Haines heliski companies had one of the worst seasons ever this year as bad weather and snow conditions limited time in the mountains. Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) owner Scott Sundberg said persistent cold, dry and windy weather didn’t allow the buildup of a stable snowpack. SEABA, Alaska Heliskiing and Alaska Mountain Guides used an average of […]
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Assembly cuts heliski terrain map
After adding two heli-ski map terrain locations last month, the Haines Borough Assembly reversed part of that decision Tuesday and removed one of the areas. Assembly member Stephanie Scott moved to reconsider a vote made last month that added an area north of Rainbow Glacier and another near Flower Mountain. Every three years the assembly considers changes to heli-ski […]
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Heliski ordinance advances
The assembly advanced an ordinance that revises the process for non-temporary amendments to the borough’s commercial ski tour areas map. Every three years the borough considers changes to the ski map. The tourism advisory board and the parks and recreation committee voted Aug. 10 to strike the reference to the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat […]
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Heliski map committee may dissolve, local boards to replace
The heliski map committee may dissolve as joint borough boards take responsibility over heliski map change proposals. The Haines Borough Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Tourism Advisory Board partnered to address previous conflict of interest allegations this spring. The boards met together Aug. 10 to review and change a draft ordinance regarding heliski map amendments to pass on to the borough assembly […]
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Panel draws up alternative to heliski map group
The Haines Borough Assembly’s Commerce Committee on Monday agreed on a model for decision-making that might replace the heliski map committee. The five-member map committee late last year got bogged down in questions about conflicts of interest, as owners of heliski companies held two of the committee’s seats. The idea for replacing the map committee with the assembly, proposed by assembly […]
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Assembly delays action on heliski map expansion
In the face of two appeals citing conflicts of interest, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted unanimously to delay the controversial process of redrawing recreational helicopter flight and landing paths until next summer. A newly-formed advisory panel will have more data on the plan’s effects on mountain goats and denning grizzly bears and have time to review […]
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Parks and Rec panel discusses heliskiing
The other recreationists who populate the backcountry of Haines weighed in Monday on the controversial remapping of heliski site maps where helicopters drop off and retrieve clients. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee convened to hear public comment from hikers, cross-country skiers and others who might believe their outings would be compromised by the thump-thump of hovering […]
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Heliski committee makes deadline, skipping some areas
Monday’s heliski Map Committee meeting was its last, despite long discussion on wildlife habitat and clerical map errors leaving unfinished business on the table. The committee had a Nov. 30 deadline to make recommendations to Haines Borough Manager Bill Seward. Assembly representative Ron Jackson planned to ask for more time at an assembly meeting scheduled for Nov. 29, but […]
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Heliski debate centers on goat, bear impacts
The Haines heliskiing map committee convened Monday for another round of reviewing the backcountry site maps where ski-adventure companies drop off and retrieve clients. Committee members, state biologists and public observers debated – often with an edge to their voices – such topics as bear dens and estrogen cycles, sows, cubs, nannies and kids. In […]
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Heliski committee hits halfway point
A review committee recommended opening seven areas to heliskiing Monday following a protest of the make-up of that group. A five-person committee has until Nov. 30 to recommend whether the Haines Borough should approve 14 requests by Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures and Alaska Heliskiing. Co-owners of the two companies making the requests – Sean Brownell of Alaska […]