Keystone ski area, in Summit County, Colorado, recently completed a new skier bridge, just visible in the bottom of the photo. The bridge makes it easier for skiers and riders to get back to the base of the gondola. More improvements could be in the works, as the Forest Service recently approved a new master plan for the resort.
Keystone ski area, in Summit County, Colorado, may soon start adding trails on the front side of the mountain to help ease skier flow in congested areas.
The U.S. Forest Service recently approved a new master plan for the resort, giving the preliminary OK for new lifts and trails, as well as a robust forest health component to address pine beetle kill and forest regeneration.
The master plan emphasizes improvements to trails on the front side of Dercum Mountain aimed at easing skier flow. Not all the projects on the list are hard and fast, resort officials said. The economy, skier trends and other factors will determine what projects the ski area might focus on in the next few years.
Keystone will consider adding a Spring Dipper bypass to create more green terrain and a better skier flow on the east side of the mountain, according to Doug Lovell, the resort’s chief operating officer.
Lovell said a Schoolmarm bypass would allow intermediate-level skiers to access favored front-side cruisers like Wild Irishman and Paymaster without mingling with beginners on Schoolmarm, Lovell said.
Eventually, the resort wants to replace the Argentine Chair, incorporating a midway unloading station and new trail access from the top down the backside of the mountain. Lovell said. That could help ease congestion on Mozart, the primary access trail to the backside.
A new lift in Bergman Bowl would give Keystone some above-treeline skiing and open up new terrain for people intimidated by North Peak and the Outback, according to Lovell. The Bergman Bowl project would also include new trails extending down to the Outpost area, he said.
A lift in Independence Bowl is also on the conceptual drawing board, replacing the resort’s snowcat operation in that area.
Various other improvements are also being considered for Keystone’s backside, including more chairs on the existing Outback lift to up capacity, a surface lift to the Windows area (not a high priority, according to Lovell) and new trails and glading.
Lovell also mentioned the renewed possibility of a Ski Tip lift running up the east side of the mountain. A replacement of the Wayback chair and new trails on North Peak and the Outback are also in the 10-year-range outlook.
The ski area master plan was put together without a formal Forest Service public process, but any subsequent implementation of the individual projects would be subject to site-specific scrutiny. The resort did present the master plan to homeowner groups and to Summit County residents in a series of public meetings preceding adoption of the plan.
The new master plan is on file and available to the public at the U.S. Forest Service Dillon Ranger District visitor center. Call (970) 468-5400 for information.
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