September 2003
Vail Pass Update
The Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (BSA) continues to work diligently to improve conditions on Vail Pass. This is an important area because of its diverse terrain and close proximity to the Front Range, and so the BSA remains dedicated to participating in the process and collaborating with other users to determine the most effective solutions.
The most recent meetings with the Vail Pass Task Force (VPTF) and the U.S. Forest Service resulted in improved allocation and marking/signage of nonmotorized recreation areas. Changes included: removing the marked motorized recreation route between Ptarmigan and Searle Passes; the ridge west of Shrine Mountain Inn will be the demarcation line between non-motorized and motorized, with the entire bowl being non-motorized; Lime Creek Road will be multiple use until Bowman's Shortcut to allow nonmotorized access to Commando Run; Corral Creek will be encouraged as a nonmotorized alternate trail; the bike path between Copper Mountain and Vail Pass will be non-motorized (Copper Mountain Cross-Country Center will continue to groom the lower section of this bike trail); and the Black Lakes Ridge area will be better signed to encourage improved motorized recreation compliance.
Other changes: snowmobiles will be permitted to go up from the parking lot to the trail to Black Lakes Ridge, and there will be a multiple-use trail from Resolution to McAllister.
Grooming is becoming more difficult and more expensive for the Vail Pass Task Force. The thinking is that good grooming will provide a defined corridor that will encourage snowmobiles to stay on designated routes. But the thinking is also that adequate grooming should be provided at reasonable cost, and not at the expense of other management strategies that also benefit all users. In the past, grooming at Vail Pass has been contracted out. Now the VPTF is examining the option of purchasing a snowcat and managing the grooming in-house, which may provide the same quantity and quality at less cost. If this does transpire, the VPTF would possibly be looking for experienced volunteer snowcat drivers. We look forward to reporting more on this at a later date.
The VPTF budget discussion revealed that the Task Force was in favor of spending more money on new maps, bigger and better signs, more bamboo to define motorized routes, and other physical barriers in some areas to better define user routes.
The budget discussion also revealed that the U.S.F.S. was looking - in light of the planned expenses indicated above, and others - at a possible budget deficit for the Vail Pass Recreational Area. A vote to increase fees on weekdays from $2 to $5 was called and was a draw with four opposed and four in favor. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the VPTF and the U.S.F.S., which stipulates that all unresolved issues go to the U.S.F.S., the issue went to the U.S.F.S. which acted to raise the weekday fees from $2 to $5.
The BSA will continue to work hard to come up with collaborative solutions on Vail Pass that will benefit backcountry skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, and other recreationalists. We invite you to visit this area, use it, and let us know your thoughts.