In December 2012, after an extensive fund raising effort, the Truckee Donner Land Trust and several other organizations purchased the 3000 acres of Donner Summit lands where the Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Area are located. Sugar Bowl, which sits adjacent to Royal Gorge, assumed management of the ski area last winter, and Royal Gorge operated successfully. Although a longer winter would have been nice.
While those 3000 acres are known for their prime cross-country skiing terrain, underneath all that snow are sparkling alpine lakes, craggy ridgelines and views into deep canyons. Now the next step for the Truckee Donner Land Trust is to gather input as to what should be done with that spectacular terrain during the summer. Towards that end the TDLT will be holding a series of public meetings, focus groups, property tours and even one on one meetings throughout the summer. The goal? To get as much input as possible to make sure what they do with the property is in the best interest of the community. This information gathering effort will be led by Truckee Donner Land Trust Project Manager John Svahn.
The Land Trust based their fund raising efforts to purchase the property on these primary goals for the property:
Keeping the ski area open
Making the property a summer recreational destination
Helping the Donner Summit area create a sustainable economy
And where needed, restore and enhance the properties natural resources.
To find out more or to get involved, go to http://www.royalgorgeoutreach.org
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 
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