More people are skiing and snow boarding than ever before, so no wonder the slopes sometimes seem like
anthills. An article in Skiing
Magazine looks at the over-crowding phenomenon and asks what can be done. The answer: not much. Most areas it
turns out, are operating on publics lands, therefore approval for expansion often requires navigating the laws and
bureaucracy of the Forest Service, a task many resort owners have decided ain’t worth it. That said, some of the larger
resorts like Vail and Telluride, who can afford high-falutin lawyers, have been able to expand while others such as
Crested Butte, have largely given up on the idea because of the legal hassles. Alas, it is tough to be a victim of
one’s success.