!!Important meeting to discuss reopening Rollins Pass!!

Red_Chili

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Christine is the mistress of bureacratic passive-aggressive roadblocks. She can pull a regulation out of... lots of places, and craft it to block any action she does not want to take.

You can bet if an environmental group she is quite friendly with (koff koff Indian Peaks Wilderness Association koff) wanted to do something, she would bend the regs the other way.

Part of the pressure that needs to be brought to bear is, to point out that she is not being a problem solver, but rather that ANY input she has had on this issue is negative, and blocking. That is not what she was hired to do. Her job is to point out options and solutions that comply with NEPA, the Forest Plan, and desires of the local constituency. Bring it up publicly, repeatedly, and often. :rant:

The USFS is to render aid on this issue, per the JPWA - not to block at every turn.
 

SRT08BUS

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Christine is the mistress of bureacratic passive-aggressive roadblocks. She can pull a regulation out of... lots of places, and craft it to block any action she does not want to take
You can bet if an environmental group she is quite friendly with (koff koff Indian Peaks Wilderness Association koff) wanted to do something, she would bend the regs the other way.

I was in the back sitting next to the wilderness lady and Christine was nodding and looking towards here the at times. I was waiting for here to start :cheer:leading for her.
 

jacdaw

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I was in the back sitting next to the wilderness lady and Christine was nodding and looking towards here the at times. I was waiting for here to start :cheer:leading for her.
IIRC the IPWA person you sat next to would be Anne Vickery. How ironic would it be if she is related to the Vickery Motorsports folks?:lmao:


[edit]She's the chairman of IPWA[/edit]
 
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nuclearlemon

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from Steve Green, Adventure Rider and huge driving force behind getting the roads opened back up.


Hi All,

Reference: Rollins Pass Road and the Wagon Road

I sent this letter today. (It might look a bit wonky since I cut and pasted it into the email.)

After our meeting in Idaho Springs on the 12th I felt it was necessary to go over Boulder Ranger Christine Walsh's head to her superiors. Please feel free to use all or any part of my letter.

Steve

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



March 27, 2010

Regional Forester Rick Cables 740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401



Dear Mr. Cables,

I am writing you about two different roads over the same pass on the Colorado Front Range. I am referring to the Rollins Pass Road (FR 149) which predominantly follows the old D&SL RR grade and the Wagon Road (aka Boulder Wagon Road) which is the original 150 year old road over this pass. Both of these roads cross the Continental Divide at the same point and are historically and geographically linked. These roads are located within the boundaries or the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

James Peak Wilderness Protection Area Bill states:

PUBLIC LAW 107–216
SEC. 7. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(b) ROLLINS PASS ROAD.—If requested by one or more of the
Colorado Counties of Grand, Gilpin, and Boulder, the Secretary
shall provide technical assistance and otherwise cooperate with
respect to repairing the Rollins Pass road in those counties sufficiently
to allow two-wheel-drive vehicles to travel between Colorado
State Highway 119 and U.S. Highway 40. If this road is repaired
to such extent, the Secretary shall close the motorized roads and
trails on Forest Service land indicated on the map entitled ‘‘Rollins
Pass Road Reopening: Attendant Road and Trail Closures’’, dated
September 2001.

Both Grand and Gilpin Counties have requested in writing to the USDA Secretary to re-open Rollins Pass Road the Needle’s Eye Tunnel. The Rollins Pass Restoration Association and many individuals have also written. The Rollins Pass Road and the Needle’s Eye Tunnel remain closed. The USFS Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Boulder Ranger District has stubbornly stood in the way of reopening this road.

The "attendant" roads (the Wagon Road) was closed by the USFS in spite of a well known understanding that it was to remain open so long as the Needle’s Eye Tunnel was closed.

The wilderness bill specifically recognizes and mandates the Wagon Road as a motor vehicle maintenance easement for the natural gas pipeline that parallels this road.



JAMES PEAK WILDERNESS BILL
PUBLIC LAW 107–216
"(2) NATURAL GAS PIPELINE.—The Secretary shall allow for
maintenance of rights-of-ways and access roads located within
the Protection Area to the extent necessary to operate the
natural gas pipeline permitted under the Arapaho/Roosevelt
National Forest master permit numbered 4138.01 in a manner
that avoids negative impacts on public safety and allows for
compliance with Federal pipeline safety requirements. Such
maintenance may include vegetation management, road maintenance,
ground stabilization, and motorized vehicle access. "

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Order No. 10-00-03 Motor Vehicle Travel and Developed Trail Restrictions
Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests (A&RNF) dated June 10, 1999 closed both the Wagon Road and a section of the Rollins Pass Road.

Can one law say "closed" and another say "open" for roads in the NF ?
Which law should be observed ?
Why has the USFS closed the Wagon Road in spite of a contradictory law stating it should remain open ?
Why has the USFS closed a section of the Rollins Pass Road in spite of contradictory laws stating it should be re-opened ?
Why has the USFS not followed the law pertaining to Rollins Pass Road as enacted by the Congress of the United States ?
Why has the USFS not acted upon the request of the Gilpin and Grand County Commissioners to re-open Rollins Pass Road ?
Your kind attention to this matter and answers to the above questions are greatly appreciated.

Thank You,



Steve Green





Cc: Senator Udall, Grand and Gilpin County Commissioners
 

SRT08BUS

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I'll send my own, but that was as well said as it needs to be. i was thinking this was something that needed to be done. I'll type it out in the morning after I get some rest. I just got back from China Wall and I'm beat!
 
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from Steve Green, Adventure Rider and huge driving force behind getting the roads opened back up.


Hi All,

Reference: Rollins Pass Road and the Wagon Road
...
Steve Green

Do you know if Steve ever received a response back regarding his letter?
 
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Hi guys, I'm new to the forum but found you because I've been searching about the Corona/Rollins Pass closure. I snowmobile a lot on the Corona side (west side) and I'd really like to take a drive all the way over the top of the Continental Divide. I've read this entire thread and would like to ask what I can do to help out. I have a forum that I run called QuadsWest.com and I know there are a lot of guys on there that would prefer to see this pass re-opened. I also know a lot of my snowmobiling buddies would like to see it opened as well. I'll post up whatever info I can over there about working to get this pass opened up.

Is the Boulder Wagon Road open at all or is the FS still dragging their feet on this? Thanks all.

PAUL
 

sank

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Today I walked a loop around BWR to the tunnel and back via the main road. BWR does cross wilderness, there is a sign up at the "top" of the boulder side of the saddle that says "no motor vehicles behind this sign" or something. The gas pipeline is, for sure, right along the road, but without needing to do work on the pipeline, vehicle access is not permitted. However, I definitely saw tracks from two-wheeled vehicles that must have driven around the blockades.

Anyway, BWR is closed at Jenny Creek on the East side, all the way to where it meets Rollins Pass Road on the Northwest side of the tunnel. I'm sure you've seen the gate from your end. It does not open: http://www.traildamage.com/trails/photo_pop.php?d=rollins_pass_west/070813&f=second_parking_area.jpg (looking East)

Off Topic: the snow bank at the top of the jenny creek trail is still blocking access to the trail from that end. I'd give it a couple more weeks.
 
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Red_Chili

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While the BWR is indeed closed... that 'no motor vehicles' sign does not signify Wilderness. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is quite close... but it does not cross it. In fact the maps show the BWR as a boundary.

I have heard nothing regarding any movement on the BRD's part... but they would have no motivation to do so. :rant:
 

MDH33

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While the BWR is indeed closed... that 'no motor vehicles' sign does not signify Wilderness. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is quite close... but it does not cross it. In fact the maps show the BWR as a boundary.

I have heard nothing regarding any movement on the BRD's part... but they would have no motivation to do so. :rant:

I saw a recent map and most of the BWR looked to be within the wilderness boundary. Not sure if this was a change when the Indian Peaks were expanded, but I would guess it is. I'll see if I can get a copy and post it up.
 

Red_Chili

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On the mvum is, by my lights, just an indication the closure has some sketchiness to it. Not open but not gone. Satisfies the IPWA (see above). :rant:
 
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