October 2001
Wolf Creek Pass - Meetings Begin
The BSA has begun meetings with the Forest Service and interested parties at Wolf Creek Pass in an effort to mitigate the conflicts that have arisen between motorized and non-motorized users of the area. We have met with the District Rangers of both the Pagosa District of the San Juan Forest (located on the west side of the Pass) and the Divide District of the Rio Grande Forest (located on the east side of the Pass). We have also met with the owner of the Wolf Creek Ski Area (located east of the pass on the South side of Highway 160). A group of non-motorized recreationists convened to discuss the issues on Wolf Creek Pass, and the Colorado Snowmobile Association has been contacted.
We are attempting to pull all interested parties to the table to discuss mitigation of conflicts in the area. This includes making sure all parties can safely recreate, all parties have some areas that allow them to enjoy their particular form of recreation, and all parties understand and respect other users. To this end, we hope to help create a task force comprised of different user groups that can work with a facilitator to resolve the conflicts. As the area involves two National Forests, both District Rangers responsible for the management of the land must participate in the process.
The BSA hopes to use the model implemented on Vail Pass and in Steamboat Springs at Rabbit Ears Pass and Buffalo Pass where members of different user groups meet together to discuss needs of each group and separate the use of the area. We hope to minimize the bureaucracy of the changes that might be implemented by having each user group donate toward any costs for signs, maps and meetings that take place. This model has worked quickly and efficiently at both Buffalo Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Wolf Creek Pass is located along Highway 160 approximately 25 miles east of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and 20 miles west of South Fork, Colorado.