Fire Burns Eagle Point

Peter Landsman1 Comment

The Cottonwood Fire tore through Eagle Point Resort in Southern Utah yesterday evening, causing extensive damage. The human-caused fire ignited Monday and spread rapidly to more than 60,000 acres. Eagle Point was evacuated Monday evening and no injuries have been reported. “We are incredibly grateful for the firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect our community,” said Eagle Point owner Shane Gadbaw. “Conditions at the resort remain dangerous, and we are monitoring the situation closely,” he continued. “There has been significant property loss for local owners and the resort. Eagle Point will be closed for considerable time to recover from the catastrophe.” Gadbaw promised to share a more detailed update once employees return to the mountain.

As of this afternoon, infrared mapping on Watch Duty showed the fire burning 61,138 acres including a majority of Eagle Point’s terrain. All but one of Eagle Point’s five lifts were potentially affected and a photo circulating on social media showed the Canyonside Lodge engulfed in flames. Note that infrared fire perimeters are preliminary and do not necessarily reflect structure protection efforts by firefighters.

Eagle Point unfortunately becomes the latest on a list of resorts impacted by wildland fire in recent years. In 2007, a wildfire destroyed both lifts at Trinity Mountain, California, and the resort never reopend. In June 2012, a large fire burned sections of Ski Apache, New Mexico. Three lifts were destroyed and the tribe that owns the mountain hired Doppelmayr to replace them that fall at a cost of $15 million. Back in California, the Caldor Fire burned through Sierra-at-Tahoe in August 2021, damaging numerous lifts and buildings. Sierra managed to repair all lifts but missed an entire season and reopened in December 2022. The 2024 Bridge Fire burned part of Mountain High, California, damaging several lifts.

News Roundup: Around the USA

Peter Landsman7 Comments
  • Lots of construction pictures from readers this week starting with Deer Valley’s Hail Peak expansion:
  • Next Caberfae Peaks, Michigan’s expansion lift:
  • And finally Powderhorn, Colorado’s Wild West Express:

News Roundup: Setbacks

Peter Landsman16 Comments

News Roundup: Doolans

Peter Landsman20 Comments

News Roundup: Targhee & Park City Approved

Peter Landsman23 Comments

Mt. Seymour Proposes Ambitious Expansion

Peter Landsman17 Comments

Mt. Seymour could become the largest of Metro Vancouver’s three ski area under a new development plan released this week. Currently the local’s mountain operates just three chairlifts and one surface lift, which could grow to 14 lifts over the coming decades. Seymour lies within Mount Seymour Provincial Park and could increase its footprint from 581 acres to 825 with comfortable carrying capacity rising from 1,717 skiers per day to 4,561. Whistler-based Brent Harley and Associates (BHA) crafted the plan. “We have the potential to expand our winter operation with excellent higher elevation intermediate terrain, mountaintop food and beverage with 360 world-class views, and a little more space for us all to breathe,” wrote Mt. Seymour. “We already carefully control our capacity to avoid overcrowding, but we all need more space.” Potential full buildout could include four new quad chairs, two double chairs and two-T-Bars. Summer offerings would grow significantly with a via ferrata, mountain biking, hiking, zip lines and more.

First could come a new Brockton Chair, which dates back to 1970 and remains one just four Murray-Latta lifts on Earth. Phase 1b also includes nearby Summit and Percy quad chairs, adding intermediate and advanced terrain. “Unique, undulating topography of the slopes will result in remarkably playful and dynamic ski terrain featuring natural bumps, rolls, and banks sought after by experienced skiers,” the plan notes. Summit would be quite long and include an intermediate station about two thirds of the way up. A double chair called Flower and access T-Bar could be built alongside Summit.

Phase three includes a new Ridge chair, located near the former Ridge double chair which stopped operations circa 2008. This fixed quad would service beginner and intermediate progression terrain. “The proximity of this lift to the rental and ski school buildings makes it very accessible to newer skiers and well suited to ski school lessons,” BHA noted. Ridge could also service a future downhill bike park.

A new quad called De Pencier would probably come last, offering a distinctive alpine experience. This phase would also include construction of a Haul Back T-Bar and Exit chair to facilitate egress. The final phase also mentions the possibility of a gondola from the foot of the mountain to the ski area similar to the Blue Grouse Gondola at nearby Grouse Mountain. “Gondolas are increasingly being employed in resort and recreation contexts where onsite parking capacity is limited or where additional vehicles would detract from the desired experience,” BHA noted. “The development of a gondola at MSR would address parking capacity issues at the resort and reduce traffic on Mount Seymour Road.” This high dollar project would need to be studied extensively in partnership with BC Parks.

Mt. Seymour plans to host an open house on June 11th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at the Parkgate Community Centre. Comments on the plan can also be submitted online.