Despite letters of opposition from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Chilkat Indian Village and numerous residents, the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday agreed to open two areas outside of the borough-approved heli-ski map for an international ski and snowboard competition.
The assembly voted 5-1 to allow the Freeride World Tour access to the “Chunny” site – a spot on the Takhin Ridge near Chilkat Lake – and the Caesar’s site – near Haska Creek across the Chilkat River from Jones Point. Assembly member Tresham Gregg was opposed.
The assembly denied the tour access to a third site in the Takshanuk Range near 13 Mile Haines Highway. An amendment approved by the assembly requires an observer to fly along with competition personnel to investigate the areas for wildlife.
The competition is scheduled for March, with preparation and logistics set for March 11-16 and the competition window set for March 17-25.
Fish and Game area biologist Carl Koch submitted a letter to the borough opposing use of the closed areas for the competition. “Helicopter and skiing activities during the proposed period can disturb and negatively affect mountain goats, denning brown bears and wolverines,” he wrote.
Koch provided aerial survey data and other information from recent studies to back up his claims. “Approving this proposal for heli-skiing outside the boundaries listed on the Haines Borough heli-skiing map would ignore the important process that led to the creation of the borough’s policy on heli-skiing to the detriment of wildlife populations and other user groups within the Haines community,” he wrote.
The Chilkat Indian Village also urged the assembly to keep the areas closed, claiming the helicopters and skiers would stress bear and goat populations.
A major objection raised by residents at the meeting regarded a recommendation from former manager David Sosa to open the areas. In his recommendation Sosa wrote that “borough staff met with community groups and interested parties to solicit information regarding the proposed use of this out-of-bounds area,” but that turned out not to be the case.
Lynn Canal Conservation treasurer Scott Carey said LCC wasn’t consulted, and he couldn’t find anyone at the borough or any other organizations who could confirm any meeting took place.
Assembly member Ron Jackson went back to the 2014 recommendation Sosa wrote on Freeride World Tour’s request for more area, and found “it’s exactly the same as the 2015 letter,” Jackson said.
“It’s likely (Sosa) boiler-plated that and did not communicate with the other interested groups which is leading to a lot of feelings of being left out of the process,” Jackson said.
Borough tourism director Leslie Ross touted the competition’s economic benefits to the town and its role in establishing Haines as a destination. Ross stressed that the out-of-bounds areas wouldn’t necessarily be used, but would serve as options for the tour to choose the best spot based on weather, snow conditions and other factors.
“When this event occurs, it will occur in one space. So they’re not asking for three out-of-bounds areas (and) to use all three. They want to have as many venues open as possible to allow them to choose for safety, for light, for snow conditions,” Ross said.
Local heli-ski operator Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures is acting as Freeride World Tour’s contract guide for the competition. SEABA co-owner Scott Sundberg said the event will have minimal impact, and will be a boon for the community.
“I think you need to really think about the decisions you make, and how it affects people,” Sundberg said. “You don’t really know that goats die on a ridge because of helicopters. You don’t know that bears are displaced. You don’t know that wolverines are displaced. But people are displaced every day, they struggle all the time. Those are the people and the things that you need to think about.”
Assembly member George Campbell agreed. “At some point – I’m sorry – I’m going to vote for people. There are a lot of people in this community that are going to make money,” Campbell said.
Among other permit requirements, SEABA and Freeride World Tour must stay at least 1,500 meters from visible or reported mountain goats.
The assembly last year voted unanimously to open the face of Telemark Ridge to the Freeride World Tour event on its inaugural event in Haines. This year, the international tour will bring 21 skiers (14 men and seven women) and 12 snowboarders (seven men and five women) to Haines for the competition.