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7. Hanging Valley Pod A new fixed-grip double chair lift may be built from the Cafe Suzanne/Mid- mountain complex vicinity to the bench at the 11,400-foot elevation below the Hanging Valley Headwall. This top terminal location was previously approved in the 1983 MDP/EA. The lift alignment was described and analyzed as part of FEIS Alternative H, and the ski trail design basically reflects that shown in Alternative G. The bottom terminal will be accessed by the lower stage of the gondola, the East Village quad, and by skiers from the west using the Alpine Springs quad and Turkey Trot trail. Approximately 200 acres of lift-served advanced to expert terrain will be added to the trail network. Currently, this area (with the exception of the newly authorized gladed terrain) is skied extensively, but accessing it requires skiers to take off their skis and walk approximately 1,000 feet slightly uphill from the top of the High Alpine lift. There will be 25 acres of fully cleared trail that basically follow the lift alignment. Two acres of full clearing with grading are authorized for construction of a skiway to the top of the Naked Lady trail to serve as a less difficult route out of the pod for skiers not wanting to ski the Wall, and to provide an additional means of circulating skiers from east to west. The new glading on the west side of the pod will occur in forest cover that is already quite open; additional tree thinning and trail clearing to connect natural openings will be minimal. DISCUSSION ASC has proposed that the Hanging Valley lift be installed eight to ten years in the future. Prior to that time, other lift upgrades and new lifts may negate the need for this lift. For example, if the approved High Alpine lift upgrade and extension is implemented, skier capacity in the Hanging Valley area may be reached without adding a lift. With the specified top terminal location being below the Headwall, this lift will not provide cross-mountain circulation for intermediate skiers wanting to access the Alpine Springs and Sheer Bliss pods. This lift will basically serve advanced and expert skiers only. This raises the question of what is the optimum location for the bottom terminal. The other facilities approved for the Cafe Suzanne area have the potential to substantially increase skier congestion, and a Hanging Valley lift bottom terminal would only serve to exacerbate crowding. Therefore, I also approve bottom terminal locations at the junction of the Turkey Trot and Sandy Park trails or the Turkey Trot and Bear Bottom trails. These locations would adequately serve advanced/expert skiers who wish to repeat ski the Hanging Valley. CONDITIONS Final determination of the bottom terminal location will be made after annual monitoring of skier densities and circulation patterns in the Cafe Suzanne/mid- mountain complex area. A minimum of three seasons of annual monitoring after development of the western Burnt Mountain pod will be required. The top terminal site must remain below the Headwall. The alternative site above the Headwall would cause unacceptable impacts to wetlands and the quality of skiing in the Headwall chutes and Roberto's trail. Full clearing of forest cover is to be minimized. Lift tower sites will avoid wetlands to the maximum degree practical. 8. Tnrkey Trot Area Authorized improvements in the Turkey Trot area include a new detachable quad chairlift, a ski school surface lift, and a new trail. Page. 14 RECORD OF DECISION