Backcountry skiers and snowboarders: Don’t park your car in avalanche paths.
That’s the message from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
With recent storms blanketing the San Juan Mountains with much-needed snow, more people are headed out to the backcountry to ski, snowboard and snowmobile, especially along the U.S. Highway 550 corridor from Durango to Ouray.
While CDOT “recognizes and appreciates” the public’s use and enjoyment of the backcountry, the agency also stressed that it needs to be done safely. Failure to do so can lead to a fine or a car being towed.
Namely, be mindful where you park.
“Always obey road closures set in place for avalanche control mitigation and wait until authorities open the highway to ensure snow slide operations have been completed and roads cleared,” Paul Wilson, CDOT maintenance foreman who supervises operations for Coal Bank, Molas and Red Mountain passes, said in a prepared statement.
“Backcountry users should never leave vehicles near or adjacent to snow slide areas, which are always well marked with signs.”
CDOT also advised backcountry users to be sure they are parking in a designated parking area.
“Anyone leaving a vehicle unattended on the side of the road runs the risk of breaking the law and having their vehicle towed away by law enforcement. Backcountry users should park only in clearly marked and designated parking areas, typically found at the summit of mountain passes and at some trail heads.”
While some areas along the highway may look enticing, drivers who park off the road and asphalt run the risk of being trapped by snow pushed by a plow.
Vehicles left on the side of the road also make plowing difficult for road maintenance crews, CDOT said.
“Our main objective is to clear the roadway as quickly and efficiently as possible so that the highway is made passable and safe for all travelers,” Wilson said.
“Our crews work in all sorts of weather conditions. When visibility is low and a plow comes upon a vehicle parked on the side of the road, there is potential for a collision.
“The vehicle could be damaged by the passing plow. Plus, this puts our operator’s safety at risk and operations get behind schedule because of needed repairs or replacement of our own CDOT equipment.”
It is actually law in Colorado when law enforcement finds a motor vehicle, attended or unattended, on a highway right-of-way that obstructs traffic or highway maintenance, officers are authorized to remove it.
The full law can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2BX3exg.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
