It's not that a Snodgrass expansion will suddenly jolt Crested Butte's economy back to the levels of the past five years, when a rampant housing boom kept the valley buzzing. But it is sure to stimulate development. And resort executives deny the charge that it will disrupt the mountain's ecosystem.

Stone calls today's expansion proposal "Snodgrass Lite," compared to the 1982 plan that was approved but never implemented. Four lifts as opposed to 11. Addition of 263 skiable acres instead of 417. Snowmaking on 121 acres instead of 162 acres. And two small restaurants instead of a large on-mountain facility. He promises that the buildings will be LEED-certified.

Still, the resort will have to build reservoirs to provide water for snowmaking, and that could affect the flows in the East River. Critics fear that avalanche control on Snodgrass could trigger avalanches in the mountains to the north, near the town of Gothic, home of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, and a popular backcountry skiing area. And glades on Snodgrass will break up the forest.

Currently, however, hiking and biking trails and even a well-traveled dirt road already mark the mountain. And new homes and shops at Snodgrass' base are inevitable, says Stone, because the resort plans to develop that land with or without the expansion. But the plans conform to a "smart growth" zoning plan that caps house size at 2,800 square feet and promotes traditional neighborhoods with trails and paths. Stone says the resort understands the community's desire to stay unique and wants to do its best to acquiesce to local sentiments.

"This is about a sustainable business model we have that supports the city," says Stone. "It's about Crested Butte Mountain Resort making sure the way we develop and maintain the things that make us unique."

The resort is well-positioned to finance a Snodgrass ski area expansion. In December, CNL Lifestyle Properties, a $2.5 billion real estate investment trust with 13 ski resorts, bought Crested Butte, Okemo in Vermont, and New Hampshire's Mount Sunapee for a reported $132 million. The Muellers -- a couple famed for their ski industry brilliance -- then agreed to a 40-year lease back of the properties. The deal provides financing options for development that would otherwise be unavailable.

In all, the project will cost upwards of $30 million, estimates Stone, including the cost of the environmental analysis. Resort executives say the investment will position Crested Butte to be a premier ski destination when the economy rebounds. The additional territory will encourage visitors to spend five to seven days on vacation, as opposed to today's two or three. Currently, Crested Butte's extreme terrain caters to hardcore skiers, but does little to attract families looking for friendlier runs down mellower slopes. And families are apt to spend more money and even purchase second homes, unlike the classic ski bum living in his truck. The families who come to schuss the mellow slopes of Snodgrass will provide the winter economic stimulus for the entire area, says Stone.

Such an infusion of tourist money could benefit the winter economy, but it might be temporary, counters Joe Marlow, land and resource economist for the Arizona-based Sonoran Institute. Marlow believes local economies need to diversify to survive. Communities that rely primarily on one income source are especially vulnerable to downturns. An economy based solely on skiing, for instance, stands to suffer during a snowless winter.

It's essential to look at economic diversification now, in a recession," says Marlow. "If you're a small community and are suffering from the economic downturn, it is time to look around and see if there is something unique you can do in the community."

Easy to say. In a high-mountain community like Crested Butte, though, it's tough to find other options, particularly in the winter. For decades, the local economy has revolved either around tourism or mining. And few Crested Butte residents want to return to mining. Even if they did, the potential molybdenum mine on Mount Emmons has been shelved indefinitely, due to rock-bottom metals prices. Thompson Creek Metals Company, which owns the mining rights on Mount Emmons, announced in February that it would open an office in Crested Butte for community outreach. But even if the mine suddenly decided to pursue an aggressive schedule, it would be another eight to 10 years before shafts were operating. Still, many in the community remain vigilant, determined to continue their opposition to mining on Mount Emmons.

"Is it the type of economy we want to hang our hat on?" asks McDermott. "No. Mining is flat-out boom-and-bust. And when a mine dismantles, then you have environmental damage to clean up."

Tourism, it seems, will remain Crested Butte's main moneymaker for now.