Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association
July 2009 Newsletter
We hope that you have all had a chance to get out and enjoy this past few days of wonderful riding here in the Roaring Fork Valley. Now that the rain has subsided for a few days it seems like we can't get enough of the wonderful tacky trails, lush green forest, and occassional view of the still snow draped mountains.
We at RFMBA have been working with local stakeholders and agencies to keep these wonderful trails in top condition and available for all of us to enjoy. But we cannot do it alone. Please take a moment to view the following hot issues we're working on. And remember that we all share the responsability of trail stewardship and see if you can take a day to volunteer for trail work or even a few minutes to forward a letter of support for new open space (and hopefully new trails).
Smuggler Mountain Logging and Trail Closures
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails has requested we forward the following message to RFMBA members concerning logging and temporary trail closures on Smuggler Mountain for pine beetle mitigation over the next few weeks.
There will be logging on Smuggler Mountain Monday through Friday of this week. Any time they cut a tree that is close to a trail they will have their own flaggers to keep people clear. Trails are not scheduled to be closed during this phase of the operation.
On Friday, July 3rd a helicopter will move all the logged trees to a staging area at the old Wilkes property on Smuggler. All day Friday there will be manned closures on all entrances to Smuggler Mountain. There will be no access to Smuggler Mountain on Friday, July 3rd. The times of the closure have not been finalized yet.
The next logging day will be Monday July 6th. At this time full length logging trucks will be hauling logs down Smuggler Mountain Road. Pedestrian traffic is planned to be allowed while the trucks are operating on the road but with possible delays. A flagger will be stationed at the bottom of the road to advise people to step to the side to accommodate the trucks.
There are signs advising trail users of the work posted at all trail heads. Please check these regularly the next few weeks for updates as the schedule has been changing regularly.
Please contact Pitkin County Open Space and Trails at 970-920-5232 for additional information or to provide feedback on the situation.
Smuggler Mountain Trails Day
RFMBA is co-sponsoring a trails day with the Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, Aspen Cycling Club, and Pitkin County Open Space on the new Smuggler Mountain Open Space above Aspen on Saturday, July 11th. If you ride the Smuggler / Hunter Creek area even once a year, you have to come out to this event. We are hoping to get 60 or more people to complete the goals of this project so bring all of your riding buddies. We want to show the Aspen and Roaring Fork communities that the local riding population cares about our trails.
This trail day will focus on making the new single tracks located above the Roby Wade memorial more sustainable while maintaining their existing nature and features. The goals of this project include building new trail section and stabalizing the creek crossing on the Loli-pop trail and stabalizing the tread surface on the Tootsie Roll trail. If you have not ridden these trails, get out on them and see for yourselves. They are a great option for extending your afternoon rides on Smuggler / Hunter Creek and now we have the opportunity to make them even better.
For more information and to sign up for this project, visit Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteer's website at http://www.rfov.org or call at 970-927-8241.
Sutey Ranch Land Exchange
RFMBA needs your urgent input to the Pitkin County Commissioners to support the Sutey Ranch land exchange. It is on the Commissioners schedule on July 21st. Pitkin County has been considering this exchange since February. We need them to endorse the project now…not delay it further. Pitkin County is the lone holdout. The land exchange has thus far been endorsed by Eagle & Garfield Counties, Towns of Carbondale and Marble, Redstone Community Association, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Red Hill Council, Holy Cross Energy, Eagle Valley Land Trust, Roaring Fork Mtn. Bike Association, Two Shoes neighbors, and numerous others.
Given the widespread support throughout the valley, we need Pitkin County residents to ask the Commissioners and Open Space Board to act in the best interest of the Roaring Fork Valley’s resident population.
At stake, is the fate of the 520 acre Sutey Ranch above Red Hill, The Sutey Ranch juts into the BLM’s Special Recreation Management Area on Red Hill (Mushroom Rock), which so many of us use. If acquired by the BLM, Sutey will permit a non-motorized trail connection between the Red Hill parking lot and County Road 112 above Cattle Creek. If the land exchange does not go through, Sutey Ranch will likely be sub-divided and developed meaning the mountain bike trail possibilities will likely be lost forever.
Please submit your support of the Sutey Ranch land exchange to the Pitkin County Commissioners no later than July 17th at one of the following addresses:
- Email: county_info@co.pitkin.co.us with a copies to pattic@sopris.net and info@rfmba.org
- Mail: 530 East Main St, 3rd Floor, Aspen, CO 81611
Possible talking points for a letter are as follows (Please be polite and positive!):
- The exchange will trade remote BLM lands that are virtually inaccessible to the public, for the Sutey Ranch in the popular Red Hill area. This is a great gain for public access and use in an extremely beautiful area.
- The BLM land traded away will be protected by a permanent conservation easement, so there is no loss of open space. There is a gain of 500+ acres.
- It shouldn’t make a difference what County the exchange lands are in. This is all one valley. Please support valley-wide cooperation.
- Mountain bikers agree that the Sutey Ranch is a very important area for wildlife, and agree to seasonal closures of the Sutey similar to the existing closures in Red Hill.
- The valley cannot afford to lose the Sutey Ranch to development. It is too important to our recreational future.
The Pitkin County Commissioners are also holding a meeting on the subject that is open to the public on July 27th. Please plan on attending this meeting to submit your comments in person if you can.
In order to raise awareness of the value the Sutey Ranch holds for our local mountain biking community, a pot luck dinner is being held on the Sutey property on Sunday, July 12th, from 5 - 7:30pm. Please contact Andy Wiessner at wiessner@sopris.net or 970-927-6521 for additional information or if you would like to volunteer.