In what could be called a somewhat surprising and positive development in terms of preserving Central Wasatch wilderness the Forest Service recently rejected Solitude Ski Resort’s proposed expansion into the East side of Silver Fork Creek. According to Brian Ferebee, supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said the request was rejected because:
» The proposed expansion is inconsistent with the 2003 Forest Plan;
» The proposed use would be inconsistent with the purposes for which the land is managed;
» The proposed expansion would not be in the public interest.
The Forest Service should be commended because sometimes they look the other way on Forest Plan violations and whether something is in the public interest is always debatable, and more often than not the agency would err on the side of development. Silver Fork is an area that is to be protected for its watershed values and is apparently designated as such in the Forest Plan. No scientific survey but I’ve never seen solitude as such a prime destination for skiers and was baffled as to what demand there was for the proposed expansion.