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Background

A company called Wasatch Powderbird Guides (WPG) has for a number of years operated a guided helicopter skiing service on National Forest lands in the Wasatch Mountains under permit from the Wasatch-Cache National Forest (WCNF). The permit expired in Fall 1999 and was renewed by the WCNF, which issued a Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement on the WPG operation. Some new restrictions were added to the permit, while other existing restrictions were removed. Both sides appealed the decision to the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service, which denied the appeals.

Articles

Open House Delivers Opinions on Expansion of Heli-Skiing link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune December 6, 2002.  Ellie Ienatsch does not hesitate to praise Wasatch Powderbird Guides' helicopter pilots: They are the second best fliers she has seen.

Wasatch Heli-Skiing Company Proposing Changes to Its Permit link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune November 13, 2002.  In issuing Wasatch Powderbird Guides' last helicopter skiing permit for the Wasatch Mountains, Bernie Weingardt, then Wasatch-Cache National Forest Supervisor, noted that "public sentiment surrounding the renewal of the permit has been polarized for many years."

Games ground heliski firm that helped win Oly bid
Deseret News February 6, 2002.  The same heliskiing company that's featured in Visa's Emmy-nominated television commercial and flew International Olympic Committee members over venues to help win Salt Lake City's bid for the 2002 Winter Games has been grounded by the Games.

Heliskiing Seeks Oly No-Fly Exemption link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune January 26, 2002.  Two public-safety prerogatives appear to be on a collision course above the central Wasatch.

HELICOPTER SKIING-Taking Flight for Survival link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune December 22, 2000.  Wasatch Powderbird Guides has launched its season, but without heli-ski pioneer Greg Smith at the helm.

Forester Upholds Terms of Helicopter Skiing Permit link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune January 12, 1999.  Jack Troyer, deputy regional forester in the Intermountain Region, has upheld an Oct. 1 decision to issue a new five-year permit to Wasatch Powerbird Guides to continue operations with restrictions.

Forest Service Upholds Copter-Ski Ruling link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune January 6, 2000.  In a single move, U.S. Forest Service officials have dismissed opposing appeals that had been holding up a new helicopter skiing permit for Wasatch Powderbird Guides, the 27-year-old firm that flies skiers into Salt Lake-area backcountry.

Helicopter skiing gains new life link removed*
Deseret News January 4, 1999.  The Intermountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service denied all appeals of the WPG permit renewal.

New copter skiing rules still up in air link removed*
Deseret News January 3, 1999.  Forest Service decision is still mired in appeals

Compromise on Heli-Skiing Pleases Nobody link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune January 3, 1999.  U.S. Forest Service officials tried to strike middle ground in the divisive helicopter-skiing debate when they renewed Wasatch Powderbird Guides' permit in October. However, the compromise approach has become mired in appeals filed by all sides with a stake in the battle over the central Wasatch Mountains' fabled powder snow.

Appeals flying from all sides over helicopter-skiing permit link removed*
Deseret News November 18, 1999.  A flurry of appeals is flying over helicopter skiing in the Wasatch Mountains.

Activists Appeal Copter Ski Permits link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune November 18, 1999.  The U.S. Forest Service's handling of helicopter skiing in the central Wasatch Mountains has come under attack by Utah environmental groups.

Save Our Canyons Appeal of Decision on WPG Permit Renewal
November 15, 1999.  

Both sides unhappy with heli-ski ruling link removed*
Deseret News October 4, 1999.  Discussion about whether a local helicopter company should have a permit to drop skiers on the Wasatch Mountains has generated months of feedback and controversy. So it's no surprise that when the U.S. Forest Service officials announced its decision on the permit Friday, no one was happy.

Ski Copters Keep Permit: They can continue to ferry Wasatch tourers; some limits imposed link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune October 2, 1999.  Wasatch Powderbird Guides received a thumbs-up Friday to continue heli-ski operations in the central Wasatch Mountains, but the company will be barred from flying two days a week in one section of popular back-country skiing terrain.

Wasatch Powderbird Guides Permit Renewal Record of Decision and Final EIS
October 1, 1999 .  

Copter skiing wins a permit link removed*
Deseret News October 1, 1999.  Heli-skiing guide gets conditional OK for 5 years

The Way We Whir link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune September 10, 1999.  Public Forum article by Todd Leeds describing encounters with Wasatch Powderbird Guides, and the lack of response to his complaints.

Save Our Canyons Comments on the WPG Permit Renewal DEIS
August 9, 1999 .  

Residents make noise against copter noise link removed*
Deseret News August 9, 1999.  A citizens' group made some noise Monday in hopes of restoring some quiet to the Wasatch Mountains. The Citizens Committee to Save Our Canyons delivered 1,500 comment forms to the U.S. Forest Service, asking that it ban helicopter skiing in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Group Says It Is Gathering Opposition to Helicopter Skiing Permit link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune August 9, 1999.  Save Our Canyons, a group opposed to development and helicopter skiing in the Wasatch Mountains, says it has galvanized opposition to the renewal of a flying permit for Wasatch Powderbird Guides.

Public says 'a resounding no' to heliskiing, group says link removed*
Deseret News August 8, 1999.  The Citizens Committee to Save Our Canyons plans to make a large special delivery Monday to the U.S. Forest Service.

Forest Service Study Blasted From Both Sides link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune July 22, 1999.  A Forest Service study on the impacts of helicopter skiing in the Wasatch Range was criticized Tuesday for lacking current data and definitive solutions to one of the most intractable land-use debates on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Copter skiing battle goes on link removed*
Ogden Standard-Examiner (free registration required) July 21, 1999.  Back-country ski enthusiasts are opposed to helicopter service

Heli-skiing compromise proves elusive link removed*
Deseret News July 21, 1999 .  

Public Is Asked For Input on Heli-Ski Permit link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune July 19, 1999.  The Forest Service is asking for public comment on the Wasatch Powderbird Guides permit renewal.

Study Poses Options for Heli-Skiing link removed*
The Salt Lake Tribune June 21, 1999.  The Salt Lake Ranger District has released a Draft EIS on helicopter skiing in the Wasatch.

Reaction to Renewal of Powderbird Guides Permit
Save Our Canyons press release September 16, 1997.  

Helicopter Skiing in the Wasatch
Save Our Canyons brochure March 15, 1997.  

Gibbons Thesis
Chapter 5 from RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPERIENCE USE HISTORY, PLACE ATTACHMENT AND GOAL ORIENTATION ON PERCEPTIONS OF GOAL INTERFERENCE AMONG BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS AND HELICOPTER SKIERS, an MS Thesis submitted to the University of Utah by Shannon Gibbons. June 1995.  

Aeronautical Hazards
Excerpt from Wasatch Tours .  

old archive
This is the old archive .  

*Link removed:   The original URL link for this article has been removed, as the article is either no longer available free of charge to public view (but may still be found by headline and/or date in a for-fee publisher website archive), or has been permanently removed from Internet access.