Public and Irwin Backcountry Guides search for common ground

Bernholtz a dancing duck?

After a sometimes contentious meeting last week between Irwin Backcountry Guides (IBG) representatives and members of the public, IBG mountain manager Alan Bernholtz promised to try to take out items in the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that the public was adamantly against. But in order to do that, he said he had to get permission from the owners of IBG, and ultimately the decision was up to the Forest Service.

The main items of contention voiced at the meeting Thursday, July 23, were the use of Independence Basin as part of the ski permit area and the cutting of any trees to accommodate skiing. Residents of the Irwin area made it clear they were disappointed to see the preferred alternative in the Forest Service draft EA include tree cutting and Independence Basin. The Irwinites were under the impression that Bernholtz and IBG would withdraw those requests.
“You had sent us an email promising to take Independence out of the proposal,” said Barbara Thomson of Irwin.
“At the moment there is no way for us to access Independence Basin. It would mean crossing private property and the landowner won’t even call me back to talk about access or selling the property,” said Bernholtz. “So we are supporting the alternative without Independence in it. But in the future, I’d love to have Independence in the permit area if we can get it.”
Irwin landowner Corey Bryndal said that confused him. “You made a commitment to not ask for Independence Basin. Now you have it in the proposed action. That is very different from what you have said,” he told Bernholtz. “Frankly, Independence Basin is a much more pristine area than the Snodgrass proposal into Washington Gulch, which you oppose.”
Irwin homeowners pointed out that there are old open mining pits in the area that could be considered hazardous for skiers. And the potential for trespassing is greatly increased if Independence Basin is open.
“Our understanding was that you were going to ask for no Independence Basin. Now I don’t know what to believe,” said Irwin Community Association president Gary Achenbach. “You have said that you plan to enforce the no trespassing laws on your private land and we foresee a similar situation for us. Our members are unanimous that we don’t want you going into Independence Basin. We sit below that area. It will open up skiing into Irwin and our private property. And it’s not just your customers but people from the general public. Our feeling is that private property sits just below that area and it will be impacted.”
Bernholtz said he was sorry for the misunderstanding.
“I’m asking for your commitment to support the alternative with no Independence Basin,” said Bryndal.
“I have to talk to my principals about that,” responded Bernholtz.
“It’s the same situation with tree cutting,” said Barbara Thomson. “You said you wouldn’t cut any trees, but cutting trees is part of the preferred alternative.”
This caused another uproar in the crowd. “This is the dance and duck thing,” said Stephen Koury if Irwin. “It’s hard to comment when the duck keeps dancing. In the printed stuff, it says trees will be removed.”
“We aren’t proposing to cut any trees,” responded Bernholtz. “I know it sounds like a dancing duck but I just got the latest Forest Service map today. I feel like a dancing duck up here. I can’t say we’ll never cut a tree down, but we aren’t proposing that right now.”
Bernholtz ran down a number of items that IBG agreed to modify as a result of public comment. They would use the campground road for any skiing access to the old “Movie Cabin” and not have a road by the lake. They will not use an avalauncher to perform avalanche control work. The weather station will be taken down in the summer. No heli-pad will be poured. Use of explosives will be minimized. IBG is looking at purchasing a “Tucker” snowcat vehicle to transport guests from Crested Butte to the ski area.
Bernholtz said IBG would, he hoped, be able to provide some local rates for people desiring to snowcat ski and said while no price has been set, the local rate would be cheaper than a day-ticket at the Monarch Ski Area for the same activity.
The IBG area would have hours of operation from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. They are looking for a total of 2,000 skier days for the season. Rack rate for a ticket would be about $375 a day. Guests would start skiing about 9 a.m. They are hoping to generate $260,000 in revenue the first year, which would result in about $7,800 in fees to the Forest Service.
Bryndal asked if Bernholtz and IBG snow safety director Billy Rankin had any qualms about running a business that emits a relatively high amount of carbon when both have spoken out vehemently about reducing carbon emission as public officials. Bernholtz is the Crested Butte mayor, while Rankin sits on the town council.
“Our carbon footprint is tiny compared to the last operation,” responded Bernholtz. “We don’t think it’s a huge impact.”
Rankin agreed. “I still drive a car and ride a snowmobile, but I try to minimize the carbon emissions,” he said.
“I’m not crazy about a molybdenum mine in our watershed and I drive a car that has molybdenum in it. Like everyone, there might be some conflict there,” said Bernholtz.
The audience members all said they were not opposed to IBG running a snowcat ski operation in the Irwin basin. “We aren’t trying to slow down the operation,” promised Achenbach. “But we will take the time needed to try to alleviate our concerns. It seems we should try to get our thoughts to the Forest Service before an EA is released in September.”
When asked if any plans included re-opening the old Irwin Lodge, Bernholtz said not at the moment. “So far, the owners feel resistance,” he said.
Which led to another point of contention at the meeting.
“It’s hard to welcome someone when they won’t even tell you who they are,” said Thomson.
“They’re a bunch of guys who got together and want to have an operation up there,” said Bernholtz.
“That’s part of the problem and that makes it hard for us,” responded Irwinite Jack Barker. “People want to meet the people who are using this community to make money. Anyone can hide behind an LLC.”
“We want to know our neighbors,” added Stephen Koury. “It could be anyone. It could be the same people who ran it the last time.”
“It certainly doesn’t increase an environment of trust,” said Barker. “I just figured it was a Mexican drug cartel trying to launder some money.”
“I’m them,” responded Bernholtz.
“Are you an owner?” asked Bauer
“No,” admitted Bernholtz.
“Then you aren’t them,” said Koury. “And we’d like to meet them.”
“I’ll ask but they’ve wanted to stay anonymous in the past,” said Bernholtz.
The meeting ended with a general understanding that Bernholtz would approach the owners about taking Independence Basin out of the EA alternatives. “If we get rid of Independence Basin and the tree cutting, it’s close to a thumbs-up,” asked Bernholtz. The crowd of approximately 30 people generally agreed with that sentiment.
“I’ll ask the Forest Service to put something out that is simple and that we all can agree with,” said Bernholtz. “We are trying really hard to open this winter and we know that will be really hard. That’s why I’m up here taking it in the face and dancing like a duck.”
Bryndal also assured Bernholtz he wasn’t trying to simply oppose the project. “We are trying to have some positive impact on the project,” he said. “We’re not trying to stop it.”
“We have problems with what’s in writing from the Forest Service,” added Achenbach. “If it comes back airy-fairy again, the timeline will probably be pushed back. We aren’t trying to be unreasonable.”
The Forest Service is in the middle of drafting an EA that it hopes to have out for the public in September.