Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Forest Service Conducts Preliminary Design for Mount Columbia Trail

The Salida Ranger District is finalizing the initial layout and design of a non-motorized climber’s trail on 14,077-foot Mount Columbia west of the town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County. The project area is in the Horn Fork Basin approximately 10 miles west of Buena Vista within the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. This project is an effort to address resource impacts stemming from mountain climbing activities. The design and construction includes approximately 2 miles of new trail construction, 2 miles of social trail closure and restoration, and 1 mile of trail maintenance on the Salida Ranger District of the San Isabel National Forest.

Through the Forest Service’s planning processes, alternative routes were identified along the western slopes of Mount Columbia. The project goal is to create a single, more sustainable peak ascent and descent trail. The current trails on the mountain are user created and have resulted in resource damage. Currently the trail does not meet Forest Service standards and guidelines. Completing this trail and restoring social trails that are not sustainable will ultimately reduce vegetation loss and erosion in the area. This project includes design and layout of a more sustainable trail which will eliminate existing resource damage.

Detailed information can be obtained at the Salida Ranger District. If you are interested in this trail and in order to receive full consideration please submit written and or verbal comments by March 29, 2013 e-mail: bbeasley@fs.fed.us phone: (719) 530-3953 or mail: USFS, Salida Ranger District, 325 W. Rainbow Blvd., Salida, CO 81201.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

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