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Aspen Highlands SIU Are. - Draft EnviroNMlIlallmpacl Slal.",.1Il in lengih, with a venical rise of about 200 feet, a carrying capacity of about 500 pph, and powered from the terminal base with power being delivered underground from the top of Loge Peak Lift. The skiable area and terrain capacity of the Ridge Surface Lift would be 23 acres and 204 skiers, respectively. The purpose of this lift would be to improve skier access to the upper reaches of the south facing slopes of Highland Bowl and to facilitate avalanche conll'ol in the upper part of Highland Bowl. TERRAIN CONSTRUCTION AND TREE CLEARING New terrain and associated tree clearing proposed for development under Alternative C would be the same as that proposed under Alternative B except for Maroon Bowl which is not targeted for development in Alternative C. While the terrain in the lower Boomerang Woods is included in the analysis of Alternative C, it is likely that without the development of the Steeplechase Catwalk (which is included under Alternative B) this terrain is likely to be used infrequently and, therefore, may not be developed if Alternative C is selected by the Forest Supervisor. Most of the terrain development would consist of glading in the Deep Steeplechase expansion area and to a lesser eXlClt along the lower reaches of the Highland Bowl Lift line and to the east of the Thunderbowl Lift. The three levels of lI'ee removal to facilitate skier access would correspond to those described above under Alternative B. Lift corridors would also be cleared to a minimum of 60 feet wide in forested stands to meet the CfSB safety standards, with a1lll'ees being flush cut and removed with a log skidder. Total lI'ee removal along the longer, realigoed Thunderbowl Lift would affect 2 acres of mixed conifer and 2 acres of aspen, while no trees would have to be removed along the Highlands and Ridge surface lifts, and no trees would be removed in Maroon Bowl that would not be developed under Alternative C. Removal along all the other lift lines would be the same as under Alternative B. CATWALKS AND ACCESS ROADS The Loge Bowl and Highland Bowl catwalks described under Alternative B would be retained without modification under Alternative C. In addition, the existing Orand Traverse Catwalk, currently servicing upper Steeplechase and the upper mountain trails, would be extended to the Hyde Park area (Temerity Catwalk) (Figure 2.4). The purpose of this 2,426-foot-long extension would be to facilitate emergency egress from upper Highland Bowl and to direct skiers using the Y -Zones to the Orand Traverse Catwalk. The average grade for the Temerity Catwalk would be about 13 percent. Under Alternative C, the Lower Temerity maintenance road, a 6,740-foot-long, 12-foot-wide access road from Castle Creek Road to the base of the Steeplechase Lift, would also be included (Figure 2.4). This road would be located mainly on NFS land except approximately the bottom 25 percent, which would run along the boundary with Castle Creek YaIley Ranch with a smaJl section cutting across the ranch to join with the Castle Creek Road. This road would facilitate servicing of the lower Steeplechase Lift terminal and would provide emergency egress from the Steeplechase and Highland Bowl terrain. Consll'UCtion of this road would require cut and fill between the 8,700 and 9,000 foot contours and again between the 9,000 and 9,300 foot contours. There would be no road consll'UCtion for the purposes of installing the Highland Bowl and Highland Surface Lifts. However, a 653-foot- long service road would be consll'UCted from the termination of the existing Loge Peak Road to the base of the proposed Ridge Surface Lift. RESTAURANTS In addition to the reconsll'Uction of the Merry-Go-Round'Restaurant armid-mountain (described in Alternative B), Alternative C would also include the issuance of a permit to consll'UCt a second restaurant south of Loge Peak.. The new restaurant would have a footprint of about 9,500 square feet and would seat 250 to 275 people. Its purpose would be to maintain skier dispersal throughout the day by negating the need for skiers using the expanded terrain in Steeplechase and Highland Bowl to return to mid-Mountain for dining facilities. The building could also include an interpretive center for use during both the winter and summer. The Loge Peak. Restaurant would also be open in summer. ' 2-14 Allt:rnalille C - Pre/erred Allernalillt: Restaurants