June 2001
Vail Pass Happenings
Now a mature program, the Vail Pass Fee Demo program continues to fine-tune in an effort to improve the experience for users in the area. For the 2000-2001 season, 18,000 day passes and 200 annual passes were sold. Use numbers have been consistent from previous years, with about 69% of the visitors from the Front Range. About 36% are snowmobilers, and the rest are non- motorized users or participants on snowcat trips. During the past season, emphasis was placed on enforcement in the Lime Creek area. Eleven tickets were issued and 30 warning were given for infractions including failure to pay, being in a closed area and camping on the forest for more than 14 days. A new service, trailhead trash removal, was added. According to motorized users, consistent quality grooming is an ongoing issue. A meeting is scheduled later this summer to discuss ways to improve grooming; this is expected to result in better compliance with designated use areas.
Since the lynx was listed as an endangered species, studies for potential lynx in the area were on-going all winter. A biological assessment and mitigation measures will be presented to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It is expected that the current activities in the Vail Pass area, with a few changes, will result in a determination of "Not Likely to Adversely Impact" the lynx. Those changes include closing some of the heavily timbered areas to human entrance to provide for day-time security areas for lynx, and restricting night-time grooming operations. For backcountry hut skiers, wildlife biologist, Joe Doerr, believes that the huts seem to fit well in the lynx use patterns at Vail Pass, as hut users stay on established routes, and nighttime activities are usually in the alpine and outside of critical linkages and foraging areas. On-going consultation with USFWS continues.
For 2001-2002, there will be new information available in the form of an avalanche brochure from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Based on the brochure for Loveland Pass, the piece will identify and name known avalanche hazard areas and will serve the dual purpose of educating users and assisting with rescue and law enforcement. Consistent naming of areas, bowls, and slide paths will aid rescue efforts, as there are a wide variety of names used currently.
Also next year, GPS mapping of all trails will continue, with an eye toward creating a new and better map for 2002-2003 that includes the accurate trail information, as well as updated biological information for the lynx.
BSA continues to be involved with the Vail Pass effort. Please direct any comments or suggestions to BSA, and we will pass it on to the Task Force.