March 10th 2010 Public Land Use Meeting

[dhayes80]

South Rampart Travel Management Plan

March 10th 2010, Public Meeting

Public comments needed for the Draft Alternatives that will be discussed, March 10, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Draft Alternatives Presentation at 5:30 at​

Colorado Springs Utilities
Leon Young Service Center
Pikes Peak Room (2nd Floor)
1521 Hancock Expressway
Colorado Springs.​

South Rampart Travel Management Plan
March 10th 2010, Public Meeting 5:00 - 7:30 pm (presentation at 5:30 pm) at:

Colorado Springs Utilities
Leon Young Service Center
Pikes Peak Room (2nd Floor)
1521 Hancock Expressway
Colorado Springs.

It sounds like they will be proposing opening some areas and closing others. They are looking to close Hotel Gulch and some others in that area.

It would be good if we could get some members of Colorado Land Cruisers to attend this meeting.

USDA Forest Service, Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands - Recreation Activities

I heard there was an anouncement for this meeting in the Gazette also.

 

[PPFJ60]

I have received several emails from people on this meeting. I will be at this meeting and encourage everyone to attend if possible.

Chuck W.
649-9180

 

[mountainmanryan]

I saw the article in the gazette on saturday??? I'm working wed night or else I'd be interested in knowing what the new plans are.

Is anyone going to start a thread on the trail run coming up this saturday?

 

[PPFJ60]

The meeting last night had 180 in attendance. The meeting was setup and ran very well by Frank Landis and others from the Pikes Peak Ranger District.

The purpose of the meeting was to communicate the current draft alternatives for the Rainbow Falls Travel Managment Plan. I have hard copies of the plans that I will bring to the March 16th meeting. The Forest Service is expecting written comments to the draft alternatives so we should discuss the draft alternatives at the next meeting and get memebers of CLC to send written comments.

My impressions so far is that the Forest Service is trying to improve the user experience of the trail systems in the Pikes Peak Ranger District.

The biggest item to note is that the Forest Service is proposing a full-size vehicle challenge trail and two open riding challenge areas in the Rainbow Falls system.

Lots of good things in the plan with a couple of things we need to comment on.

Net change to the number of miles of trails is less by ~ 10 miles with Alternative B "the preferred plan" and ~23 miles with Alternative C. The absolute number of trail miles may go down but connectivity of the trail system will go up by closing deadend trails and creating connecting loops.

Here is a link to the current daft alternatives.

South Rampart Travel Management Plan - Draft Alternatives

These current drafts are just that drafts. We can have input but the input must get the Forest service in writting.

 

[Isotel]

The biggest item to note is that the Forest Service is proposing a full-size vehicle challenge trail and two open riding challenge areas in the Rainbow Falls system.

This would be Very cool! There is alot of cool rock formations up there that would be make fun play areas, and its nice and close to town!

 

[dhayes80]

I was there too. I looked for Chuck, but it was very crowded. I had to stand in the back. Nothing is certain yet about the proposals. So, we need to send our opinions on both what we like in the proposal and what we don't like.

 

[PPFJ60]

David,

I wonder how I missed you? I was on the far side over by Rick Elsworth's table.

The draft alternatives are exactly that. They are open for change and change is expected moving forward so our written inputs are important at this point.

 

[PPFJ60]

The challenge areas are the area known as little Moab and the area just up from the trail head with the blown down trees.

 

[Isotel]

is this the area? "Little Moab"

 

[black95]

Yup, that's little Moab. I was hoping for a full length trail so to speak, like Eagle Rock, But I would be o.k. with them leaving Little Moab alone. It would be bad if they took a bulldozer to those stairsteps.

 

[dhayes80]

344 was the road that they were proposing to be a full size challenge trail. Along that road was going to be one of the open drive anywhere ohv areas (a smaller one). The larger one OHV area was going to be around where 350a meets 350b. It might be interesting to go drive a number of these roads while we still can (see what we are loosing). There are some others 348d and 348e that they were going to restrict to ATV or smaller (kicking us off). There are some new restrictions in the shubarth area, and there were some other trails that I haven't been on that we won't be able to go on also.

 

[PPFJ60]

David,

Great idea to go out and drive the trails that could get closed.

I propose a March 21st trip to explore the "Cherry stem" trails that would be closed under draft alternative B and C.

 

[PPFJ60]

I wonder if we can get a tour from the forest service if they happen to be working that area on that day?

 

[Man Jerk]

is this the area? "Little Moab"

I miss my wagon

 

[black95]

I would be in for a March21 run.

 

[Isotel]

I miss my wagon

sorry buddy


Yea Little Moab is kind of cool, but only for about 10 minutes..

it would be cool if they just let us find a cool area/ Valley that has a bunch of rocks and let us lay out a trail.. I know we could find something that has minimal Drainage issues, and im sure someone would be willing to "Adopt" it.

i still don't understand why they are closing more trails just because they are dead ends. Dead end trails are great for camping! no ATV Traffic at 8:00 am after drinking the night before

 

[black95]

Dead end trails are great for camping! no ATV Traffic at 8:00 am after drinking the night before

I agree! It seems like the dead end trails see much less traffic keeping them more scenic too. No mud thrown on the trees from the ATV crowd power sliding through the corners. mad: I hate ATV's!!!!!)

I would love to see the Forest Service let 300U and 300V go to a hardcore trail.

 

[PPFJ60]

The message I heard is that some people get to the end of the deadend trails and look for some place to go which causes problems. Some of the dead end trails end at private property which can also cause problems.

If you think a trail should not be closed I believe you will at least be heard if you put it in writting and send it the to forest service. If enough people want some of the deadend roads kept open it may happen.

 

[minisrule]

I would be in for a March21 run.

After not making the run today, I am in also! Already told the wife I was going wheeling next weekend not matter what!


As for the closing ofc Dead end roads , I thought if they led to a camping spot they wouldn't/couldn't close the road.

 

[dhayes80]

It appears that alternative B is what they are leaning toward. While Alternative B appears better than C, full size vehicles will be loosing the following:

346 Hotel Gultch (good winter snow run, but it will only be open from 10/1 to 12/1)
324.B Closed (fun rock and steep climb back out)
347.E closed to all but administrative use
300.G closed to all but administrative use
327 closed half way down
Schubarth Area end of 311 and part of 311.a and 307.a

302.A closed
349 section of it closed
348.D convert to ATV
348.E convert to ATV
348.F closed


Alternative B does have some good elements worth supporting:
Re-Open 322a
344 Full size challenge trail w/ an open riding area
300.d connected through to 300.e
350.B open riding area (but might be more of an ATV area)

My list above doesn't cover all of the changes, just what I could spot in the past hour. I'll bring some CDs with the maps on them to the meeting tommorrow night. All of the detail and links to comment are on South Rampart Travel Management Plan - Home. They are accepting comments through April 12th. We should send them a letter as a club and also send emails from individuals.