Nordic skiers are the newest casualties of tensions between the Wolf Creek Ski Area and developers of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek.
For decades the Pitcher family, which owns the ski area, has groomed a snow-filled meadow in nearby Alberta Park for cross-country skiers, free of charge. And, until this season, the owner and would-be developer of that land, Billy Joe “Red” McCombs, has accommodated the skiers.
But last month the Pitchers received a letter from McCombs’ camp telling them to cease trail-grooming operations or risk trespass charges, said ski area spokeswoman Michelle Ames.
McCombs’ partner and spokesman for the venture, Bob Honts, said they have opened the property to skiers since 1986 and would be willing to do so again this year if the ski area would simply sign an agreement that covers access and liability issues.
“The agreement is in their hands and has been for three weeks,” Honts said. “All they have to do is execute it. The agreement would, without charge to them, give them the ability to come on our land. It’s very dishonest of them to blame us.”
Ames has said that the agreement entails access issues that are no longer up to the ski area to decide.
McCombs’ proposed construction of a resort village surrounded by national forest has resulted in numerous court battles, including one between the Pitchers and the developers over access to the village site through the ski area. And environmentalists have sued the Forest Service over its approval of new roadways that would link the village to U.S. 160 at Wolf Creek Pass.
With both sides claiming it is the other’s decision to block nordic skiing, it is the skiers who are left in the lurch.
“It’s kind of a shame there’s some sort of standoff and the common man can’t use that area like he has for decades,” said Matt Yoksh, owner of Pagosa Ski Rentals.
But other skiers are less bothered by the flap. “It’s not like we’re not surrounded by 2 1/2 million acres of national forest,” said Larry Fisher, owner of the Ski and Bow Rack.
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
