Plan for the Expansion and Improvement of Whitewater Ski Resort Ltd. - February 2002

Executive Summary
Over the past 15 years Whitewater Ski Resort's skier visits have increased by 6% per season. As a result, existing facilities have frequently operated at usage levels above their comfortable carrying capacity, especially on weekends and traditional peak usage periods.

Whitewater needs to plan for expansion of its facilities to meet increased demand. Whitewater's base area infrastructure was installed approximately 30 years ago and needs renovation and expansion. Whitewater has achieved international renown as a powder skiing destination. The majority of users value Whitewater's snow conditions and extensive off-trail skiing. To preserve the quality of the powder and off-trail skiing in the future of increased demand and traffic, Whitewater must consider development of additional terrain adjacent to the existing lease area.

Whitewater must also address a longstanding imbalance of its terrain related to the needs of its intermediate skiers. Whitewater's current lift and trail systems do not supply the amount of intermediate terrain required by the commonly accepted market distribution of beginner, intermediate and expert skiers' skill classifications. Any development plan for Whitewater must provide for an increased proportion of terrain capacity for intermediate skiers.

This plan describes the existing ski area, and presents a phased plan for developing new ski terrain. This plan emphasizes the development of intermediate terrain and the preservation of the existing characteristics of the area that appeal to powder and off-trail skiers - low skier densities on marked ski runs and off-trail areas and an abundance of powder snow available and accessible to off-trail skiers.

Maps of Ymir Basin and adjacent Qua Creek Basin identify existing and proposed lift and run locations and several tables present existing and proposed lift and run statistics. The proposed development will be accomplished in several phases. Tables illustrate the balance of terrain capacity for the three main skier skill classifications and the carrying capacity of the area. The Guidelines for Alpine Ski Area Development in British Columbia, hereinafter referred to as the BC Guidelines, were followed extensively throughout the plan. Presently the area can provide skiing for 1300 people without compromising the quality of experience that Whitewater skiers expect. At full development, the area will provide skiing for 2700 people while still maintaining this quality.

Drawings illustrate proposed expansion and retrofitting of the day lodge, maintenance shop and parking lots and the report outlines their capacities and the timing of their construction during the three phases of expansion. Whitewater has completed preliminary investigation of infrastructure development.

The owners of the ski area have received inquiries from skiers about the possibility of public and private accommodation at the area. A proposed accommodation map illustrates the suggested location of public and private accommodation and several tables detail the bed unit calculation.

Click here to Download the entire Plan for the Expansion

Click the links below to download figures and maps not included in the PDF above
Figure 1: Proposed Skier Services Building Main Floor
Figure 2: Proposed Skier Services Building Basement
Figure 3: Floor Plans of Typcial Ski Area Maintenance Shop

Map 1: Whitewater within the Northwest
Map 2: Whitewater within the Kootenays
Map 3: Whitewater Ski Area Existing Facilities
Map 4: Whitewater Ski Area Gradient Analysis of the Ski Area and Adjacent Terrain
Map 5: Whitewater Ski Area Proposed Development
Map 6: Whitewater Ski Area Existing and Proposed Parking Lots
Map 7: Whitewater Ski Area Proposed Accommodation

The Plan for Expansion and Improvement of Whitewater Ski Resort Ltd. is a 59 page PDF version document.

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