Welcome to the home site of Friends of Flagstaff Mountain (FOFM). We want to keep the public appraised of development on Flagstaff Mountain in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC). We are skiers and snowboarders who ride the resorts and the backcountry. We also hike, bike, climb, camp, snowshoe, trail run, and simply enjoy all the Wasatch has to offer.

This region provides Utah residents as well as visitors from around the country and the globe with world-class recreation. Many forms of recreation are practiced and enjoyed here. The skiing and snowboarding are exceptional.

The current layout of upper LCC provides opportunities for many different user groups. Many visitors come to enjoy the slopes of Alta and Snowbird resorts. Flagstaff Mountain and Grizzly Gulch are the main access points for backcountry riding in upper LCC. These trailheads are some of the busiest in the Wasatch. Many ride the resorts and use the backcountry on the same day. This makes upper LCC quite unique and desirable for many. The balance of options that currently exists is about to change and drastically alter backcountry access.

Over the past several years Alta Ski Lifts (ASL) has been planning to expand north of SR-210 (LCC Highway). ASL, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the Town of Alta are in the planning phases of examining alternative avalanche control methods on the slopes above the Town of Alta. The current method of shooting explosives over occupied structures is attempting to be minimized. Pressure from the federal government as well limited munitions seem to be motivating factors. However, ski area expansion is a likely incentive as well.

A mechanized lift on Flagstaff Mountain is being planned to aid snow safety personnel access to Emma Ridge to deliver hand charges and thereby turn Flagstaff Mountain and Emma Ridge into a pay-to-play ski area. This would aid controlling avalanches via “skier compaction”.

Of note is that overhead ammunition will not be eliminated if a lift is built. It will only be lessened. Overhead explosives will likely still be required to control the area of Cardiff Pass and the Hellgate Cliffs.

The Little Cottonwood Canyon SR-210 Transportation Study, released in 2006, attempted to analyze the risk of avalanche in the canyon and examined ways to reduce that risk. A multitude of risk reduction methods are examined. Buried deep in the document, on page 81, skier compaction as a method of avalanche control gets brief mention. “ASL is studying its expansion options, and one option includes new ski lifts on the south-facing slopes above Alta Village. This would cause widespread skier compaction, thereby decreasing the risk of large destructive avalanches at Alta.” It goes on to say, “It should be understood that even with significant skier compaction of the avalanche paths above the Town of Alta, large avalanches will, on occasion, still occur.” That is it.

Expansion options? ASL’s 2003 Master Development Plan Revision makes no mention of Flagstaff lift construction. The current Forest Service Plan will be in place for 15 or so more years, makes no mention of ski area expansion. What is the purpose of a plan if it is not followed?

Alternatives to a lift do exist. They range from Gaz-ex installations, to mobile munitions deployers, and/or the repositioning of gun towers

The south ridge of Flagstaff provides unparalleled access to the premier terrain of Cardiff, Days, and Silver Forks. Construction of a lift and access road will forever change the recreational opportunities in upper LCC. The environmental impact to the watershed will be significant. ASL does not allow uphill travel, and therefore human-powered recreation above White Pine trailhead will be virtually eliminated. Balance and shared use of public land in upper LCC would no longer exist. This would be a tragic loss to Utah, and its visitors from around the world.