A spokesman for Telluride Helitrax, which is seeking a BLM permit to fly in some 600 skiers a year to ski backcountry powder in San Juan County, is appealing for understanding.

The company’s plans drew fire from county commissioners and some Silverton residents last week who suggested the flights do little for San Juan County.
John Humphries, program director for Telluride Helitrax, said company officials “are still looking at” what the BLM has identified as its preferred alternative and “how it would affect our business.”
That plan would allow the company to bring in 300 skiers a year and limit them to operating in some 17,000 acres north and east of Silverton.

The company wanted use of about 34,000 acres, much of it south and east of County Road 2, and abutting the Weminuche Wilderness Area, and wanted to bring in twice as many skiers as the BLM suggests.

Humphries said “it would be understandable” if the company’s contributions to San Juan County are not obvious.

“It’s probably hard to quantify because we keep a low profile,” Humphries said. “But we bring in destination skiers to Silverton and the San Juans from all over the country and really from all over the world.”

He said ski packages that Telluride Helitrax participates in include lodging at Silverton or Purgatory.

“With the only heli-skiing operation in Colorado, it makes Silverton and the San Juans a unique destination in Colorado,” Humphries said.

Humphries added that Telluride Helitrax helps the Colorado Department of Transportation with avalanche control work and the company is “ready and willing to help” the county with search and rescue or other needs.

He noted the company has also helped the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad with avalanche control work.