Forest Service considers allowing snowcat tours in Dry Gulch
Release Date: Jul 10, 2018
IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 11, 2018) – The Arapaho National Forest is inviting public comment on a proposal to provide guided snowcat tours within and directly adjacent to Loveland Ski Area.
The project area is located in Clear Creek County, Colorado in the upper reaches of the Dry Gulch Area.
The operation would consist of establishing three over-snow routes to allow the snowcat to access drop-off and pick-up points for customers skiing on guided tours. There would be approximately 5-7 runs per trip, with total runs of 160-224 per day. The project area consists of approximately 580 acres and the total length of snowcat routes within the project area would be approximately 2.5 miles, with 1.8 miles within the ski area’s existing Special Use Permit boundary and 0.7 miles outside of the boundary. Total snow compaction from the snowcat routes would be approximately 3 acres, with additional compaction from ski and snowboard use. Avalanche mitigation would be achieved by hand tossed charges below the mountain ridgeline.
Details about the project can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/lovelandsnowcat. Additional information regarding this proposal can be obtained from Deb Ekstrand, 303-567-3024 or dekstrand@fs.fed.us.
Comments should be submitted prior to midnight, Aug. 10, 2018, and may be sent via e-mail to comments-rocky-mountain-arapaho-roosevelt-clear-creek@fs.fed.us.