Lift Expansion into Silver Fork

A few weeks ago news came out that Solitude is seeking to expand into Silver Fork. See details here.

I don’t claim to know the answers to the question of growth and expansion. The idea that I do have a voice that might be heard on the issue is nice, whether it’s true or not. My guess is it will make no difference, but it felt good to do something so I wrote a letter and sent an email (see below).

Here is the contact info for the Forest Service District Ranger and Supervisor if you wish to voice your opinion whether it’s for or against.

Cathy Kahlow District Ranger 
Uinta/Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Salt Lake Ranger District
6944 S 3000E
Salt Lake City Utah 84121
EMAIL= ckahlow@fs.fed.us

Brian Ferebee Forest Supervisor-bferebee@fs.fed.us
Uinta/Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Federal Building
125S State Street
Salt Lake City Utah 84138
EMAIL=bferebee@fs.fed.us

I’m writing in regards to the proposed Solitude lift expansion in the Silver Fork drainage. This is a great area to ski in and I’ve been enjoying it for 10 years or so as a backcountry skier. I also ski inbounds at Solitude several times a year. 

I’m not sure how the process works, but it’s my understanding that these are public lands which will be allocated for different uses by the USFS in a way that, as your slogan states “cares for the LAND and serves the PEOPLE.”

There is a huge billboard advertising Solitude at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon that says: KROUDS (we don’t even know how to spell the word). And this has been my experience with skiing at Solitude, there are no crowds of PEOPLE except for the Christmas and President’s Day holidays. There is no cry from the skiing public, the PEOPLE, to expand into Silver Fork that I am aware of. Where then is the motivation for this expansion coming from? If the lift lines were long and the slopes overcrowded it would seem worth considering, but this is not the case.

I’m just a skier who enjoys the many options, lift served and backcountry, that do exist in a fine balance in this tiny mountain range.  There is within me a huge concern with the fact that a few more lifts here and there will drastically change the ‘solitude’ that exists away from the lifts and the areas they serve. My vote, as one of the PEOPLE, if I have one, would be not to add a lift in Silver Fork. 

Please let me know if there will be any public hearings I can attend, or what process I can be involved in with this important decision. 

Thank you for your time, 

Noah Howell