Is it true? carnage closure

[85-4R]

I heard carnage canyon in lefthand is being closed on aug.1 is this true?

[T3N5OR]

may i ask what your sources were???

[Napoleon]

I heard something similar to to what 85-4R stated from a close friend of mine. My friend didn't tell me a specific date only that it will be closed by the end of the summer. Sorry I dont know where he got this information but I will ask him next time I see him.

Jay

[Offender90]

I was told the same thing this weekend at Eagle Rock buy a TACORA(or TACOMA) association member. He said he had run Carnage Saturday and heard the rumor?

[Mcstiff]

By the time I finish my Jeep all the public trails will be closed

[jeepyjump]

meh...oh well

[YJgirl]

I'll have a definitive answer on the 30th after our Boulder Ranger District meeting. I will not be surprised if the rumor is true. If it is, that means that we all need to work with the BRD on making sure the alternative for Lefthand does have a 4x4 extreme route in it as proposed.

[Pioneer]

Well Spring Creek is the next trail that is near Denver, I'd bet within a year or two its closed to

[YJgirl]

Originally Posted by Pioneer

Well Spring Creek is the next trail that is near Denver, I'd bet within a year or two its closed to

You're probably right Curt. BUT that's why we need to get more involved with the FS so we can keep and maintain what is open.

[Sandman XJ a.k.a Steven]

Originally Posted by Pioneer

Well Spring Creek is the next trail that is near Denver, I'd bet within a year or two its closed to

TO me it is just sad how many idiots are out there tearing up the trails. They do not realize that they are ruining it forthemselves and others too. We also need to be more active to turn people in when we see them tearing things up.

[Pioneer]

The FS needs to get the ol head out of the butt and let some of the clubs erect barriers on some of these trails without all the red tape crap. Now in a perfect world sighns would work but we live in a world thats far from perfect.


I don't see SC being destroyed over night since 90% of the problems at Carnage are "school" related. I know some of you are responsible (school kids) but for every one person that picks up a bag of trash in five minutes you'll have a party barge leavin a trail of crap everywhere they go. So I guess Carnage will be the sacrafical lamb. Lets hope that with SC being alot farther away than Carnage it curbs some of the traffic and $hitheads that destroy our trails.

[T3N5OR]

trash isn't really the issue on carnage. besides the target range, but that is a whole different entity than the trail carnage itself. the problem is resource damage due to uneducated/uncaring motorists not staying on trail. though your point about signage is a valid one.

[Ghettojeep]

No matter what anyone does w/ carnage, it doesn't change the fact it is a drainage and creek bed. I think this is one of the major cards in play, and there is nothing we can do about it.

[mtngoat]

I watched some people playing on Left hand the other week, driving right around a sign that indicated "no vehicles." The problem with idiots is that, they either can't read, or think rules don't apply to them. They were too far in front of me to get license plates or say something, but sure makes you angry to see that.


-Dave

[Pioneer]

Originally Posted by T3N5OR

trash isn't really the issue on carnage. besides the target range, but that is a whole different entity than the trail carnage itself. the problem is resource damage due to uneducated/uncaring motorists not staying on trail. though your point about signage is a valid one.

Sorry, I guess I should have worded that a little better. I should have said "Most of that trail gets trashed or destroyed. The same will happen with SC on place that you can tell SC getting trashed is the last switch back. That part of the trail used to be very narrow and you would almost have to drive up into the "saddle" and turn around. Now its gettin pretty wide.





Now this Jeep didn't do anything wrong, I'm just using it to show the area thats getting wider every year.

[CJesse7]

I have seen people up there drive around signs and could care less. one incident was when i was up there for the day with my buddies. We werer all taking a break and these morons just took off into the woods like a bat out of hell. no trail or anything. I dont know if they thought they were louis and clark trying to find that indian girl to lead them the proper way but it was rediculous. I couldnt even catch a licence number because they were moving so fast. Another one was me and my buddy stopped a guy and asked him why he was off the trail and he simply replied "Look around, There is no one for miles that will write me a ticket" I told him that it was because of Jackasses like him that the trails keep getting closed. He was convinced that he was Gods gift to wheeling and the rules didnt apply to him. All I can say is i hope he never has kids because i cant think of anyother way to weed out the retard gean.

[al24]

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=37913

[YJgirl]

And the answer to the $50,000 dollar question of will Carnage Boulder be closed August 1, 2005 is.....

...NO!

The area is still under travel management planning, but the next set of comments for the plan of action will be sent out towards the end of July. The BRD plans on having a final decision on the Lefthand area as a whole (this includes the new proposed rock crawl area) by mid to late September.


We ran Carnage last night (6/30) and picked up a TON of trash and a lot of fire works wrappers. Brilliant! Fireworks in a forest. Never underestimate the power of stupid people.

If you see anyone up there with fire works this weekend please turn them in to the BRD. 303-541-2500.

[Malamute]

Last summer we saw a few kids lighting fireworks at the top of carnage. At the trailhead I talked with a ranger and told him what I saw and heard. He went up but who knows what came of it.

I agree, pretty f'n stupid to be up there lighting those things off with such a high risk of fire. I'm sure the people living in that canyon would love to get ahold of someone that was lighting fireworks up there.

[YJgirl]

Originally Posted by Malamute

Last summer we saw a few kids lighting fireworks at the top of carnage. At the trailhead I talked with a ranger and told him what I saw and heard. He went up but who knows what came of it.

KUDOS for letting the ranger know. They definitely got a ticket. I was told they wrote several last year up there for fireworks around the 4th.

[Yota]

So I got the BRD's proposal for the Lefthand area. All alternatives include closing Carnage (286.1A) and the shooting area.

There is a meeting re: the plan at the BRD office in Boulder on Aug. 13 10 am to 1 pm.

Here's a snippet of the proposed Alternative B:

1.1 PROPOSED ACTION

The [BRD] proposes to manage increasing motorized recreation use in the Lefthand Canyon OHV Area. This would be accomplished by designating a sustainable road and trail system within the area that provides a quality recreation experience. Other actions include: restoring impacts caused by motorized use, constructing two staging areas with restrooms, trash facilities, and information boards, determining route difficulty, and maintaining routes to those difficulty ratings. The proposed action also provides Forest Service standard signs displaying route information and difficulty ratings. In addition to the above, the proposed action also consists of installing traffic control devices where needed to keep riders on route, determining reroutes around private land or pursuing rights-of-way for needed access, and implementing various regulations to protect the natural resources of the area. For a detailed description of this proposed action, refer to Chapter 2, Alternative B of this document.

This project will have a phased implementation which could begin as soon as Spring 2006, based on available funds and partnership projects.

ALTERNATIVE B (proposed):

Management Actions:

• Charge fees for use of the OHV are. Fees will be charged at the two entrance areas, or an annual permit may be purchased at the office. The Forest Service will collect the fees, this does not exclude the possiblity of an external partnership to help formally manage the area.
• Road and Trail Actions:
• Eliminate connecting motorized/mechanized recreational uses to Fairview Peak and the core habitat area. Close Fairview Peak to motorized and mechanized use and pursue administrative access only for enforecement purposes.
• Provide rock crawl route that uses 286.1B to RC-A to 286.1D. Maintain 286.1D at a high difficulty rating (though not as a rock crawl route exclusively) and provide rock crawl obstacles that users can bypass if they desire. See map for locations.
• Please see map and table for road and trail network as determined for this Alternative B.

Actions Common to all Alternatives (B, C, D):

Management Actions:

• Dusk to dawn closure with authorized exceptions.
• Pursue legal public access where needed to provide a sustainable road and trail network where there is private land. <snip>
• Allow permitted trial bike events, provided the rock crawl route will meet their needs.
• [Provide education including handouts with recommended equipment and proper use]
• Map handouts
• Decrease user conflict & increase safety:
• Establish right-of-way rules
• Establish one-way routes and pullouts where needed
• Provide trail ratings

Road and Trail System Actions:

Yeah I don't really feel like typing all this.

[YJgirl]

If anyone on this board did not recieve the EA (enviornmental assessment) on Lefthand with the proposed action and you want it please call Cat Luna at 303-541-2508 to request a copy be sent to you. If she's not there zero out of voicemail and tell the front desk you would like a copy mailed to you.

The main number to the Boulder Ranger District is 303-541-2500.