Comments on: Colorado outdoor issues and concerns

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 23:31:22 +0000

In reply to Daniel Pittman. Yeah, I can find solitude. It is driving TO the solitude I find difficult. :O

By: Daniel Pittman

Daniel Pittman — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 19:36:38 +0000

In reply to Tom.

Better not make Red Mountain Pass a toll road!
It’s funny though, my hikes rarely take me more than five miles from a trailhead, and I don’t really see an overcrowding issue. Maybe it’s a Western Slope thing, but everyone is quiet (almost reverent) on the trails. You might get a nod ‘hello’ or a quiet greeting as you cross paths, but the whole encounter is over in a few seconds and not intrusive at all. When I used to hike in the South, people would strike up conversations and want to get your whole life story…
I’ve been in a few of those Denver traffic jams though. Glad I live in Montrose!

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 02:14:57 +0000

In reply to Tom. Thanks for the kind words, Tom! Colorado has started to make toll roads, but mainly (again) in the Front Range. There is a toll road stretch on I70 just before you leave the mountains proper. Optional. But if you are willing pay the money you can avoid some of the traffic. Solitude has not been my problem. It is driving there to find it. :O

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 01:20:50 +0000

Colorado’s outdoors will continue to suffer and one reason is because tourism (more people) is such an incredible asset to the state. It will be many many years after I am long gone before people (like those here) will really struggle to find solitude in those once unspoiled mountains.
Luckily most people (unlike those here) want to go to a water park, a ski resort, a Mexico resort or a National Park where hundreds if not thousands of other people are.
There were 4.5 million visitors to RMNP in 2016.
50+ million go to Disney World each year. Most could not imagine a vacation without a road or airplane to take them there.
Those unbeaten paths will be increasingly more difficult to find but they will be here for a little while longer.
I cannot believe Colorado has not attempted to make 550 between Montrose and Durango a toll road, not to mention other popular drives. There has to be a fortune in toll roads in your state.
Sorry to drift crazily off topic. This is just one of many fantastic articles on your website.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 19:01:51 +0000

In reply to JennyA. I tend to go off-the-beaten path areas, so crowding has not been too bad for me. Though, I admittedly avoid areas because they are crowded. The biggest impact for me is the closely related traffic issue. Even if I hike in obscure area, there is no avoiding the road situation. :(

By: JennyA

JennyA — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:23:45 +0000

Good summary of things people should be aware of. I think the overcrowding issue is one of the most underated: everyone comes here for the same reasons and is surprised to find that they are not the first to arrive! Thursday has become the new Friday for getting out of town, at least along Colorado’s front range. I see more trash along the trails and more crowding, even at non-“marquee” areas and even several miles in from trailheads, and things are definitely noisier (more dogs, more portable speakers, more whooping and hollering in general).
It is sad to see this happening to such beautiful places. It seems that many people new to the mountains have not grown up in a culture of camping and the associated etiquette that goes along with it. Perhaps more emphasis on education and stewardship could help, making people aware that it is not a free-for-all out there, and behaviors impact everyone’s experience.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:34:02 +0000

In reply to Tom. Dunno. I can only say I do not because it is useless weight.Other than hunting, imo not know anyone who carried firearms into the Colorado backcountry either.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:57:08 +0000

During my family car camping days back in the 90’s, we saw other campers while we were out walking and I was constantly asked, “You don’t have a gun”?
I never had one but everyone else seemed too and they were shocked that I didn’t.
You have crossed paths with many more hikers than I ever will and I rarely see this discussed, so I’ll ask… Do hikers pack a weapon or is this something everyone does and it is taboo to talk about? Or do hikers generally just go weaponless. I’m talking about pistols of course.
I’m not a “gun person” but was just curious.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:40:29 +0000

In reply to Todd Anderson. Nothing is 100% of course. But look for areas with trees that are a bit more stable even if dead.

By: Todd Anderson

Todd Anderson — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 17:34:35 +0000

Nice post! 🙂 Regarding dead trees, what are others doing to avoid dead trees falling on their tent? Finding small clusters of live trees? Avoiding thunderstorm season and camping in open areas away from trees? Other?