Hikers side with tribes in Peaks issue

The Navajo and Hopi tribes have both come out against the latest proposal for snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks - using potable rather than reclaimed sewage water - but how do Flagstaff locals feel about the issue?

To find out, the Navajo Times interviewed people taking the sky ride (the summer name for the Arizona Snow Bowl's chairlift) and hiking the network of trails around Mt. Humphreys on Aug. 20.

By a margin of five to one in an admittedly limited and unscientific poll, people actually using the mountain thought that any kind of snowmaking on the mountain is probably a bad idea - even people who had not heard of the tribes' objections. One man declined to take a stand because he was not familiar with the issue.

The decision will be up to the Flagstaff City Council at a specially scheduled meeting Monday.

"I'm not really for it (snowmaking)," said Zachary Thomason, 28, who had just headed down from the summit. "It hasn't been done before, so we don't know what it's going to do to the vegetation and the habitat. It's not just about making money off the mountain. You have to think about our heritage, and what we're all here for."

Asked if he knew the mountain was sacred to 13 regional tribes, Thomason said he did, and added there are plenty of non-Indians who also revere the mountain in their own way.

"Everybody should be pulling together on this one," he said.

Stephen Dacosta, 25, a graduate student who had just moved to Flagstaff from Tennessee, said he didn't know about the mountain's special place in tribal spirituality, but thought it seemed wasteful to import water from the city for snowmaking.

"In an area that has a shortage of water, it seems like a no-brainer," he said.

As might be expected, two 16-year-old Navajos hiking on Dooko'oslííd opposed the proposal.

"The mountain is sacred to us. They shouldn't disturb it," said Chadwick Sutter.

"They should respect other people's religious beliefs," echoed Mike Parra.

Tony Randall, 52, of Flagstaff agreed.

"This is a shrine," he said. "Whether we agree with it or not, we have to respect it."

Randall and his wife have gone as far as to boycott the SnowBowl - a tough decision for lifelong skiers who actually chose their house for its proximity to the ski area.

"I'm sure the resort isn't worried about a one-couple boycott," Randall said. "But it makes us feel better."

Jan and Jeff Laufhutte of Hillsdale, N.J., regularly vacation in Flagstaff to take advantage of the outdoor recreation and are considering moving here. They weren't familiar with the SnowBowl issue, but Jan, 47, said she believes in respecting Native beliefs.

"We don't want to trample on their rights, that for sure," she said, adding, "I just hope it works out to everybody's benefit."

Jeff, 49, was a little more cautious. "I'd have to study the issue," he said. "This is a different world from where we're from. We have plenty of water."

The only pro-snowmaking voice came from Ken Von Schulze, a 55-year-old Flagstaff resident who was just coming from the sky ride.

"I think it's good for the economy," he said. "If you look at a map, you can see that it's just a small portion, a minor amount of area that is used for the ski area."

Back to top ^