White Pine opening still waiting on FS permit
Hoped for Dec. 2 opening won’t happen
by Pinedale Online!
December 2, 2010
Skiers and snowboarders anxious to get on the slopes at White Pine Ski Area will have to hold tight a little bit longer, dashing optimism that the local ski area would be open by the hoped-for December 2nd projected date.
According to Ruth Esperance, Acting Ranger for the Pinedale Ranger District, the Forest Service is "pretty close" to finishing the approval process for the permit transfer to the new owners, Citizens to Save White Pine, LLC , which would allow them to open.
"There’s one key piece we’re waiting for," she said, adding they hoped to have that by the end of this week.
White Pine Ski area is located approximately ten miles northeast of Pinedale in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. All activity must be done by approval and permit through the United States Forest Service, Bridger-Teton National Forest. A group of Pinedale area residents purchased the resort several months ago and has been busy making it ready for the 2010-2011 ski season.
According to Esperance, the ski area passed the lift and facility inspection with just a few minor things to fix. The slopes have 20 inches of snow base, which is sufficient for opening. Esperance said it was "for sure" the ski area would not be opening the weekend of Dec 3-5. "We are continuing to work with the group, and we’re pretty close," she said.
Members of Citizens to Save White Pine, LLC told Pinedale Online that to their knowledge they provided all the information the Forest Service has asked for and they are waiting on the Forest Service to process the paperwork.
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