"Seemingly lost in the controversy over snowmaking equipment at the Arizona Snowbowl is this dose of reality: The majestic San Francisco Peaks are public lands.

They are not the private fiefdom of Native American tribes. They do not belong to the proprietors of the ski area. Nor are they the property of any hiking or ski clubs.

As federal lands, the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff belong to everybody. And as such, they are open to a wide range of uses, including skiing."

Get the Story:
Public peaks (The Arizona Republic 3/14)

Approval Documents:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Arizona Snowbowl Facilities Improvement | Forest Service Approves Snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl

Relevant Links:
Coconino National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/index.shtml

Related Stories:
Tribes blast OK of snowmaking plan in sacred peaks (3/9)
Deadline nears on snowmaking in sacred peaks plan (04/09)
Hopi Tribe to protest against snowmaking plan (03/19)
Editorial: Ski area helped by snowmaking plan (02/20)
Navajo Nation not planning boycott for sacred site (2/20)
Coalition protests snowmaking in sacred peaks (2/18)
Tribes to fight snowmaking in sacred Ariz. peaks (02/03)
Forest Service delays report on ski area expansion (12/02)
Hopi Tribe opposing snowmaking in sacred peaks (11/20)
Ski area on sacred mountain expanding (10/15)