[ibmkidIII]

Okay guys, the National Forest Service is currently deciding the issues with the Left Hand Canyon OHV area with the very real possibility of changing how the area is managed and setup.

They have a very specific process they must follow, and now they are deteriming the issues. Next step will be solutions etc.

For an example my issues for the area:

1.Lack of designated singletrack, both motorized (motos allowed) and non-motorized.
2.Lack of technical trails designed for bikes.

The potentional for good singletrack in the area is great, so please participate in this process. You can send your comments to the National Forest Service at:

Boulder Ranger District
Lefthand Planning
2140 Yarmouth Ave.
Boulder, Co 80301

or via email to
Cat at [email protected]

Hardcopy is preferred as that email address isn't confirmed.

Thanks,
Kirk

PS Big thks to ignazjr for the heads up on this meeting.

 

[ignazjr]

Okay guys, the National Forest Service is currently deciding the issues with the Left Hand Canyon OHV area with the very real possibility of changing how the area is managed and setup.

They have a very specific process they must follow, and now they are deteriming the issues. Next step will be solutions etc.

For an example my issues for the area:

1.Lack of designated singletrack, both motorized (motos allowed) and non-motorized.
2.Lack of technical trails designed for bikes.

The potentional for good singletrack in the area is great, so please participate in this process. You can send your comments to the National Forest Service at:

Boulder Ranger District
Lefthand Planning
2140 Yarmouth Ave.
Boulder, Co 80301

or via email to
Cat at [email protected]

Hardcopy is preferred as that email address isn't confirmed.

Thanks,
Kirk

PS Big thks to ignazjr for the heads up on this meeting.

That's my thoughts. There's one more open house/meeting next week before they hit the drawing board.

Wed, August 4, from 6-8pm. Longmont Public Library. Hope to see a few of you there!
http://www.redstonecyclery.com/Advocacy.html

 

[ibmkidIII]

Mtbers, as a heads up, davetoo and me seemed to be the only mtbers at the first meeting in Boulder as well. We need you guys and girls (??) to represent!

 

[kitchenware]

Mtbers, as a heads up, davetoo and me seemed to be the only mtbers at the first meeting in Boulder as well. We need you guys and girls (??) to represent!

I'll see if I can get a sitter and go to this one. I'd love to ride up there without fear of being shot in the @ss or run over by a doorless 4runner.

 

[Walt]

There's quite a bit of singletrack there, actually.

I hope they get rid of the folks with the guns - I'm tired of the trash. The moto folks and 4 wheeler guys seem to be behaving themselves now that some of the lower hillside got roped off.

I'm not sure the area needs any more trails of any kind - there's more than enough good mtb riding to be had there if you explore some. But it can't hurt to have some mtb folks at the meeting, especially if it helps get the gun nuts kicked out.

-Walt

 

[Debaser]

I'd like to see the guns kicked out of the two upper areas. The trail that runs above them is a nice connector, it's a super bummer it's shut down.

 

[ignazjr]

I'm not sure the area needs any more trails of any kind - there's more than enough good mtb riding to be had there if you explore some.

There is good riding up there, definitely. It's my impression, though, that a lot of enviro folks would like to see pretty much everyone out of there. I think, if anything, we'll be lobbying to keep what's open open. Also, a lot of the singletrack that is there is pretty poorly made and not in great shape. I'd be up for partnering with some motos to get a nice, sustainable, longer singletrack happening - ala Soveriegn Trail in Moab.

 

[Debaser]

I'd love to see a nice set of singletrack up there. After all, it abuts Heil Ranch and if the Forest Service were to have a nice trail system that could be linked to Heil, which will be linked with Hall...

 

[ibmkidIII]

Righty-O. Honestly my "issues" were based on people I had talked to about the area. No first hand experience yet. I should have modified my issues with "bikeable singletrack", as from what I've heard it's not bikeable with the current issues there now. I realize it's not best having an ignorant voice speaking for the mtb community, but in this situation I figure it's better than none at all, just to let the FS know we mtbers care about the area.

FYI, the FS will NOT address the gun issue as of yet. They will address it as a district wide issue at a later date.

I would still make your opinion heard on it through your comments.

Oh yeah, one last bit. The FS made is pretty clear their intent is to NOT close the area off. That's assuming they can come up with a good plan for management and get the needed funding. The FS Boulder district manager made it clear she would work hard to get the needed funding and seemed pretty confident.

 

[ignazjr]

Update

I went to the last of 3 public meetings tonight. I think it was fairly productive for all involved. Right now, the USFS is in the idea stage - they are just brainstorming for ideas and seem to be open to about anything. Most of the concerns voices were from the 4WD community. I was the only person there representing the interests of mountain biking.

The USFS was writing down all of the comments that they heard. They will document all of these comments, and use them ALL when they are incorporating their action plans for the area. I brought up a few concerns - all of them were very received very well except #4, which was received a little more coldly:

1. More continuous sustainable singletrack. There are some pieces of singletrack up there now, but they are non-sustainable (steep, loose, and erosion prone) and they are very fragmented. It takes a lot of riding jeep roads to get to 1 or 2 bits of nice trail.

2. Non motorized access to Heil Ranch. There was a representative of Boulder County in the group, so I know they heard this loud and clear. USFS thought it was a great idea - sounds like that will be pretty much up to Boulder County Open Space.

3. Access to Fairview Peak. I hear the view is pretty fantastic (hence, the name). Right now, there are roads that go to the top, but they cross private property. The roads are closed and posted "no tresspassing." The USFS rep asked me if I prefered a singletrack route or a road route. Singletrack, of course!.

4. Possible development of "freeride" trails. They were familiar with the freeriding and it's recent popularity so I didn't really need to define it. He didn't say "no," but didn't seem to into the idea.

5. Rerouting the short bit of singletrack that was closed due to it's proximity near a shooting area. I didn't get a feel for this one, but it was duly noted.

The forest service is still accepting written comments. Please address them to Cat Luna or Christine Walsh. Christine is the decision maker in this, and Cat seems to be her right hand gal. If you do write any comments, please be as specific as possible - i.e. I would like to have a continous singletrack mountain bike trail from the 5 points intersection to the top of Fairview Peak." Write whatever you want - that's just an example.

***Written comments can be mailed to the Boulder Ranger District at 2140 Yarmouth Ave, Boulder, CO 80301

I think this is a great opportunity to let our voices be heard on an area that's extremely close to Boulder. Thanks for helping out the singletrack cause!

 

[Debaser]

Thanks for representing!

I sent a note to them yesterday - I was pressing for a connector to Heil, and continuos singletrack from the bottom to the top. You're right: With he use this has seen, it would be a prime FR area..