The article by Brian Maffly looking at Cottonwood Canyon traffic and the Ikon/Epic passes was interesting.
The unfettered greed of the resorts is disappointing. They utilize sensitive public and watershed land plus public infrastructure. They are successful and prosperous because of their terrain and snow quality, yet continue to push for insatiable profits and neverending expansion. They are not demonstrating good neighbor practices toward our region. Their shortsighted values are degrading the benefits of living here.
In February, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado terminated its Epic pass relationship due to parking limitations and congestion. They wanted to preserve their experience and character. Why can’t our resorts do the same?
Alta’s dogged persistence to expand parking and resort boundaries in the name of “preserving the Alta experience” defies common sense.
If a successful restaurant has 20 tables it is under no public contract to increase capacity to 30 tables. Similarly, our crowded resorts are not obligated to increase capacity either. Yet they continually say they must, or they will perish. Hogwash.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell,” Edward Abbey said. And also, apparently, of our misguided resorts.
George Vargyas, Big Cottonwood Canyon