http://www.denverpost.com/business/...a-gets-one-step-closer?source=top_stories_bar
This was first floated in 2012 as the kickoff to discussions on a new Master Development Plan for Wolf. At that time, Wolf Creek submitted a proposal to replace several of their existing lifts and construct 3 new lifts:
1. Replacement of Treasure lift (Completed in 2013).
2. Reinstall old Treasure lift as the "Elma" lift for better egress out of Alberta (completed 2014).
3. Replacement of Bonanza lift with HSQ (no ETA).
4. Construction of "meadows" lift allowing access of beginner/intermediate terrain in the lower sections of Alberta without skiing expert terrain above, also allowing for easier egress from lines far skiers right in Alberta. (no ETA).
5. Construction of "Sunset" Lift service the Spooner Hill area. This is intermediate terrain that is almost never skied as it requires a 45+ minute hike to access. (no ETA).
In addition to the in-boundary improvements, Pitcher also wants to expand the SUP boundaries to go over the ridge on both sides of the ski area, building the "Pass Pod" to the Northwest of the current ski area, which gets to very sheltered terrain that runs from the top of Bonanza down to the summit of Wolf Creek Pass. This would likely allow Wolf to expand its season even more through access to pure North facing beginner and intermediate terrain.
And then there is Matchless, to the SW of the ski area. If this terrain became lift served it would instantly enter contention as some of the best terrain in the state of Colorado. 2000 feet of fall-line steeps, spinewalls, bowls, chutes and trees. BUT, it goes into a roadless area, it goes into prime elk habitat, it is very remote from the rest of the ski area, and in 2012, I thought it more likely that expansion into this area was discussed just to provide a sacrificial lamb- something for the forest service to object to that would allow the rest of the plan to sail through.
But, it looks like Pitcher is going to try and that the Forest Service is open to at least consider the idea. Both SUP expansions enter into San Juan National Forest Land. The existing ski area is in Rio Grande NF. The area in San Juan NF was never designated for ski area development, but they recently changed the designation to allow the expansion proposal to proceed for review.
It will be really interesting to see what comes of this.
The below is a 2012 video Wolf Creek commissioned to go over their expansion plans. Some of the stuff in the video is out of date- The ski area nixed the idea of the Storm lift, and the Treasure lift upgrade was done post-video after public input reflected a desire to have a HSQ installed there before Bonanza.
One other data point in this drama- Last year, San Juan NF officials charged Pitcher, the operating officer of the ski area, with a misdemeanor charge for unauthorized use of explosives in the national forest. That whole incident is a weird story in and of itself. https://www.hcn.org/articles/ski-patrol-death It shows, if nothing else, that the relationship between Pitcher and NF officials is pretty complex.
