Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Haines Ski LIft Working Group met Friday to gather interested parties and examine the potential for lift-served skiing in Haines.

The meeting was attended by local enthusiasts, business leaders and possible investors who would like to see more year-round recreational activity available to residents and tourists.

"Ideally community enrichment is a higher goal. Making people want to live and visit Haines year round brings economic benefit to all businesses," said Haines Avalanche Center director Erik Stevens, who hosted the meeting.

“We have some of the most epic and awesome snow and terrain on earth and people know that. The heliskiing has brought people in for a long time, and they have been very successful at showing people what Haines has to offer, but the heliskiing season is short and it would be nice to have a source of year-round economy especially in the winter," said Stevens.

The meeting focused on two very different undertakings: Developing an operation for beginners and families and consider the development of a more intermediate and advanced operation.

A lean toward more advanced development during the meeting was largely due to the novice-friendly courses already being considered in areas like Powdah Mountain at 35 Mile Haines Highway and the Mosquito Lake Community Center, where there have been proposals to develop beginner terrain and rope tow.

Marketing as an expert-only ski area has been a profitable way for small operations to bring in skiers from all over the world. "The tourism aspect alone means big numbers for the borough," said Haines Chamber of Commerce director Andrew Letchworth.

Silverton Mountain in Colorado has developed a one-chair lift that accesses more than 26,819 skiable acres. The operation has no plans to build condos or high-speed chairlifts and yet even for its remoteness has been voted “Best of the West” in Colorado, Utah, California and Nevada for extreme skiing terrain by USA today.

"I was impressed with our community members' passion for the ski-lift project as well as the abundance and breadth of knowledge many of them have on the topic," said resident Kiara Hylton.

"As a parent of young kids that we chose to move and raise here this past summer; I would love to see more opportunities for outdoor winter sports. And, as a now year-round Haines resident, I am supportive of ideas that strengthen our community throughout the seasons. This really could be a positive project for everyone, and I am excited to learn more," said Hylton.

"It puzzles me that we haven’t capitalized on this and turned it into a real ski town," said Stevens. "The goal of the meeting is to try and get everyone on the same page and see where people are at with the idea and try and move forward," said Stevens.

Possibilities included ideas like non-profit co-operative. Shames Mountain, in British Columbia operates with individuals, local businesses, and corporations who buy memberships and work together to create awareness within the region about running the area as a community service co-operative.

Mt. Eyak, in Cordova, has succeeded with a bare minimum lift, low-cost model, no tourism, very poor climate and with a volunteer organization. Cordova is a successful example of leveraging community support to provide locals with access to the outdoors during the long winter months," said Caroil Tuynman who attended the meeting.

The closest comparison is Eagle Crest in Juneau, which maintains only 640 acres and operates on a 70% cost recovery model with annual expenses exceeding winter revenues. The budget is balanced through the The City and Borough of Juneau’s General Fund Obligation, often referred to as a city subsidy. The proof-of-concept design includes summer activities including mountain biking and scenic rides aiding in its year-round net profitability. However, due to poor climate and location the area has struggled to generate profits.

Haines, in comparison to Juneau, has less rain, gets twice as much snow and much more sunshine.

“We need to build something with sex appeal, if you will, it has to be epic. Epic snow, epic terrain and needs to go viral: which means photogenic, gnarly, and challenging to be profitable. Otherwise expenses are high and community benefit not profits would be the goal," said Stevens.

The Haines Ski LIft Working Group is still looking for community support and ideas. The group plans to present proposals and other ideas to the borough and Commerce Committee next month.