Following last week’s dispute about the distribution of heli-ski user days, Haines Borough Assembly member George Campbell is seeking to more than double the current cap, from 2,600 to 6,000. Campbell has asked his proposal be included on the agenda for the Nov. 10 assembly meeting. Each of three local companies could be awarded up to 2,000 […]
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Helicopter noise study out, but what next?
The final draft of the Haines Borough’s $41,300 noise study is in, but it’s still unclear if or how the results will translate into law or policy. Though the noise study was authorized in February 2015, discussion of its potential costs and benefits dated to March 2014, when the assembly voted to approve a conditional […]
Posted inNews
Sundberg renews push for heliport
Helicopter ski tour operator Scott Sundberg has resumed his eight-year campaign to establish a heli-port near a residential subdivision at 26 Mile Haines Highway. Sundberg last week filed an application for a required conditional use permit with the Haines Borough. A public hearing in front of the borough’s Planning Commission is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Apply Lutak standard at 26 Mile
What do dog kennels and helicopter noise studies have in common? In fact, two features in the June 18 issue of the Chilkat Valley News address the very same issue: maintaining the peaceful quality of rural residential life in the Haines Borough. The first piece reports on the borough planning commission’s rejection of a Lutak man’s request for […]
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Helicopter noise study out for public comment until June 26
Haines Borough Manager David Sosa released the results of a draft helicopter noise study late last week, but he said he doesn’t want to share his impressions of the $41,300 study until others have had time to interpret it for themselves. “I would rather not have my views influence anyone else’s thoughts on the noise […]
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BLM: Heli-ski permits trump borough map rules
The Bureau of Land Management’s recent decision to permit commercial helicopter landings on a block of the agency’s land south of town has raised questions about the Haines Borough’s authority to regulate heli-skiing on federal lands. According to five GPS spot checks conducted in April and May, Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures twice landed outside of […]
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Coors visits, seeking ice for TV commercial
Haines recently played host to a 16-member production crew shooting a Coors Light commercial for a national television debut in mid-June. Members of The Sweet Shop production crew worked with Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures to film local creeks, waterfalls and mountains for the beer commercial. The Sweet Shop has made commercials for other national brands […]
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Study: Heli-skiing best bet for winter tourism expansion
The Haines Borough released its Haines Winter Visitor Industry study this week, which identifies heli-skiing as the sector with the most potential for growth. The $30,000 study conducted by the McDowell Group analyzed data and trends from October 2013 to April 2014. It included interviews with more than 40 regional business owners, recreational club representatives and event […]
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Heli-ski area open for 1 year
The Bureau of Land Management is opening more than 66,000 acres of land south of Haines to heli-skiing, an area that has been closed to the activity since 2009. BLM recently issued permits to Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures, Alaska Heliskiing and Alaska Mountain Guides to use 66,200 acres of land in the “south block” of […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Avalanche buries skier on event eve
Sundberg dug out of slide Despite a Wednesday morning avalanche that partially buried the event’s co-coordinator and an insurance snafu delaying the Haines Borough’s issuance of a permit, the Freeride World Tour will go on, organizers said. Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures co-owner Scott Sundberg, 40, was partially buried by an avalanche in the Telemark […]