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;,\"10''1 U:.J~J.J Chap'"2 - The AltUNJli... TERRAIN CONSTRUCTION AND TREE CLEARING Much of the ski terrain that would be accessed from the proposed Thunderbowl and Steeplechase lifts is already being used. Consequently, the need to clear trees within timbered stands in these areas would be limited. In new terrain serviced by the Highland Bowl and Maroon Bowl lifts, tree removal would also be limited because much of the new terrain would occur in natural bowl openings. Where new ski terrain crosses timbered areas, partial lI'ee clearing (glading) rather than total clearing would be used where possible. Three broad categories of tree clearing are envisaged including low intensity (5-15 percent), medium intensity (16-40 percent). and high intensity tree removal (greater than 40 perceot). Low intensity clearing would focus on the removal of dead and leaning treeS. while increasing intensity of tree removal represents progressively greater changes to the lI'ee stands and habitatS. In particular, glading is proposed for the Deep Steeplechase expansion area to create tight, downhill lanes, with the 1994 Aspen Highlands summer glading program serving as a model. Trees would be tagged prior to removal and would focus on avalancbe-<lamaged trees. snags, and standing and leaning dead lI'ees where possible, with limited pruning and removal of live lI'ees. A total of 19 acres of trees would potentially be affected by ski terrain development in the Thunderbowl area, 95 percent of which would consist of low intensity clearing of aspens. In the Boomerang area, 8 acres of mixed conifer and 8 acres of aspen would potentially be affected, all by low intensity clearing. In the Steeplechase area, the potentially affected area would include 37 acres of mixed conifer and 32 acres of aspen, and in the Temerity area, 99 acres of mixed conifer and 3 acres of aspen would be potentially affected. In these two areas, 83 and 78 percent of the impacts would consist of either low intensity clearing or removal of avalanche-damaged trees, respectively. Due to the open nature of the Highlands, Maroon, and Loge bowls, relatively small proportions of the total terrain include areas of trees potentially impacted by the development of new ski terrain. In Highlands Bowl, the potentially affected area would include 169 acres of mixed conifer (78 percent low intensity clearing and removal of avalanche-damaged trees) and removal of 4 ac~~ of avalanche-damaged aspens. In Maroon Bowl. the potential effects would include low intensity clearing of 34 acres of mixed conifer stands, and in Loge Bowl potential effects would include low intensity clearing of 17 acres of mixed conifer and 3 acres of aspen. Complete clearing of lI'ees would be largely limited to lift line corridors and no earthwork would occur on ski trails or gladed areas. Lift corridors would be cleared to a minimum of 60 feet wide (Le., 20 feet between cables plus 20 feet outside of each cable) in forested stands to meet the Colorado State Passenger Tramway Safety Board standards (PTSB 1995). Trees would be flush cut and removed by environmentally sensitive methods. Tree clearing along lift lines would include 1 acre of mixed conifers and I acre of aspen along the Thunderbowl Lift line, 5 acres of mixed conifer and I acre of aspen along both the Steeplechase and Highland Bowl lift lines. and less than 05 acres of tree clearance alOJlg the Maroon Bowl Lift line. Additional disturbance within the corridor would include excavation of tower foundations and lift terminals. Excavations for tower foundations would be dug by hand in inaccessible areas and would be less than 10 x 10 feet, and lift terminals would require grading of an area approximately 30 x 40 feet. The bOllom terminal requiring an additional flat area, approximately 60 x 60 feet, for the skier maze. CATWALKS AND ACCESS ROADS Alternative B includes a new 5.400-foot-Iong catwalk/maintenance road (Steeplechase Catwalk) is proposed from mid-mountain to the bottom terminal of the Steeplechase Lift to service the Deep Steeplechase area (Figure 2.3). This catwalk would be key as a backup route for skiers to reach the Steeplechase and Highland Bowl and Maroon Bowl lifts in the event that the Loge Peak Lift is out of service. Without tJiis catwalk, failure of the Loge Peak Lift would limit access to the upper mountain lifts and terrain. especially for intermediate skiers, although expert skiezs could still reach Loge Peak: area by riding Cloud Nme Lift, skiing down to the base of the Steeplechase Lift and riding up on this lift to Loge Peak. In addition. the proposed 12-foot-wide Steeplechase Catwalk would provide a conduit for skiers using the Steeplechase terrain to return to the base of the Steeplechase Lift and it would greatly facilitate evacuatiOJl of injured skiezs from the Steeplechase area. The catwalk would be consll'ucted from mid-mountain at approximately 9.900 feet elevation and traverse downward across the east-facing slope to the base of the Steeplechase Lift. Where possible, the proposed alignment would avoid highly visible areas Alternative B - Proposed Action CalWalJu and Acces.l R0ad.3 2-9