Snowbasin withdraws backcountry-permit request

Snowbasin Resort on Monday withdrew its request for a U.S. Forest Service permit to guide backcountry skiers in out-of-bound areas around the resort, including the west face of Mount Ogden. Denzel Rowland, general manager of the resort, said such a permit isn't worth the controversy it triggered. Backcountry skiers and boarders - as well as environmentalists - had been writing to the Forest Service, opposing the permit request. Many said they feared guided recreation would impinge on their own independent recreation; others said it could lead to commercialization of the back side of Mount Ogden, above the city of Ogden. Snowbasin is on both Forest Service and land it owns on the east side of the ridge. "We'll just retract it and forget about it," said Rowland. "People are very suspicious, and there is no reason to be suspicious .. . . It doesn't really matter. It's not that important to me." Chip Sibbernsen, the Ogden district ranger for the Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said it's unfortunate that one of Snowbasin's main goals - to better familiarize the resort ski patrol with backcountry routes - won't be realized....