Weigh in on planned changes at top of Heavenly Gondola

Heavenly is proposing improvement to their existing skiing and snowboarding terrain near the top of the gondola, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit wants input from the public.

Improvements would include construction of a permanent ticket sales kiosk, relocation of the Red Fir handle tow lift, installation of a Magic Carpet surface lift, obstacle removal and widening of the Tamarack Return Trail and tree removal under the Blue Streak Zipline.

A 300-square-foot permanent ticket sales kiosk would replace the temporary structures currently in use and would be located adjacent to the Bear Cave Ski School near Tamarack Lodge. The Red Fir handle tow lift that serves beginner ski and snowboard students would be relocated to the right side of the Easy Street Trail to reduce user conflicts. Some trees would be limbed and some trees on the right side of the trail could be removed. A new Magic Carpet surface lift approximately 300 feet long and primarily used for ski school activities, would be installed on the lower Easy Street Trail near the relocated Red Fir lift. The existing Tamarack Return Trail would be widened to an average of 125 feet, trees removed on approximately 1.3 acres and obstacles removed to improve surface coverage of both natural and man-made snow. Trees under the Blue Streak Zipline would be limbed and some trees removed to provide easier seasonal removal and installation of the lines.

Project work could begin as early as spring 2016.

Comments are most helpful if received by December 21, 2015.

The proposed action is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/Tamarack. For more information on the project and how to comment, contact Matt Dickinson at 530-543-2769.