full NEPA review must be completed prior to the swap being executed. However, as the potential land swap will be legislatively approved, this review will result in the approval of the project, possibly with improvements/alterations based on public comment and scientific data.
Resort managers will pursue a boundary policy that allows high quality backcountry access and will look to BSA for advising on this topic.
Udallís staff has revised the original version of the land swap legislation based on local concerns for the project. The current version of the land swap legislation for Eclipse Snowpark mandates reserved public parking access for the James Peak Wilderness Trailhead and St. Maryís Glacier.
While originally planned as a terrain park resort, the Eclipse team has revised their marketing strategy to serve families seeking the small ski area experience.
With the land swap legislation delayed in the US House of Representatives, the Eclipse team may attempt to begin operations utilizing surface lifts (ìmagic carpetsî) and a temporary base structure as early as Winter 2008-09.
BSA plans to continue monitoring the Eclipse project and land swap and keep you up to date on any developments that we discover. If you would like to discuss this issue with a representative of BSA, please call 303-494-5266.
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