JACKSON - Forest managers in northwest Wyoming affirmed Thursday a controversial decision to allow the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to continue guiding clients on Teton Pass.

Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor Kniffy Hamilton affirmed a September decision to allow out-of-bounds guided skiing on areas of Teton Pass popular with locals. A group dubbed "Powder to the People" has been vocal in protesting the decision, saying in part that growing commercialization of the area threatens the pristine resource.

But Hamilton said her agency's decision to allow the resort 50 skier days on Teton Pass is a small percentage of the overall use in the area, which averages 12,622 public and commercial user-days per year.

The resort has received 50 skier days on Teton Pass since the early 1980s, but this year the boundary for that commercial guiding service was redrawn to exclude areas on the west slope of the pass and include more acres on the Wyoming side.

That area, known in parts as Black Canyon, includes several popular backcountry runs such as Olympic Bowl, Titty Mouse Ridge and Telemark Bowl.

Powder to the People took out an ad in the Jackson Hole News and Guide with X's marking out the original name and bold writing re-creating "Diamondville Bowl," "Apres Dude Ridge" and "Fixed Heel Bowl," illustrating the threat of commercialization of the area.

"My clients and I are disappointed, because we thought we had raised important issues in our appeal," Powder to the People attorney Len Carlman said. "We thought we represented a broad public sentiment, and we believed that the resources of backcountry solitude and untracked powder are delicate, in need of protection and not getting the protection they deserve."

In Hamilton's decision, she added some regulations to the resort when guiding skiers, including restricting the organization to only one "guide in training" traveling with the group. Clients will not be allowed to use alpine gear on the pass so as to not create boot packs on ski trails, and guides must be trained in avalanche safety.

"Powder to the People's efforts have clearly highlighted this community's concern and love for Teton Pass and all it has to offer," she said in a statement. "Given these concerns and the collective knowledge of pass skiers, I am confident that the forest and permittee can craft an annual operating plan that addresses many of these concerns."

Anna Olson, resort spokeswoman, said she was pleased with the decision.

"We're glad the decision was upheld based on discussions that took place," she said. "We will head into the winter as it's always been."

In this week's Jackson Hole News and Guide, resort president Jerry Blann wrote a "Guest Shot" saying there has been a growing demand for backcountry guided service.

"Just because (guests) don't have the privilege of living here or the knowledge to go by themselves does not mean we should keep them from experiencing Teton Pass," he wrote.

One of the concerns had surrounded the egress out the bottom of Blacks Canyon. Some said skiers would catch a shuttle back up to the top of the pass, without "earning their turns."

Hamilton said skiers will still have to do this, despite the seeming ease of catching a shuttle in the new permit area.

Prices for a guided backcountry excursion range from $285 for five people for a half day to $495 for five people for a full day. A single person sharing a group is $225. Lift tickets for a day at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort are $67.

Powder to the People had appealed the September decision based in part on procedural issues, but Hamilton said those were followed.

Carlman said the group has no plans to take the case any further.

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.