Eldora ski area hopes to expand its intermediate terrain, upgrade existing facilities and prevent high winds from closing the resort's 12 lifts.

The Denver Post (http://bit.ly/OpYq6C ) reports representatives with the 680-acre ski resort have solicited public input at two recent meetings in Boulder and Nederland. The plan calls for adjusting the area's permitted boundary, adding about 90 acres of new terrain, replacing five fixed-grip lifts with four detachable chairlifts and adding three new high-speed, six-person detachable chairlifts.

Bill Killebrew, who with two others acquired Eldora in 1991, says the improvements are needed to keep customers coming to the resort.

The Post reports skiers who frequent the mountain seem eager for improvements, but opponents are concerned about the proposed expansion to the edge of Middle Boulder Creek.