Hesitation, excitement for Sandia Peak mountain coaster
The ski lodge at Sandia Peak Ski Area was buzzing with curious residents, conservationists and enthusiastic families for an open house centered on a proposed alpine mountain coaster at the top of the mountain.
Engineers with the Sandia Peak Ski Area were on hand to show off the design, a project timeline and a POV video of a similar mountain coaster experience. The coaster still needs to be approved by the U.S. Forest Service, which could not be reached for comment.
Guy Jackson, project engineer with Sandia Peak Ski Area, said the coaster is modeled after those seen in Colorado and will mimic an “alpine skiing and snowboarding experience.”
Jackson said they are still working out a few kinks in the project, such as how much tickets will cost and how accessible it will be for those with disabilities. The coaster is projected to cost $2 million and, if approved, work will be completed by the end of summer 2019.
Visitors’ expectations varied from caution and hesitation to excitement.
Virginia Seiser, a member of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, said the project seems well thought out, but she has yet to come to a final conclusion.
“With global warming, species are going to be moving higher on the mountain,” she said. “Increased human visitation is going to be a competing use with wildlife seeking a habitat — I’m waiting to learn a little more.”
Seiser said she has concerns about the noise, effects on wildlife corridors across the ski area and the removal of 45 live trees for construction.
“It’s always sad to see living trees go,” she said.
Seiser said she asked about the possibility of fire danger from sparks emitted through the coaster’s brake system — something engineers couldn’t address at the open house.
“The people we talked to didn’t have enough information to tell us,” she said.
Seiser said she has been hiking the Sandias for decades and sees an upside to the coaster if it’s done right, namely encouraging recreational activities for future generations.
“On the positive side, getting kids out in nature seems so important,” she said. “There are children who barely look up from their screens.”
Whether she will take the ride if it’s approved, Seiser shrugged and left the idea open-ended.
Moriarty resident Kimberly Voss-Trevino, who brought her husband and 3-year-old daughter to the open house, couldn’t hold back her excitement.
“I think it will be a great idea and bring a lot of revenue to the ski area,” she said. “I hope they approve it.”
Voss-Trevino, who worked at the ski area and usually visits several times a year to snowboard, said she has been discouraged by the lack of snow recently.
“When there’s not very much snow, we’ve got this awesome coaster,” she said.
“I love this place — it’s just gorgeous and seems to bring a lot of the same people I like — people that love nature and being together.”