Guest post by Brad
Note: This was originally posted as a comment to our post: Summit Series Descends On Ogden Valley We thought it was important enough for the front page. Thanks to our humble reader, Brad, for sharing his insight.
I’m not quite sure where to begin with my thoughts on “
Summit Outside”.
The folks from
Summit Series obviously own Powder Mountain, and they can
now do pretty much whatever they wish with the land. But I hope and
pray that their actions will match their list of supposedly altruistic
objectives – particularly when it comes to environmental awareness.
I
hiked up to Mary’s Bowl just before the event began. From what I saw,
it seems this group is much more interested in throwing epic parties
than being stewards of the land. I realize it is impossible to hold such
an event without leaving at least some mark on the mountain, but the
magnitude of the operation and its impact on the ecosystem was simply
unnecessary. They could have easily accommodated and impressed the
Summit Outside attendees with a much more minimalistic approach. The
number of paths (both vehicular and pedestrian) crisscrossing the event
site, the number of people trampling virgin meadows located nowhere near
the site (far away from the many new paths Summit had already created),
the sickening number and size of cars, trucks, RVs, 4X4s, trailers,
golf carts shaped like Alice-in-Wonderland ladybugs with speakers
blaring music, the ridiculous quantity of materials used to build tent
platforms, lounge areas, bars, and outdoor “DJ/dance” stages, and the
absurd number of cheap camping-related “souvenirs” for each and every
attendee (most of which will probably land in the dumpster). Not to
mention the dozens of portable structures dragged onto the site for
kitchens, dining halls, bathrooms, showers, and the main performance
stage.
It was surreal to see this level of activity in a beautiful area
that I (and my family) have hiked and enjoyed for decades. Probably the
most ridiculous and unnecessary features were the strings of light bulbs
and fluorescent tubes (powered by multiple gasoline-powered generators)
hanging from the branches of a beautiful grove of young aspen trees,
and a wading pool dug into a slope next to the main stage (landscaped
with sod, flowers and a large foot bridge). The list goes on and on and
on.
You can see much of what I've described in the aerial photos posted
on the Standard-Examiner website. One of the Summit Outside promotional
brochures (which can be found at
http://www.estherperel.com/wp-...
invites attendees to “return to nature”. The brochure includes pictures
of the interior of the tents used for their “glamping” (luxury camping
on a grand scale). It is absolutely AMAZING to me that a group like this
cannot figure out a way to connect with nature without destroying it,
or without at least making a reasonable effort to minimize their impact
on the land. I’m even more amazed by the way the local media has
reported on this event. Check out the
July 21st Standard-Examiner
article written by Jesus Lopez, Jr. (Powder Mountain’s Summit Outside
pampers those seeking positive change). The article quotes Renee Loux,
co-founder of skin care company Andalou Naturals, as stating: “I’m
utterly impressed with the infrastructure they have and how light a
footprint it is. The respect of the landscape and the detail is really
commendable.” Seriously?? Did Mr. Lopez even walk the site so he could
make his own observations? Or did he simply quote the words of a
person who is likely one of the major investors in the Summit Series
development?
Again, I realize that Summit now owns the mountain, and
valley residents will have virtually no say in what they will do with
that beautiful land. But we also need to recognize that this is a very
wealthy and influential group of young people with ZERO experience
developing a pristine and complex ecosystem. They will likely do some
things right, but they will also make their share of mistakes.
The
residents of this valley need to politely but persistently remind the
folks from Summit that the manner in which they manage and develop
Powder Mountain will have a DIRECT impact on the quality of our lives –
particularly when it comes to the amount of traffic making its way
through the valley, and the impact of their development on our local
watershed. I truly hope someone from Summit will read this post and
perhaps even respond. If the Summit Outside event is a sign of things
to come, we all have plenty of reasons to be concerned.
