PSI Travel Management Video 2 is out. Please watch the video to learn about the closures that are scheduled to take place on the roads west of Alma and Fairplay. Then, take a minute to register a comment here.
**Call To Action Alert** Twin Cone, Lost Canyon, and the Halfmoon Area
Please take 15 minutes of your time to watch the video and then make a substantial comment, here.
PSI Travel Management Public Meetings
Public commenting is currently open for the Pike & San Isabel (PSI) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Those not familiar with the lawsuit and settlement agreement that set this process in motion, please take a minute and watch our video explaining how to comment and the history. You can watch here.
You can find the maps and DEIS here.
Additionally, public meetings are being held to take comments/feedback concerning this Travel Management Plan. The meeting schedule is from 6:00-7:30pm, dates and locations are as follows:
Salida, Tuesday, October 8th, 2019, Salida Steam Plant.
Pueblo, Wednesday, October, 9th, 2019, Pueblo Community College.
Denver, Thursday, October 10th, 2019, MindSpark Learning Center.
Colorado Springs, Friday, October 11th, 2019, S4 Inc Center for Excellence.
Comments can also be submitted here.
Please comment on this proposal and if possible, please make time to attend one of the public meetings to convey your feedback in person.
Several CORE members will be attending the October 8th meeting in Salida and we will be sending in comments to the above email address.
PSI Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comments are Open!
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.
PSI Lawsuit Alert!
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.
Land Use Update
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
Coldwell Banker - Collegiate Peak Realty, our newest business sponsor!
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.
Your Help is Needed!
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
New Business Sponsor Announcement
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.
New Business Sponsor Announcement!
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.
