After over a decade of planning, Monarch Mountain is excited to announce that they received official approval from the United States Forest Service to begin the expansion of their special use permit boundary into the No Name Basin.
The development will add 377 acres of skiable terrain on the west side of the Continental Divide. This terrain is currently used by Monarch Cat Skiing operations and will offer access to traditionally cleared trails and gladed terrain for primarily intermediate to advanced skiers.
The approval comes after three years of review from both the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests. After analysis, consulted organizations found no significant impact with special consideration given to sensitive cultural resources and wetlands in the area.
“This has truly been a labor of love. We learned a lot during the process and have an in-depth appreciation of the State Historical Preservation group and the Federal Advisory Council on Historical Preservation. We plan to work together along with the Forest Service on continuing education with regard to the importance of preservation of all cultural aspects of the area and beyond. That process has been rewarding. So, now on with the crux of the matter … more room for skiing and riding. Time to get to work.” said Monarch Mountain, COO and General Manager, Randy Stroud.
The project is also expected to provide a secondary benefit of improved forest health and hazardous fuels reduction by removing timber that has been affected by the spruce beetle epidemic.
Monarch plans to begin construction in mid to late July. Their main goals this year are to build the access road, extend the powerline, and begin cutting runs. The ski area then plans to install a 3-person 2,700-feet-long fixed grip lift with a warming hut and restroom facility in the summer of 2025.
