Prohibitions placed on Lower Hermosa area
Increasing residential use of public lands has prompted the San Juan National Forest to put a special closure order in place to protect the Lower Hermosa area of the Columbine Ranger District from increasing impacts to natural resources.
Camping is now prohibited on or along 2½ miles of Forest Road 576, the Lower Hermosa Road, also known as County Road 201, past the forest boundary. Camping also is prohibited along the Lower Hermosa Campground Loop Road and Day Use Parking Area. Camping is now only allowed in designated spaces in the Lower Hermosa Campground. The closure also extends about ¼-mile up the Hermosa Creek and Jones Creek trails. Notices will be posted.
Violators will risk federal fines up to $5,000 or imprisonment up to six months, or both.
For more information, call Matt Janowiak at 884-1438.
Seniors Outdoors announces programs
Seniors Outdoors will offer these programs:
A hike from Cascade to Coal Bank will take place at 8 a.m. Monday. A car shuttle will be arranged. The cost to carpool is $6. Dogs under voice control or on a leash will be allowed. To RSVP, call Sherry Suenram 382-1942 or email mikes@gobrainstorm.net.
A Monday bike ride for intermediate road cyclists will take place at 9:30 a.m. Monday. This is a no-drop, social ride of 16 miles from Home Depot to Bread. Participants will meet in the south parking lot at Home Depot and will leave promptly at 9:30 a.m. For more information, email Helen Root at helen@northandroot.com, call (505) 320-3441, email Hugh Brown at hugh.m.brown2@gmail.com or call 403-3089.
The Seniors Outdoors General Meeting and Picnic will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. This will be a combination potluck and barbecue. The club will provide burgers, brats, buns and condiments. Participants should bring their own table service and beverages and a dish for eight with a serving utensil. People with last names starting with A to F should bring a salad or side dish; G to M appetizer; N to R salad or side dish; and S to Z dessert. In addition to the potluck dish, people are asked to bring non-perishable food donations for the Durango Food Bank. RSVP is needed, and people should indicate if they would like a veggie burger. To RSVP, email Judy Mack at tupelo16@gmail.com or call 259-9529.
The Wednesday Wanderers will hike Missionary Ridge to Radio Towers at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday. Dogs are not allowed. Nonmembers should RSVP to Cheryl Berglund at 247-9747.
A climb of Baldy Peak will take place at 7 a.m. Thursday. Dogs are not allowed. The cost to car pool is $4. To RSVP, call Debra Van Winegarden at 769-7269 or email debra@vanwinegarden.com.
Horsemen group clears Lower Elbert Creek Trail
The Lower Elbert Creek Trail is one of five trails adopted by the Four Corners Back Country Horsemen where maintenance is done each year.
This year, 10 members of the Horsemen chapter tackled the project where 20 trees, some as large as 20 inches in diameter, had fallen across the first mile and a half of the trail. Art and Pat Berg each led a pack horse carrying tools and a chainsaw, while others carried loppers to cut brush and aspen saplings that were encroaching on the trail. A 12-foot culvert pipe that had been provided by the U.S. Forest Service also was carried up the trail. The existing culvert pipe that crossed under the trail had a dangerous hole in it. It was dug out and replaced by the new pipe. The crew also repaired the hitching post at the old cabin.
Herald Staff
