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Park Service: Avalanche danger ‘acceptable’ on Sylvan Pass
By Carole Cloudwalker
This document was published online on Wednesday, September 05, 2007
A Park Service official apparently has drawn some of the same conclusions about Sylvan Pass avalanches as a Cody citizens’ group.
Carol Armstrong of Cody, co-chairman of the grassroots group Shut Out of Yellowstone, said she was pleased that Park Service Regional Director Mike Snyder feels avalanche danger on the pass is an acceptable risk.
The Park Service’s preferred alternative in an Environmental Impact Statement concerning Yellowstone and Grand Teton winter use includes closing the East Entrance during the winter. A final decision on the matter is expected this fall.
Armstrong said some NPS staff members have discussed the possibility of retaining Cody access to Yellowstone in winter months via Cooke City, Mont., which she said is not a viable option.
She said that route takes people over Dead Indian Pass in winter, which she said can be dangerous and is farther than traveling up the North Fork.
“We are pleased that Snyder has come to the same conclusion reached by the people of Park County many months ago - that avalanche issues at Sylvan Pass pose an acceptable risk that can be effectively mitigated by the howitzer,” Armstrong said.
“The risk assessment ordered by Snyder and recently completed by a panel of avalanche experts had no surprises for us.”
Armstrong spoke after a closed-door meeting at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center on Friday with Snyder, Yellowstone Superintendent Suzanne Lewis, three Park County commissioners, state Rep. Colin Simpson, Park County Travel Council members, Yellowstone planner John Sacklin and others.
Armstrong said results of the avalanche risk assessment were discussed during the meeting, which she said was called by Gov. Dave Freudenthal.
Mark Toft of the governor’s office also attended the meeting, as did Park County commissioners Tim French, Marie Fontaine and Jill Shockley Siggins
Armstrong added that the avalanche report “indicates the howitzer is significantly less risky than the helicopter mitigation YNP adopted several years ago.
“We are delighted that Superintendent Lewis and Regional Director Snyder now recognize that the howitzer, with its 30-year safety record, has been the most effective mitigation of Sylvan Pass all along,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said Snyder, during the meeting, conceded the avalanche risks on Sylvan Pass are manageable, but he also raised the issue of cost as a possible stumbling block to continued winter access through the East Entrance.
But Armstrong said that when pressed to explain the multi-million dollar price tag Snyder placed on additional access mitigations, he “was unable to identify any specific plans or costs.”
Shut Out research indicates the howitzer program itself costs less than $100,000 per year, adding that Snyder “gave us assurances at our first meeting that he considered mitigations up to $300,000 as reasonable,” said Tonia Grdina, Shut Out co-chair.
“Given Snyder’s reputation for transparent dealings, we remain hopeful a cost-effective mitigation strategy centered around the howitzer can be found,” Grdina added.
With the looming possibility of the sale and reopening of Sleeping Giant Ski Area on the North Fork and plans for building an interpretive museum at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center near Ralston, motorized winterized access to and from Yellowstone will be increasingly important,” Grdina said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Enzi said the Park Service should keep its eye on benefiting the public as it decides the Sylvan Pass issue.
“I have said all along and will continue to say that the Park Service needs to look for ways to keep the pass open and available for the public rather than looking for ways to justify closing it,” Enzi said Tuesday.
“Shutting out people and restricting access is not the answer to preserving national parks. The citizens, business owners and outdoor enthusiasts in the area are working toward solutions, not justification.”
Enzi said he will further review the avalanche assessment, and may make official comments with the other members of the Wyoming delegation on the importance of keeping the pass open during the winter.
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