Mt. Spokane is Washington’s largest state park. The Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park currently operates on two thirds of the upper subalpine area of Mt. Spokane. Mt. Spokane 2000, the concessionaire, seeks to develop most of the remainder of the upper subalpine area forcing backcountry skiers and snowshoers off the mountain.
On May 19th, 2011, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved a proposal for expansion of the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park within Mount Spokane State Park.
Jeff Juel of The Lands Council has provided the following update on the situation:
Washington’s largest State Park, Mt. Spokane, is facing a crisis. Not only are funding cuts threatening the operation of the park, the ski area concessionaire is pushing to develop the largest remaining native forest in Spokane County, while ignoring longstanding and much needed improvements to Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park.
The development would severely diminish the backcountry skiing experience now found on the west and northwest side of the mountain. We think it makes more sense to invest scarce dollars in upgrading the existing lifts and lodges to provide a better skier experience, and permanently protect the remaining wild areas on Mt. Spokane.
Earlier this year the Lands Council was compelled to file a lawsuit challenging plans to put new runs and a chairlift into sensitive wetlands and rare old growth forest. Those expansion plans are also opposed by our state’s wildlife and natural resource agencies and every conservation group in the region. The lawsuit challenges the State Parks and Recreation Commission’s action that approved the ski area expansion prior to preparing an Environmental Impact Statement that would consider better options for all skiers, for the wildlife and water, and for taxpayers. The first court hearing will be January 27, 2012, in Thurston County Superior Court.
The ski concessionaire had dropped a plan to add a variety of new runs to areas served by existing lifts, in favor of this controversial and financially risky venture into the pristine northwest side of the mountain. Why not replace the aging and slow chair 2 with a quad to whisk skiers to the top and give all skiers a better experience? Why not improve parking and rebuild the old, run-down lodge? We support improved recreation and economic opportunities for our region, including an improved Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. We believe this can be done without compromising pristine forest and critical wildlife habitat.
