News
Comments for the PSI DEIS are now open as of September 20th! Many trails are threatened with closure, watch the video and be prepared to comment! Follow our feeds and we will let you know how/when to comment so your favorite trails is not permanently closed.
The DEIS for the PSI Lawsuit is scheduled to be released this month! Watch the video to understand the lawsuit, where we are and what you can do to help keep out trails open.
The Pike San Isabel Travel Management Process is getting ready to release their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on August 10th. This document will show the Forest Services' preferred option for what roads they intend to keep open and what roads are in danger of closure. Up to 20% of the current trails we love could be closed!
What do we do? To start, we need to know how to comment on this plan when it is released and when public commenting opens. Your comments are extremely powerful and can help shape the final descision. Do you know how to comment or how they will use your comments?
Watch the video to gain valuable insight into this process. Then continue to follow our feeds and when the DEIS is released we will let you know what trails are in danger and how you should comment.
Don't assume someone else will do something, watch the video and be prepared to comment when the time comes. It is vital we all take this seriously and we MUST make our feelings known. Together we can keeptrailsopen!!!
#closureisntmanagement #fightforyourrighttorecreate#keeptrailsopen #togetherwecandomore #wakethegiant
We are pleased to announce Bill and Beth Lockett, owners of Coldwell Banker - Collegiate Peaks Realty as one of our newest CORE Business Sponsors!
Coldwell Banker Collegiate Peaks Realty has been serving the Chaffee County Colorado real estate market since 1994, specializing in Buena Vista, Nathrop, Salida and the surrounding areas with two offices located in Buena Vista and downtown Salida. With strong personal ties to this area, you will find our group of experienced Realtors the most knowledgeable about the real estate, geography, and history of this beautiful Arkansas River Valley. We invest our resources locally and are a contributing, integral part of this friendly mountain community. If you are looking to sell your property we offer the best Realtors, largest office and the most advanced marketing department and technology of any real estate firm to reach qualified buyers. If you hope to purchase your dream home, building site or investment property, we are enthusiastic about using our extensive resources and knowledge to help you make a wise, well-informed decision. We love real estate, working with our clients and this inspiring place we get to call home. We hope to see you soon! The Collegiate Peaks Realty Team.
More info here.
Hello fellow offroad enthusiast,
As I am sure you know, our beloved Colorado trails are under constant threat of closure and we need your help!
One such area that we have struggled to keep open are the Gulches, more commonly known as Hackett Gulch, Longwater Gulch and the surrounding network of trails. These trails were temporarily closed after the Hayman Fire of 2002 and the sections in Park County have never officially been re-opened. After the fire, the Forest Service offered Teller County and Park County control of the trails. Teller County immediately recognized the trails in their county, but Park County has been an entirely different story. From politicians blocking progress, to the Forest Service losing paperwork, the story of the past 17 years and why the trails have never officially been reopened is almost unbelievable!
Our current focus is to get the trails officially reopened and recognized by Park County. This is where we are asking for your help, we need you to take a few minutes and email your concerns to the Park County Commissioners. Please copy and paste their email addresses below into an email and ask them why they have never reopened the trails in their county.
Mike Brazell, mbrazell@parkco.us
Dick Elsner, delsner@parkco.us
Ray Douglas, rdouglas@parkco.us
We are not asking you to simply copy a form letter for the body of the email, however. Form letters are not nearly as effective as real substantial comments. Tell them how you feel about the area or your desire to visit the area in the future. Describe how you use the area for recreation, business and why you love going there. Your comments do not have to be long and can contain only a few sentences. Remember to be respectful, here are some helpful phrases to help get you started:
“I have enjoyed using these trails in the past because…”
“I value the trails in this area because…”
“I have not yet visited these trails but I plan to in the future…”
“I would appreciate if you would legitimize these trails for our continued enjoyment”
“These trails are important to my business because…”
Additionally, it would be helpful if you ended your email in this manner: “Please work with our representatives from the 4x4 community to find a non-closure solution for these trails.”
Discussions as to the future of these trails are currently in progress. Decisions could be immanent, and action will make a difference in those decisions. The time to add your voice is now, please send email communications ASAP to the commissioners to show your support.
Thank you for your help, together we can keep our trails open for future use. If you would also kindly BCC landuse@keeptrailsopen.com when you send in your email, we will be able to track the number of comments that come in. This will be helpful for future engagement with the commissioners.
Thanks for your help,
Marcus Trusty - Colorado Off Road Enterprise - President
Cory Moul - Mile-HI Jeep Club - Public Relations
Brian O'Connors - Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs - President
We would like to welcome On Trail Training as our newest business sponsor! On Trail Training was founded by Matt Balazs, who has over a decade of experience as a professional off-road guide in the Colorado High Country. Matt recognized a need for qualified driving and recovery instruction and that is how On Trail Training was born. Located in the front range of Colorado, On Trail Training offers classes for anyone with an interest in traveling off road in a full-size vehicle. Specializing in teaching Clubs, Industrial, Emergency Services, Individuals, and Nonprofit organizations we can custom design a course for your specific needs. Click HERE for the website.
As Certified Trainers with the I4WDTA
(International 4 Wheel Drive Trainers Association) all of our instructors have been trained and certified by the best instructors in the world. With less than 100 Trainers worldwide, the I4WDTA holds a very high standard with a weeklong certification process that typically less than a third of applicants pass. With On Trail Training you can be assured the highest quality instruction with no opinions, just fact.
We would like to Welcome Baker Garage as our newest sponsor! They are based in Denver, CO and are a fully equipped automive facility specializing in Volvo repair and maintenance, as well as, general repair, maintence and custom work on all makes. They have made a commitment to help us keep trails open and it's important for the off-road community to support these businesses who support our access! Click HERE for their website.
Reposted from Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery -
In a small town, tragedy is rare and strikes close to home. On August 7th, during a family outing in the Rocky Mountains, a member of our off-road community lost her life and a family pet was lost in the mountains. High above the small town of St. Elmo, members of the off-road community came together to do what they could for the family.
A day of wheeling in the Rockies, a favorite activity for this family, turned tragic when a simple mistake became a life shattering event. A Jeep JK went off the side of the shelf road section in the rock slide area of Iron Chest trail. The Jeep traveled over 500 feet before coming to a rest.
On August 8th, Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery was contacted by the family and planning went into action right away. First came a scouting mission on August 11th with CORE (Colorado Off-Road Enterprises) and the U.S. Forest Service. The magnitude of the situation was almost overwhelming. Although the setting was beautiful, the scene was inhospitable for recovery. 540 feet down a boulder strewn slope ranging from 30-60 deg, was the battered Jeep. After descending to the scene where the vehicle came to rest, members from CO4x4RnR, CORE and the U.S. Forest Service formulated a plan.
While scouting the scene, the area was also surveyed for the family dog, Bentley, who was thrown from the vehicle and disappeared. His condition was unknown but the team brought food and water in hopes of finding him.
As part of the plan, CORE returned to the scene after a week to install necessary winch points in a slab of granite dominating the uphill side of the shelf road above the recovery site. Meanwhile, CO4x4RnR put its plan in motion and a team was formed. In addition to CO4x4RnR’s, CORE put out a call to its members to help staff the recovery and two of its members from Texas, made the trip to help. The ranger granted permission to close the road for the weekend to complete the recovery and would be on site for the effort.
The weather cooperated and a bright cool morning greeted a total of 25 members, the USFS ranger, as well as a Chaffee County Search and Rescue North member who returned seeking closure. Limited room on scene and no ability to turn around on the shelf road demanded that all the team members and gear be transported in as few vehicles as possible. Seven loaded rigs ascended the mountain, through a boulder field that is demanding for all but the most capable rigs. The scene at 11,500 affected people immediately. Rigging commenced right away regardless, there was a task to be completed.
There had previously been sporadic sightings of Bentley high on the ridge above the recovery site, so family travelled from Kansas to Colorado to try and coax the dog to return home. A radio from the recovery team was given to the family ascending to the peak, so they could contact the CO4x4RnR team if they needed help or assistance. Our own Safety Officer also tracked the family in their search, well above the recovery site.
1,080 feet of line, for two winches, was run down the slope. The Jeep was secured so repairs could be made and after 2 hours, winching commenced. It was a slow and demanding process, pulling the Jeep up slope, 75 feet at a time, using both winches to make the grade. The weight and slope demanded resting the winches in order to cool them; rest was often needed for everyone.
The process of winch, re-rig, and winch again continued for hours through a rain squall and sporadic lighting. A much needed infusion of energy came at just the right time, as the family appeared on site with Bentley in tow. A call went out over the radio notifying the workers down below, and a somber scene and an exhausted recovery team was reinvigorated as they watched Bentley and his family walk through the recovery scene and around the bend towards home.
Three groups of winchers and riggers brought the Jeep to within 50 feet of the road as darkness set in on the first day’s team of exhausted members. They descended through the ¼ mile long boulder field, in the dark of night, towards much needed rest.
Day two welcomed a team of CO4x4RnR and 7 CORE members to bring the vehicle to the road. The vehicle was winched to the road up the steepest slope and rotated. It finally returned to the road, one last time. The Jeep was inspected, repaired for towing and brought down the narrow and rocky trail, to come to a peaceful rest among the changing aspens in St. Elmo.
The greatest challenge ever presented to Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery was met through a first of its kind joint effort by its members and those from CORE. With the help of the U.S. Forest Service, communications assistance from a member of Chaffee County Search and Rescue North, and citizens from Buena Vista, Colorado and St. Elmo, Colorado, that challenge was met. Both CO4x4RnR and CORE were extremely honored to be called upon to assist and we hope in some small way these efforts help the family heal.
Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery
‘We Recover the Rockies’
