Stevens Pass, WA – The U.S. Forest Service has granted its permission for Washington’s Stevens Pass ski area to replace two 1960s-era double chairlifts, add a surface lift and expand its mountain biking.

The approvals are consistent with the 2012 Amendment to the resort’s 2007 Master Development Plan (MDP). They include replacing the Kehr’s lift with a fixed grip triple chair, and replacing the Brooks lift with a quad, either a high-speed detachable or a fixed grip, eliminating the current center pole design that can intimidate beginners.

The current uphill slog to the bottom terminal of Kehr’s would also be eliminated with the removal of a water treatment tank currently buried beneath the loading area. In addition, a new surface lift has been approved to run parallel to the Brooks chair to ease congestion in that area.

The approved bike park expansion would add 4.3 miles of new trails and two new skills parks, one for advanced riders and one for beginners.

The resort also asked the Forest Service for permission to expand its parking lots on the north side of U.S. Route 2. That portion of the application has yet to be acted upon by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

The resort has set no timetable for implementation of the approved plans. They may, however, begin construction of the mountain biking expansion as soon as the snow melts this spring.