High Mountain Heli Skiing will be in full operation for winter 2010. But this likely will be the last year to ski in the Wyoming side of the Snake River Range. This includes South Fall Creek, South Elk Creek, Indian Creek, Squirt City, Powder Peak, Observation Peak and Wolf Mountain.

The Forest Service issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) on HMH’s operations in November of 2004. That decision, after having been appealed and upheld, was litigated by local green groups, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Sierra Club. Federal Judge B. Lynn Winnmill of Boise, ID sided with plaintiff’s argument that the FS should not have allowed our use within the Palisades Wilderness Study Area to increase over 1984 levels, the year it was set aside for study by congress. That order was regardless of our use there predating the 1984 Act, it being designated as a motorized use area in forest plan and also a heavily traveled snowmobile area in winter.

The Department of Justice, who represents the Forest Service, promised an appeal of the decision but after filing two extensions, dropped the case. Last fall we pleaded with the Bridger-Teton Forest Supervisor to produce a supplement to the EIS, to correct the issues the judge pointed out with it. We were refused. This left us with few options to continue our 35 year operation.

HMH has applied for replacement terrain and we will be exploring some of this new terrain in the coming winter months while we wait for a decision from the Forest Service. We hope to incorporate the new terrain into our special use permit by winter 2012. In the interim, most of our skiing will be moved west into Idaho and south of the Snake River. We are committed to doing everything we can to continue providing the high quality powder skiing experience you are accustomed to while assuring protection of Forest resources.

Thank you for your continued support,

Jon Shick, Lud Kroner and the staff of High Mountain Heli-Skiing

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