Court Upholds Powderbirds' Permit

The court upheld a lower court's ruling that allows the heli-skiing and snowboarding operation to fly above the Wasatch-Cache and Uinta national forests. The court affirmed that the U.S. Forest Service complied with all laws when it renewed Wasatch Powderbirds' permit in 2005. Save Our Canyons and Utah Environmental Congress argued that continued helicopter skiing interferes with non-motorized recreation in the area, and that the Forest Service acted in an "arbitrary and capricious manner" in granting the renewal. The court rejected their arguments. BTW, Wasatch Powderbirds has continuously held and renewed the permit for the past 34 years.