Press Releases

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Cara Doyle, Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, (719) 836-0964
Sara Mayben, South Park Ranger District, (719) 553-1400
Greg Seabloom, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, (303) 278-7650
Anya Byers, Colorado Mountain Club, (303)996-2754

PARTNERS ANNOUNCE OPENING OF LINCOLN-DEMOCRAT “14ER” TRAIL ACCESS IN PARK COUNTY

FAIRPLAY, Colo., May 29, 2009 – After four years of cooperative efforts, the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative (MRHI), Colorado Mountain Club, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, private land owners, Town of Alma and the U.S. Forest Service-South Park District announce a conditional June 1 opening of the “14er” trail from Kite Lake to Mounts Lincoln and Democrat.

Based on trail work completed to-date, private land owners have agreed to a conditional summer 2009 access to Mounts Lincoln and Democrat. Only the approved access route from the Kite Lake trailhead is open. The agreement includes continued efforts to educate hikers about potential mountain dangers and the need to respect private property.

“This is a trial opening,” emphasizes Cara Doyle, MRHI Executive Director. “Continued future legal access to these two popular Park County peaks will hinge on hikers’ respect for private property and willingness to stay on the designated and signed trail. If people do not stay on this designated trail, we could lose this privilege.” The lease between the Town of Alma and the private land owners can be retracted if hikers stray off the approved route or if private property is vandalized. It is important that hikers stay on the signed trail and keep away from all mining-related structures. The process has been long and complicated to obtain safe, legal hiking access through the maze of private mining claims on these extremely popular peaks. Located in the Mosquito Range, these three peaks are “Fourteeners,” mountains over 14,000 feet. Trail design, environmental assessments, and signage were completed in 2007, followed by 2008 trail construction by several of the access partnership groups. About 3,900 acres of the trail are leased from two private mining claim owners by the Town of Alma. Work will continue in 2009 to further sign and delineate the hiking route.

Although hiking routes on the slopes of Mt. Bross could be opened under the same signage and route conditions, access to the true summit may never be possible. Many of the landowners on Mt. Bross cannot be contacted or are unwilling to allow public access. All of the property owners must be in agreement, or legal public access is not possible.

Private landowners caution that with hundreds of mining claims on the mountains there is no way to know where all the tunnels and prospect holes might be. This creates dangerous conditions for hikers who stray from approved trails. Tunnels or "stopes" are so near the surface that plant roots growing on the surface can be seen on the ceiling of the passageway. The potential for a cave-in is very high.

Mounts Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross were closed by private land owners in 2005, citing liability concerns about potentially collapsing open mine shafts and vandalism. Colorado House Bill 1049 extended liability protections of Colorado’s Recreational Use Statute to owners of private land where “attractive nuisances” such as abandoned mines exist.

There are many on-going trail projects, hiking opportunities, social events and education programs. For more information on how you can be involved go to: www.mrhi.org, www.cmc.org, www.14ers.org.

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Fairplay residents Kelly Gannon (left) and Jeff Holeman (right) savor the fall colors during Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative's "Tour de Fairplay," a mountain bike poker ride through Beaver Meadows last Saturday. The event was held to broaden awareness and raise funds for the nonprofit's efforts to preserve, protect and enhance this area of the Mosquito Range. photo by Tim Balough).

FAIRPLAY, Colo., June 27, 2008 – The Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, Colorado Fourteeners, private land owners, the Town of Alma, and the Forest Service have joined forces with other Colorado and national non-profits groups to provide legal access to three popular Park County peaks.

According to Ranger Sara Mayben, “The trails have been closed to the public since 2005 but folks are working to get them open in the next few months. Respect for private property is key to obtaining and keeping legal access.”

For nearly three years various groups have worked together to obtain safe, legal hiking access through a maze of private mining claims on the extremely popular Mounts Lincoln, Democrat and Bross. Located in the Mosquito Range, these three peaks are “Fourteeners,” mountains over 14,000 feet.

Trail design, environmental assessments, and signage were completed in 2007. In 2008, trail construction will be undertaken by several of the access partnership groups. Pending completion of a clearly signed and delineated hiking route and approval by private land owners, access to Mounts Lincoln and Democrat could be opened by fall.

Although hiking routes on the slopes of Mt. Bross could be opened under the same signage and route conditions, access to the true summit may never be possible. Many of the land owners on Mt. Bross cannot be contacted or are unwilling to allow public access. All of the property owners must be in agreement, or legal public access is not possible.

Mounts Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross were closed by private land owners in 2005, citing liability concerns about potentially collapsing open mine shafts and vandalism. Colorado House Bill 1049 extended liability protections of Colorado’s Recreational Use Statute to owners of private land where “attractive nuisances” such as abandoned mines exist.

Landowners could allow access to Mounts Lincoln and Democrat if information regarding signed routes, mine hazards and respecting private property is provided. The two families that own mining claims on the summits of Mounts Lincoln and Democrat have agreed to let trail design and construction proceed and have leased about 3,900 acres to the Town of Alma for the trail.

The success of the potential late summer 2008 opening comes after great effort by the access partnership, which includes the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, U.S. Forest Service, CFI, Colorado Mountain Club and the Trust for Public Land. Also involved are the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, who will be participating with CFI to perform on-the-ground work this summer.

Many acres of public land in the Pike National Forest are available for hiking in the Mosquito Range. They offer great beauty and exciting recreational opportunities, but the private land on these three peaks remains closed until trail work is completed and permission from the private landowners is granted.

Gold, silver and other minerals have been mined in the Mosquito Range since the 1800s. Private landowners caution that with the hundreds of mining claims on the mountains there is no way to know where all the tunnels and prospect holes might be. This creates dangerous conditions for hikers who stray from approved trails. Tunnels or "stopes" are so near the surface that roots of the grass growing on the surface can be seen on the ceiling of the passageway. The potential for a cave-in is very high.

Even when some of these areas on Mounts Lincoln, Democrat and Bross are opened, the public must be aware that the mountains will never be "wide open." The lease between the Town of Alma and the private land owners can be retracted if hikers stray off the approved routes or if private property is vandalized. It is important that hikers stay on the signed trail and keep away from all mining-related structures.

Colorado has 54 “Fourteeners” state-wide, visited annually by over 500,000 people.

The Park County Democratic Party “adopted” a Colorado landmark this month - 14,148-foot Mt. Democrat in the northwest corner of the county.

Under the “Adopt-A-Peak” program managed through the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI), ParkCoDems are signing on to provide funds and/or host work projects to help preserve and maintain recreational uses of the 29 highest peak in Colorado.

Greg Seabloom, representing CFI, signed the adoption papers with County Democratic Party 1 Vice-Chairman Soren Frederiksen during its August Central Committee Meeting.

The preservation and restoration of trails is part of a series of projects managed through CFI and in cooperation with other groups in different areas of the state. In Park County, the group is also working with the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative to provide a balance between private landowner liability concerns and recreational uses. Colorado HB 1049, passed in 2006, helps in that area.

Park County Democrats are planning to be a focal point for trail restoration and are seeking to help coordinate volunteer groups during the late spring through early fall months. Additionally, the Dems see an excellent opportunity for local, state and national Democratic candidates to travel to easily accessible Kite Lake as a beautiful backdrop for environmental and business compatibility statements.

Kite Lake is used as the base for Mt. Democrat restoration projects and is located just a 15-minute, 6 mile drive from Alma. The lake is located 96 miles by car from the State Capitol, an estimated 2-hour drive.

Climbing the 54 Colorado “Fourteeners” is a hundred million dollar a year business for the state. A recent study through Colorado State University estimates that guests hiking the 54 peaks spend $200 on average in contributing to local economies, while CFI estimates a half-million hikers make an attempt to climb one in a given year.

The summit of Mt. Democrat lies just on the Park County side of its border with Lake County, and is less than three miles south of Summit County.

Two events are upcoming:

On August 30, CFI is arranging a Mt. Democrat, Lincoln and Bross site visit at to the public to see what goes into projects they undertake. For more information on this event, contact James at CFI, 303-278-7650 x 121.

On September 8, Park County Democrats are looking for a small group of trail volunteers to work with the help of CFI leaders. On that day, Friends of the Forest Foundation and CFI are organizing a Restoration Kickoff for projects on the three peaks marking the beginning of work needed to reopen access to Mts. Democrat, Lincoln and Bross in areas where trails cross private land.

Nearly two dozen individuals interested in the project have already signed on at a ParkCoDem information booth during this summer’s Burro Days in Fairplay. The county party is hopeful of gathering participation from other state Democrat groups, especially those in neighboring Lake, Summit and Eagle counties. For more information or to volunteer, please contact county party officials Soren Frederiksen, 303-816-5230 or Dennis Obduskey, 303-816-1616.

Other contact information:

Park County Democrats: www.parkcodems.org

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative: www.14ers.org

Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative: www.mrhi.org

PRESS CONTACT: DENNIS OBDUSKEY 303-816-1616

Thousands of climbers and hikers access Mounts Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross each year from Kite Lake. This hiking route provides an extremely popular, beautiful alpine loop for recreationists seeking to “bag” several Fourteeners in one trip.

In order to help re-open these peaks to public access, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) has been working closely over the past year with the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, the Colorado Mountain Club, private landowners, and the Forest Service to meet the land owners’ stipulations for re-opening access to these popular Fourteeners.

To address the liability issue, House Bill 1049 was unanimously passed by Colorado State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Owens on March 8, 2006. Stipulations of this Bill require the land owners to clearly identify, sign, and maintain the trails. The land owners have agreed to grant public access to the Kite Lake route once these conditions have been met.

Signage will be necessary, both at the Kite Lake trailhead and along the route, to direct public use to the approved trails. The Colorado Mountain Club has received funding from Colorado State Parks, through the State Trails program, to install trail signs and abandoned mine warning signs. This signage project will be implemented by CFI this summer.

Signage will include:

A trailhead kiosk, to be installed in 2008

Trail directional signs (approx. 12)

Closed for restoration signs (approx. 15)

Abandoned mine signs (approx. 5)

This summer, CFI will also perform trail design and restoration planning on the Kite Lake approach to Mts. Democrat and Bross. This project will require 6.72 miles of trail design and 4.8 miles of restoration design. Design work is needed on these peaks in order to provide a sustainable ascent route and alleviate environmental impacts caused by increasing use levels on these climbing routes. CFI staff and volunteers will work in partnership with the Forest Service and the Town of Alma to complete the following steps for both peaks: delineate a trail corridor; design a specific trail route with station markers and flags; design ecological restoration plans for social trails with station markers; establish signage locations; and write construction and restoration design plans.

These detailed trail construction and restoration plans will guide the work of CFI trail crews, Colorado Youth Corps crews, and volunteers to construct sustainable ascent routes during the 2008-2009 summer field seasons and to close, stabilize, and restore the numerous user-created social trails on these mountains. The planning documents will include specifications and drawings, prioritized work items, and time estimates.

Trail projects for the area were proposed in the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative Strategic Plan, prepared by the Trust for Public Land. The Plan recognized that high user numbers have resulted in the degradation of the alpine environment, including braided trails, soil loss, and plant loss, along some areas of the current route corridors. The plan prescribed signage and trail improvement projects to ensure public access to the popular Fourteeners in the area.

CFI will recruit an Adopt-a-Peak group to ensure ongoing maintenance of the trail. CFI provides the leadership, tools, and planning for yearly Adopt-a-Peak maintenance projects and we have a solid track record of maintaining our completed trails; 22 Fourteeners in Colorado have already been Adopted and receive yearly maintenance.