This project has in fact been in the works since 1989. The group that is proposing the new resort is called Glacier Resorts LTD. and it’s spearheaded by Director and President, Oberto Oberti. Glacier Resorts consists of an international board of directors with a heap of financial backing. It seems that the resort development issue, heats up for several months and then cools down for a few years every so often. Glacier Resorts seem to be in the battle for the long haul and have no intension of backing down from there dream resort. The mega resort proposed will house 5500 beds in Alpine terrain, 20-23 chairlifts, two gondolas and an aerial tramway. All of this will provide guests with year round skiing on some fabulous terrain in the middle of what is now a pristine wilderness backcountry area.

The Kootenay Coalition for Jumbo Wild is an opposition group that consists of various committees and societies that strongly oppose development in the Jumbo area. Experts have done Wildlife impact studies, which show that animals such as Grizzly Bears will be displaced from their natural habitat, and are ultimately threatened by development. Native bands also oppose the development as they’re trap line tenures would be in jeopardy as well. R.K. Heli Skiing currently holds a tenure in Jumbo, which accounts for a massive section of their heli ski terrain. It seems that R.K. plays an extremely important role in the development. I’m assuming that Glacier Resorts would have to be in agreement with R.K. in order for the development to happen and yet R.K. swears that this proposal will effectively shut them down.

Oberti and his crew may have made a mistake in coming to Nelson last week. Over 500 protesters lined the streets and marched for the cause of protecting Jumbo Glacier from development. Oberti was visibly shaken when one local woman aggressively made it known that the Jumbo project is going to destroy pristine animal habitat. In my opinion, Nelson is a good place to avoid when proposing a development that isn’t located in this immediate area. Those who know Nelson’s unique culture can figure out why!

Since 1995 Glacier Resorts have changed their master plan to better conform to the issues that have thus far hindered development. Certain lifts have been removed to prevent eyesores and they have reduced the original Controlled Recreation Area by half of its original size. Yet it seems that by making all of these significant changes, Glacier Resorts LTD. hasn’t made much progress in gaining the support of their opposition groups.

If approved Jumbo Glacier Resort will bring hundreds of jobs to the Kootenays, but will it entice winter enthusiasts to come to this part of British Columbia? There are already a number of major resorts in Western Canada that don’t run at full capacity, so where is Jumbo going to fit in? In my opinion, another resort is just going to water down an already soaked market that has two additional resorts proposed in Valemont and Nelson. The Jumbo pass area is quite far from any major International Airport, which also makes it difficult to entice people to make the journey. On the flip side, the resort will become one of the biggest in Canada, featuring beautiful terrain and scenery and year round skiing.

The Jumbo dream may fade away again for a while but it is a re-occuring nightmare for those against the project. I encourage you as part of the snowriding community to check out the latest from all sides. Check out these sites for the full views and opinions of the groups involved.

Glacier Resorts LTD. www.jumboglacierresort.com
The Coalition for Jumbo Wild www.kootan.org/jumbo.html

Comments

Bryans Other Articles

1.Behind the Lens with Doug LePage
2.Secret Stash Adventures
3.Whitewaters Snowfest 2004
4.Deadly Sick
5.Nissan Ski and Snowboard Week in Whitewater
6.Behind the Lens with Peter Moynes
7.Kootenay Heli Rescue Society
8.Sinners Gathered Together
9.Sinners Premiere
10.Whitewater Update
11.Silver Basin Unveiled
12.New Plans for a Major Resort in the Kootenays