Monday, January 23, 2012

Comment in Support of Chama Chile Ski Trails by Jan 31st!

Please make a comments to emails, phone or addresses below in support of closure of Chama Chile Ski Trails to motorized vehicles during winter! See points and details below. Website with map and address appear at very bottom. Please make sure to comment on this by January 31st!
Date: January 15, 2012
To: Skiers and Snowshoers
From: Chama Valley Outdoor Club

Issue: Rio Grande National Forest Needs Your Comments By January 31
Topic: Winter Closure for Chama Chile Ski Trails Area or Windy Point (see
attachment)

On January 11, the Rio Grande National Forest published a call for comment
to close Windy Point, the site of the Chama Chile Ski Classic, to winter
motorized use for up to 5 years. This is the first step in the scoping
process for our special use permit to continue grooming the trails after
the Martin Luther King race weekend. Please find attached a PDF file of
the notice from the Rio Grande website with more information.

WE NEED YOU TO SEND COMMENTS TO THE FOREST IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLOSURE!

The Forest Service needs to justify this closure, and we can provide that
justification. Please tell the Forest Service to enact the closure for
these reasons:

1. Skiers and snowshoers need a space in the Cumbres Pass area without
snowmobiles where they can pursue quiet winter sports.

2. The proposed closure goes a long way to eliminate the safety and
social conflict issues inherent in mixing winter motorized and
non-motorized use.

3. The Windy Point location of approximately 500 acres is well defined
geographically.

4. Windy Point historically has been a skier area; the 39th Chama Chile
Ski Classic was just held last weekend.

To get comments in as quickly as possible, we recommend that you email to:
comments-rocky-mountain-rio-grande-conejos-peak@fs.fed.us

This is your opportunity to help make groomed trails on Cumbres Pass a
reality. Thank you for your support!
see below official request for public comment on the closure:

Windy Point Winter Motorized Closure

Release Date: Jan 11, 2012

The Rio Grande National Forest is seeking public comment on a proposed closure order
prohibiting motorized over the snow use at Windy Point.  The proposed closure area that
we are calling Windy Point is on the west side of Cumbres Pass, adjacent to and
north/west of Highway 17. This area has been traditionally used for a cross-country ski
and snowshoe race in January for over 20 years.

The legal description is NMPM T32N. R4E. Sec. 12 & 13.

The purpose would be to provide a motorized closure for over the snow travel on the area
for up to 5 years. This would provide an area, currently not being utilized by motorized
winter recreationists, for non-motorized recreation.  There is a history of conflict between
the winter recreationists who enjoy the Cumbres Pass Area.  There is concern among the
public regarding the safety of mixed motorized and non-motorized use.  The Forest
Service will be encouraging users to come together to propose a long-term solution for
the larger scale recreation use issue.

A map and additional information on the project is available on the Rio Grande
National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/projects 

Those wishing to comment are encouraged to submit their concerns in writing to:

Conejos Peak Ranger District
Attention: Windy Point Winter Motorized Closure
15571 County Road T.5
La Jara, CO 81140


It is requested that all comments be received by January 31, 2012 in order to be most
effectively considered.  For further information about this proposal, please contact
Jeremiah Martinez at 719-274-6320.

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