SUGAR BOWL AND ROYAL GORGE-- WHITE KNIGHT, OR OUT OF THE FRYING PAN AND INTO THE FIRE?

Lately, there has been a new rumor blowing on the wind on Donner Summit. Perhaps spurred on by the fact Royal Gorge LLC hasn't contacted Placer County planning for 6 months, and the fascinating email authored by Chris Rust which, while detailing a dire economic scenario for at least one of the Foster partners, introduced the threat that Royal Gorge LLC was going to slice and dice the resort into parcels, and sell them off come spring, quiet talk has begun circulating that Sugar Bowl interests are considering taking over Royal Gorge.

Now, all good rumors come with variations, and this one has several. Some think Sugar Bowl might be considering purchasing just the cross country operation, and running it as an adjunct to their downhill ski business. There are others, though, who think they might be considering purchase of the whole rutabaga--from Negro Canyon, all the way out to Point Moriah.

Should the Summit breathe a big sigh of relief, and run around like chilly little munchkins singing, "ding dong, the witch is dead?"  Is Sugar Bowl our shining knight on a white charger?  Those who were happy to see the resort pass out of John Slouber's hands into Foster and Syme's had an abrupt volte face once Royal Gorge rolled out their big plans. Might not a potential purchase by Sugar Bowl cause one to look longingly back at the pan from the fire?

There's some things that are very important to remember on Donner Summit. Water, sewage disposal, and roads, and other infrastructure present large and expensive challenges for whomever owns the land. There is no magic formula for addressing those issues.  Second, the people who are opposed to unwise development, development which will harm lakes, rivers, and wildlife, don't particularly care whose brand name is on that proposed development, and will continue to diligently address the issues at county level.

If Sugar Bowl did purchase Royal Gorge, would they keep the whole thing, or would they sell off bits and pieces they didn't want?  Would they involve land trusts to ensure important things, like the headwaters of the South Yuba River, and Serene Lakes watershed are protected forever? Or will we see one of those "win-win" solutions where environmental groups line up to ink on the dotted line a compromise, leaving out real environmental concerns and consideration of an endangered species who might perish forever to benefit development? (visit Center for Biological Diversity's web page if you're wondering where that controversial proposed development is)

So many questions--and maybe it is all just a rumor that blew in with the latest storms. Stay tuned.......