WILLIAMS – A small northern Arizona ski area that has been plagued with low snowfall in recent years has won approval to install tubing runs covered with plastic for year-round sledding.

Kaibab National Forest officials said Thursday they will issue a one-year permit to the Elk Ridge ski area on Bill Williams Mountain allowing two sled runs covered with recycled plastic to be operated. The permit will allow tubing at the ski area with or without the presence of natural snow.

Elk Ridge will install two strips of “Powderpak” plastic on the hill as an artificial snow surface. Each run will be 6 feet wide and 200 feet long.

Owner Tammy Fountain said earlier that the material is the most environmentally friendly she could find to supplement snow.

Fountain bought the small ski area in 2005 and invested more than $1 million for lodge renovations, ski equipment and other upgrades.

The Forest Service permit allows tubing 7 days a week, but Fountain expects to operate only on weekends, holidays and during special events. An estimated 150 people a day would use the facility.

azstarnet.com