State Puts Hold on Heli-Skiing Proposal

     A decision on whether heli-skiing should be allowed in Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park has been postponed.

     The Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation recently received multiple applications to operate commercial helicopter skiing ventures in the park and asked for public comment on whether heli-skiing should be permitted. More than 3,000 comments were submitted.

     Ben Ellis is director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. He said in a news release Wednesday that the division received a broad range of comments that were thoughtful and show that people are “very passionate about this special area.” 

     Beginning in 2013, the division is planning to start a revision of the 1995 park management plan and expects the heli-skiing issue to be addressed at that time. At its meeting November 14th in Homer, the Kachemak Bay State Park Citizen Advisory Board voted against allowing heli-skiing until after the plan has been updated.