Black Hills Ski Area Copes With Wintertime Logging
by Associated Press
January 28, 2013 7:42 AM
Wintertime logging being done to fight mountain pine beetles has led to the closure of eight miles of groomed cross country skiing trails in western South Dakota's Black Hills.
The southern half of the Eagle Cliff Ski Area southwest of Lead has been shut down. The closure also affects parking lots at three trailheads.
Summer logging has been done in the area in the past. U.S. Forest Service officials decided the beetle problem was too great to risk waiting until this summer to cut more infested trees.
Skier Eric Hehner says the logging will help save other trees and create a better long-distance view on some of the trails.
