Build My Own FeedBlack Diamond CEO and founder Peter Metcalf taking a stand: resigns from Utah Ski and Snowboard Industry Working Group
Peter Metcalf resigned from the Utah Ski and Snowboard Industry working group last week. Metcalf cited his opposition to Utah Governor Herbert’s proposed legislation regarding federal public lands and R.S. 2477 litigation as the primary reason for his resignation.
“For over 20 years, I have worked to help protect and steward Utah’s iconic wildlands and rivers alongside former Utah governors Leavitt, Walker and Huntsman,” says Metcalf. “The current administration’s pursuit of federal land transfers and their proposed battle to wrest title of remote trails could open up pristine wilderness, national parks and monuments to drilling and extractive uses, let alone destroy human powered recreational values. These policies would saddle a heavy economic burden on Utah taxpayers and be detrimental to sustainable management of public land. They are hostile to the interests of the outdoor industry and ignore sizable contributions to the state’s economy.”
Governor Herbert’s administration is currently suing the federal government for the transfer of federal public lands ownership to the state. Many critics view Herbert’s plan as a short-term sell off that almost exclusively benefits private developers and the oil, gas, and coal industry, without regard to the value of conservation and recreation interests. Additionally, Metcalf is strongly opposed to Herbert’s plans to litigate over the titles to several tens of thousands of miles of non-existent road claims, many of which reside in national parks, monuments, and wilderness study areas.
The active outdoor-recreation industry creates 65,000 Utah jobs and over $4 billion in annual sales and services. The Outdoor Retailer trade show, which occurs twice annually in Salt Lake City, brings 40,000 people and over $40 million in direct spending. A recent national survey found outdoor recreation jobs outnumber those in oil and gas nearly three to one.
Metcalf continues, “the fact that Utah is currently unable to properly fund its own $12million/year state park budget while the federal Bureau of Land Management spends $150 million a year in Utah to manage its lands , begs the question of how would Utah financially manage now-former federal lands without BLM funding?
“Unfortunately, there is no meaningful collaborative process with Governor Herbert’s public land policies. The stances being taken toward federal public lands are both reactionary and contrary to the state’s long-term economic benefit. My resignation is a decision to voice loyal opposition to the Governor and to speak out on behalf of Utah’s economy and quality of life.”
United States / English 
8 Sep 2012, 9:50AM
Pickles, say whatever you want about hypocrisy, blah blah blah. Here is the final question. Do you want to remove precious land in Utah to be converted to giant mines or paper fodder or would you rather have a few rest stops hotels to enjoy yourself in precious untouched nature? a hotel hear and there sounds like the lesser of two evils. So I pick hotels. So you can get off your high horse because you havent won any logical arguments.
3 Aug 2012, 10:47PM
I cant believe people are putting a spin on such positive intentions. Its obvious why many feel that nature is being spoiled, but i find that more and more young people making bikes more popular, man powered sports more accessible and finding ways to support the parks closest to them.
25 Jul 2012, 6:29PM
Good.That way Mr. Metcalf will have more time to do what he does best.Run BD!
The federal government is flat broke,besides nothing good has ever come from DC anyway.
For the times I have spent in the BD store (and I go often there )I never saw any recreation workers shopping there, but a bunch well groomed Lexus drivers trying $900 ski boots.The Feds are flat broke,the rec workers are working for peanuts, and the Governor is definitely looking in the right direction.
20 Jul 2012, 8:45AM
@ pickles, your whole argument sounds so foolish. just about everything society produces needs the mining industry for ore, and then the petroleum industry to run. Should go tell a park ranger who drives a truck that he's a hypocrite by your logic, he's job is to protect the park but he depends on the mining and petroleum industry for transportation. please spare us all and shut your damn mouth unless you have something a tad bit more intelligent than that to say. the point is to enjoy the wide open spaces and protect them. blackdiamond helps people do that with there equipment.
17 Jul 2012, 9:55AM
Good for you! I have some Black Diamond products, and you've just made yourself a preferred provider :)
17 Jul 2012, 6:07AM
nice job. sucks you have to leave a position that you love but I am with you when taking a stand to protect the places and people that you love.
12 Jul 2012, 3:00PM
LL Lancaster, consider toning it down. Every time an online commenter uses the word 'disingenuous,' it's a big red flag that self-important bluster will likely follow. Throwing 'fellatio' into the phrase affirmed that prediction.
I don't think pickles summed up the entire issue, but made some interesting points. Here in MT, the kayakers have protested shipment of coke drums on Highway 12 along the Lochsa river, bound for the Alberta tar sands. Lo and behold, those protesters enjoy their sport with plastic boats, accessing the river by driving long distances. Does this make them hypocrites? Not really, that would be a logical fallacy. But it's time each of us takes a long look inward if we're to point fingers outward. Do those kayakers appreciate the natural world via their sport? I sure hope so, as I hope they make their own contributions to conserve resources.
What I believe is, we're all part of the problem. There are just so many people in the world that it has become miniscule, and we're now able to see the connectedness of it all and the sum of our actions.
But regardless of politics, religion, etc., we are all essentially the same: we have got to start seeing this in one another so that humanity can start focusing on solutions instead of bickering over media reports.
12 Jul 2012, 12:40PM
There's this idea that anyone who is also culpable in having an environmental impact should just shut up, and doesn't have standing to criticize bad policy...but we all have an impact. So what ought Metcalf do, remain silent, or use the power he has to try to push things in the right direction? Herbert's legislation is wrong, and Metcalf can influence it. BD is hardly responsible for HOW we use their gear--in fact, most of it is well suited to skinning out your back door with the least impact possible. If anything, BD is reducing the need for ski resorts. Come on folks, we have to stop eating our own in the environmental community....
12 Jul 2012, 9:47AM
Bravo, Pickles. We now live in a world where it's considered part of a “sustainable” economy for people to drive six hours each way from Denver to Moab to mountain bike for a day. Guess as long as they're driving a Suby adorned with a No Drilling bumpersticker, they can maintain their holier-than-thou status. The outdoor recreation industry can use a long look in the karmic mirror.
11 Jul 2012, 10:44PM
Sadly, Pickles makes an excellent point... America is all about convenience..
11 Jul 2012, 9:06PM
Huge thanks to Peter for taking a stand. Lets hope the OR will also jump on board with a little leverage.
11 Jul 2012, 5:00PM
Amen to all of this, Peter. Thanks and kudos for your thoughtful and much-needed voice on this mess!
(And to nihilistic haters, like "pickles" below, take a moment to read Ed Abbey's polemic on "Industrial Tourism.")
11 Jul 2012, 2:31PM
thanks for taking a stand Peter. It's a good move for Utah and BD.
11 Jul 2012, 1:14PM
Thanks for being a true leader in this fight Peter.
11 Jul 2012, 12:39PM
@ pickles Your comment is disingenuous logical fellatio. My 13yr old daughter could parse your post and flail your flagrant use of logical fallacies. If I had the time I would do same but, I need to go make sure the paint is drying.
11 Jul 2012, 8:56AM
Thanks for taking a stand, Peter. Maybe Outdoor Retailer could apply additional pressure by threatening to take the Summer and Winter Market shows to other venues if Utah doesn't get its act together over these and other issues like Ski Link. "Governor Development" is clearly out of his competency range. My contacts with him suggest to me that he lacks the mental capacity to clearly understand the nuances of these issues. Hey, does that statement make me a "disloyal" opponent? :)
11 Jul 2012, 8:13AM
Although I live in SE Europe, I'm glad wherever I see such an attitude.
Bravo!
It also makes feel my investment in Back Diamond crampons is even more worthwhile :)
10 Jul 2012, 11:36PM
Unable to properly fund? No problem after they sell off all the rights. Mineral,water,timber,grazing etc. You name it will be sold off to their good buddies.
In land management someone needs to protect Utah from self inflicted damage.
10 Jul 2012, 8:19PM
way to go BD!!
10 Jul 2012, 6:28PM
The direction things are going in Utah frighten me....Good luck Peter thanks for everything you have done for UTAH!!
10 Jul 2012, 6:25PM
I am opposed to placing the public lands into the private sector for development, drilling for oil, or anything that limits our rights to be a part of what God created for all men to observe and enjoy. God does not run a business.
This comes from a person who thinks that this proposal is ultimately wrong and should not be put into law in this beautiful philosophy of life we live. It is based on the rights of the individual to live his or her dream. Stand up for the freedom we enjoy in the USA.
10 Jul 2012, 5:52PM
An outdoor company that stands up for the outdoors is a company worth standing beside.
10 Jul 2012, 5:51PM
Bravo, Peter. If only there were more businessmen out there willing to take a stand. I applaud your good work and will continue to support your company by purchasing your products. Keep up the good work!
10 Jul 2012, 4:44PM
Thank you Peter Metcalf and Black Diamond for taking this stand. The small voices of Utahs individuals have failed to bring any notice to this sell off of our treasured assets. Perhaps your proud and booming shout will finally get Gov. Herbert's attention.
10 Jul 2012, 4:15PM
I regret having to point out that Peter Metcalf might be missing a few dirty little details with his misguided attempt at environmental ethics here. The "outdoor industry" as it stands is now a huge economy of people in need of infrastructure, petroleum, and extracted (mined) resources. The Black Diamond CEO's company is entirely dependent and fueled by mining of metals and petroleum, not only for their products, but for their user-base to get to the recreation opportunities that they enjoy. Yet another detail hidden by Metcalf's agenda is that recreation is the NEW mining operation, especially in the Western U.S. Instead of mining the land directly, we now install tremendous amounts of infrastructure, from highways through sensitive high-mountain areas, to ski resorts, lodges, hotels, and housing developments to fuel the "outdoor industry." The industry was once driven by those with little need or desire for these infrastructure elements, but companies like Black Diamond have promoted the lifestyle to anyone and everyone, not only popularizing the lifestyle, but commoditizing and economizing it to be accessible to just about anyone. So, before going 'hoo-wah!' over Metcalf's act of heroism, consider that it's hypocrisy at best, since his organization has done nothing but change the way we mine the land from drilling holes in it for material resources, to planting ski lifts, shaving mountainsides, domesticating it and collecting tourist dollars on it. Either way you slice it, wilderness is lost to consumption and the needs of the masses.
10 Jul 2012, 3:09PM
Thanks for taking a stand against our for-profit Utah gov't, Peter! I think I stand for all of the outdoor community in thanking you. Keep strong.