Town willing to tweak snow plan for Big Air

Three weeks of snow banks could satisfy the photographers

The March 10 Big Air on Elk event will take precedence over the recently approved Crested Butte snow and ice control plan that went into effect December 1. The control plan calls for removing snow banks from Elk Avenue and keeping snow storage areas in the middle of town relatively clean.

But with Big Air on Elk, it is cheaper and faster to build the course with snow banks and nearby piles of snow.
So, essentially, the Town Council gave the okay to town staff last Monday to leave whatever snow banks might accumulate on Elk Avenue three weeks before the event. The council also gave the nod to let the snow pile up at the storage lots by the Fire Hall and across from Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle at the alley located at Third and Elk.
“We push the snow banks into the middle of the street, and having the big snow storage piles close by saves time and money,” explained event organizer Gabe Martin.
“That call is up to you as the council,” said Crested Butte public works director Rodney Due. “My priorities are keeping the streets and alleys clean. Gabe’s priority is Big Air. Most of the snow used for the event the last few years came from those nearby storage lots. If we move it all off, it will probably cost the event an additional $5,000 to move the snow back. I just want clear direction from the council.”
“Leaving the snow is in conflict with the snow and ice plan,” Due continued. “The Alley Loop is February 4. Do you want to do the same thing with them for the start? That will be going against the plan you approved in January, February and March.”
“We did just approve the plan and last year we had the big melt start about the same time as Big Air,” said councilman Roland Mason. “Could we move the event up a week?”
“We want to build the event up and we’re not there yet,” said Martin. “I know people were watching last year’s event stream online and people were having Big Air parties all over the country. But this is for a spring break, college-type crowd. We want the X-Games spectators. If they come here now they could come back for the rest of their life. This date lines up with college breaks. I really don’t want to change the date if we can help it.”
Mayor Aaron Huckstep refocused the conversation back on snow. He asked Martin about ramifications if the snow were hauled to the main storage areas near Rainbow Park and the town gravel pit.
“We’d have to hire private contractors and that would cut into any donations we could make to the Ski Club,” said Martin. “Last year we donated $4,000 to them. We could do it but it wouldn’t be easy.”
“Rodney, do you think by hiring the two extra plow drivers, the town will have the streets in better shape than last year and this could work? I’m optimistic we will be in better shape this year,” said councilperson Jim Schmidt.
“We definitely will,” promised Due. “But I just don’t want people coming back on me when we deviate from the plan and the snow isn’t being hauled away. The council needs to be aware. It’s not what I was hearing when the snow control plan was being put together. If we haul all of the snow to Rainbow and we have to haul it back, it will take a lot of work and more time. There will be questions from the public.”
“In my opinion, we can leave the snow in the storage areas and the snow banks on Elk for three weeks,” said Schmidt.
“We think it is a great event and we are very much in favor of it,” said Maxwell’s Restaurant owner Peter Maxwell, whose business sits on Elk Avenue in the take-off zone. “If you leave the snow banks we’ve found it is easy to open up entries through the banks in front of businesses with a skid steer. Our restaurant will be happy to donate up to $1,000 to the town to help haul snow if needed. We’ll also be happy to give you the snow off our roof. That thing can hold a lot more snow now that we’ve reinforced the building and the roof. As a chamber [of commerce] board member, we love the event because it helps bring awareness to Crested Butte.”
“Peter’s donation offer speaks to the buy-in this awesome event has with the community,” said councilperson John Wirsing.
“I don’t agree that we should be tweaking the snow plan so quickly,” said councilperson Glenn Michel. “We set out a vision and I feel we should stick with the snow plan. I think we need to give that clear direction to the staff.”
Fellow board member David Owen agreed. “It is important to keep the snow banks off Elk Avenue,” he said. “I could compromise by keeping the snow in the nearby storage areas for three weeks but feel we should keep the banks hauled away.”
“We could probably do the quicker setup without the snow banks, but they help,” said Due. “It makes it faster but most of the snow has come from the storage. If you stick to the snow plan, it will likely cost about $5,000 more. Now, if it’s dumping right before then, this conversation is irrelevant.”
“Someone made the point it isn’t very green to haul the snow away to Rainbow and then haul it back to Elk Avenue,” said Martin.
“The green factor is important,” said Schmidt. “Whenever we do the snow plan, the snow banks on Elk are a controversial issue. So this gives three weeks of snow banks. The photographers love them. This is a good compromise.”
“I can make it work either way,” said Due. “Gabe and I work well together. I just want your direction.”
“We are only talking about Big Air and not the Alley Loop, but I think the majority of the council feels it is fine to leave the snow there three weeks prior to the event,” said Huckstep.
“Safety issues will trump that of course,” town manager Susan Parker reminded the council.
“Of course,” said Huckstep. “But we can be flexible to make this a successful event.”
The event is expected to attract 20 to 30 competitors and draw 400 people to Elk Avenue. The street will be closed starting Thursday to bring in the snow and let it set. The Mountain Express will be detoured during that time.
Martin said last year the jump was bigger but safer than in years past. The gap was 54 feet from the take-off lip to the knuckle landing. “The whole community helps put this on,” said Martin. “It’s a great event for the community.”
Parker took direction from the council to do what is necessary to make the event a success.