Jumbo Glacier project clears major hurdle

[mark]

hello all,
i just wanted to join in on this conversation, and introduce myself - mark. i haven't visited this site since sometime last winter, and i see a lot has changed. i like the new forum layout. i would agree that it is easier to navigate than before.
i have also been eagerly watching the progress / process of jumbo glacier. i have thoroughly read their prospectus and if we are to take it at face value, it would be hard not to support the proposal. if you are to build a new ski base resort, that would certainly be one of the best places to do it. due to the history of the site, it would have a minimal environmental impact. it's not virgin wilderness.
the one thing i have a hard time digesting is how the investors can possibly make any money based off their development proposal. they speak of a very limited real estate development area and population base. not to mention the highest acre / skier ratio in north america. it sounds too good to be true.
i have heard suggestions that the development may end up targeting the ultra-super-ridiculously rich. i mean, a step up from whistler. because they won't be making their money off lift tickets. i would be interested if anyone has any information on this. otherwise, i just don't see how the numbers can add up for the investors.
i would also like to add i'm impressed with the ability of the forum users to carry on a debatable topic as this without resorting to insults and death threats. very impressive compared to a lot of other forums i have visited.
hope to contribute much more throughout the season.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Ultra-rich? It will still be a whole lot cheaper than skiiing that terrain with RK. And you don't have to stay up there to ski there, with Panorama 20 minutes away, and Invermere/Fairmont another 30-45 minutes. The existence or other resort housing that close will keep the prices from being too ridiculous.

I still hold to the opinion that B.C.'s winter tourism potential is largely untapped. Remember that only 6% of current visitors are from the U.S. When Fernie expanded in 1999, skier demand exceeded the bed base for a few years. And Castle seems to be doing just fine (a bit too fine on the weekends from what I saw last February!). I think it's fairly likely that Kicking Horse will be successful also. I'd worry a little about Panorama with the contrast in snow conditions, but I didn't see any indication that Intrawest was opposing Jumbo, so I might be wrong about that concern. Panorama might make up in increased lodging what it loses if any in skier days.

I personally enjoy this whole loop from Castle around to Banff as a multiple resort-hopping trip, and Jumbo will add to the attraction. But I know I'm a minority in that regard. Most destination skiers seem to prefer to plant themselves in one resort for a week.

 

[Patrick]

i would also like to add i'm impressed with the ability of the forum users to carry on a debatable topic as this without resorting to insults and death threats. very impressive compared to a lot of other forums i have visited.
hope to contribute much more throughout the season.

Welcome to the forum Mark.

We might rank and bitch at certains resorts or sujects (check out the late season at Killington debate every Spring) , but it's never becomes personnal. I agree, there is too much noise outthere, if it becomes to noisy and the messages are drown out, I tune out.

Tony:
It's true that the Banff-Kootenay is a fun tour (never did myself), so day.

Max:
While I'm at it, I don't agree with your negative is positive argument. It's not because the area becomes abandonned that it's re-becomes the way it was (ie. the sudject of the old arctic army base and lack of clean up comes to mind - i don't know why?)

 

[Anonymous]

:evil:

definately a bad idea, i spent last winter in the B.C. interior and there is a lot of anti jumbo people, iwould have to say that almost everyone i talked to about it was against it. the thing is that many people in the area value this area and would like to see stay as is. it is compared to building a resort bigger than whistler in an area that is very similar to roger's pass, and we all know that most people would disagree with that. i was fortunate enough to be in these spectacular areas and would hate to see them developed. they are beautiful and somewhat unspoiled, and there are very few areas similar to them anywhere else in the world.

the thing is backcountry skiing in bc is a great winter pastime that most people do and love , they are not afraid of a long skin up to ski something that special. they also understand that somethings aren't supposed to be easy. so to all of you in favor of economic development think again about who would actually benefit from a project of this nature, big business or the few locals that inhabit that area. what is the ultimate destruction of a beautiful area worth?

lastly, some of the best grizzly habitat in the area exsists in the jumbo wilderness, due to the largely roadless and undeveloped nature of the location, there is a healthy population, unlike a very silmilar are that is called rogers pass, which due to human uses has scared the bears out of that particular habitat. what are the bears worth, is the development there absolutely nessacery?

one other thing to consider is the huge growth in backcountry outfits i.e. heli and cat skiing ops that have opened in the interior in recent years, i another resorts even needed, probably not , but some would beg to differ.

it would really be too bad if the resort was built, i hope it isn't.

redeye

 

[Anonymous]

People live on the planet too. We like to ski and enjoy nature. It is not possible that this tiny resort area built over a sawmill in the middle of the ROCKY MOUNTAINS could harm ANYTHING, not water, not 2 grizzly bears. Gov't has the means and the motivation to regulate every drop of water and every habitat from Yogi and Booboo to the rare south-facing moss they may find, AND THEY WILL. People must be allowed to responsibly create work for themselves, and thankfully, they are at Jumbo.

 

[Anonymous]

your reply on the matter of jumbo glacier has no merit. what do you actually know about the project, and have you ever been there to witness what the current state of the area is?

I think you would have a different perspective on the matter if you had been there.

truely breathe taking, keep the resort away.

 

[Anonymous]

truely breathe taking, keep the resort away.

I will not repeat what I said a month ago, but I truly agree with Red Eye express comments.

1) The environment isn't good for the place. Tiny resort????
2) The people from the Kootenay don't want the resort.
3) I wouldn't trush the government (especially the current BC government) to protect the environment over business interest. Over the year, governments has generally economic interest over the environment.

 

[Patrick]

truely breathe taking, keep the resort away.

I will not repeat what I said a month ago, but I truly agree with Red Eye express comments.

1) The environment isn't good for the place. Tiny resort????
2) The people from the Kootenay don't want the resort.
3) I wouldn't trush the government (especially the current BC government) to protect the environment over business interest. Over the year, governments has generally economic interest over the environment.

It was me...
forgot to login again :x

 

[Anonymous]

In Quebec, we have 2 x 1500 footers that have been opened in 1990 and 1991 (Mt Édouard and Mt Pin Rouge).

Is there some other ski areas over 1500' high that opened in the last 15-20 years except these 2 ones ?

Hey Frankontour. Are you counting Le Massif? More than 700 meters of vertical It opened with lifts in january 1993, although it was a smaller bus-serviced area in the 80's

Bernard

 

[Patrick]

In Quebec, we have 2 x 1500 footers that have been opened in 1990 and 1991 (Mt Édouard and Mt Pin Rouge).

Is there some other ski areas over 1500' high that opened in the last 15-20 years except these 2 ones ?

Hey Frankontour. Are you counting Le Massif? More than 700 meters of vertical It opened with lifts in january 1993, although it was a smaller bus-serviced area in the 80's

Bernard

Bienvenue Bernard,

I believe that is precisely the reason why Frank didn't count the Massif. However when I was talking about new resort from nothing like the Jumbo project, I meant MAJOR new resort although the Massif is slowely getting closer to that point, but I wouldn't compare it to the Tremblants of this world, yet :roll: :?: