Please visit our Sponsor, CLICK on the Banner above
It appears that we have saved an irreplaceable recreation resource!
 Led by Jim and Nancy Bailey from nearby Alamosa, a combined group of CA4WDCI and SWFWDA four wheelers accompanied the Forest Service and Alamosa County Commissioners on the highly acclaimed Como Lake Road that ascends Mt. Blanca. |
Nearly a year and a half after the Forest Service issued its decision to close the Como Lake Road (Mt. Blanca) at Como Lake, an important milestone was reached on August 14, 1997, On that day, members of the Alamosa County Commission and the Forest Service accompanied a group of four wheel drive recreation enthusiasts on a trip up the disputed road. Representing Alamosa County were Commissioners Bob Zimmermen, Darius Allen, and Charlotte Bobiski. The Alamosa County Board of Commissioners had voted unanimously to adopt a resolution last October laying the County's claim to all roads and trails on Forest Service managed land in Alamosa County. This RS2477 based claim, of course, included the Como Lake Road. Charlotte asserted that the huge outpouring of support from a broad cross-section of recreationists from across the country encouraged the County Commissioners to take the action. The Board received over 200 letters in support of keeping the entire road open and received only one asking the Board to leave it closed.
 Trip coordinator Jim Bailey scales the obstacle known as Jaws 2 with his flat fender. |
During a meeting between the Forest Service and the County Commissioners on May 5, 1997, the situation was summed up in an exchange between Rio Grande Forest Supervisor Jim Webb and County Commissioner Zimmermen. "It's our road," affirmed Bob. "But it's our lake, " responded Jim. At issue was the concerns about siltation of Lake Como from the stream crossing just upstream from the lake and resource impacts at the Blue Lakes turn-around. It was decided at that time that a joint trip to the actual sites of concern would be the best way to come to a consensus on the issue.
 CA4WDCI Land Use Chairman Adam Mehlberg in the Jade Dragon approaches the intimidating Jaws 2. |
Nine vehicles made up the convoy that transported the County Commissioners, the Forest Service personnel, and representatives from the Lake Como Road Adopt-a-Trail club (Creepers Jeepers from Durango), and representation from both the Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs, Inc. (CA4WDCI) and the Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association (SWFWDA).
 Forest Service, Commissioners, and four wheelers alike enjoyed watching the convoy make its way over the considerable challenges offered by the Lake Como Road on Mt. Blanca. |
The weather was good (that means dry on Mt. Blanca!) and it quickly became apparent that the Commissioners fully intended to enjoy the day, the mountain, the road, the experience. Other than a balky fuel pump at Jaws I, the group moved quickly over Jaws 1, 2, and 2.5. Jaws 3 proved to be a little more troublesome with some of the group opting for the bypass in the interest of time and vehicle integrity. Adam Mehlberg, CA4WDCI Land Use Chairman, paid the highest price when he snapped an axle on his Ford 9" rear while caught in the clutches of the obstacle. The wounded vehicle was left behind for later diagnosis and the group headed upward. We ate lunch at Lake Como and then approached Jaws 4 as the weather deteriorated to a light rain. Rain was just the thing needed to bring out the difficulty in the last major obstacle! With much wheel spin on the rain slickened granite of Jaws 4, everyone eventually made it up to the final route section that traverses the tundra above tree line. Everyone debarked to enjoy the high alpine scenery at the Blue Lakes turnaround and we discussed the lack of adverse impact by travel abuse on the fragile tundra landscape.
 Vehicles traverse the trail section above tree line that was the disputed point in the Forest Service's decision. |
 Everyone enjoyed the scenery afforded at the high alpine turn around at the road's end at Blue Lakes. |
Upon our return to Lake Como, serious discussions on the road and the necessary mitagation measures commenced. Jim Webb was extremely impressed by what he saw of the trail conditions above tree line. He had never before visited the tundra area without snow cover and was absolutely amazed and pleased by the obvious care and respect that the visiting four wheelers have shown the fragile landscape. Even the turn around area has very little impact as everyone has worked very hard to stay within the tracks of the road. Everyone agreed that a few simple water bars would suffice for dispersing the spring run-off and rain from the road on the steeper grade sections above timber line. The area near the stream crossing at the inlet to Lake Como will continue to be stabilized by the addition of rock from the nearby scree field. Everyone agreed that the volunteer hand labor for the mitigation would be provided by interested four wheeling clubs that have already volunteered. All also agreed that the Creeper Jeepers would continue to be the main point of contact and coordination for the mitigation work that is planned to commence next summer.
 Four wheelers confer with the Forest Service's John Capell and Adam Mehlberg (far right). |
 Alamosa County Commissioners, Forest Service personnel, and four wheelers from Colorado and New Mexico confer on the appropriate mitigation work necessary to address siltation concerns for Lake Como. |
 The price paid! Adam Mehlberg's CJ suffered a broken rear axle at Jaws 3 but fortunately he was able to drive the vehicle down the mountain. |
The trip back down the mountain was slowed only by the axle removal and reinstallation (Adam was able to drive it down off the mountain) and a quick frame rail repair to Jim Bailey's flat fender. The day was a huge success with a new respect and understanding of the four wheeling ethic from the Forest Service personnel, a better understanding of the sport of four wheeling by the County Commissioners, and an agreed upon mitigation work plan. This agreement between all parties that will allow the four wheeling community continued access to the Lake Como Road all the way to Blue Lakes.
Continued access to the wonderful experience available to four wheelers on Mt. Blanca will hinge on several items:
Continuing the care and discipline necessary to minimize the trail's impact on the land, especially in the fragile areas above Lake Como,
Continuing the cooperative efforts between the Forest Service, the County of Alamosa, and the organized motorized recreation community for keeping this valuable recreation resource open, and
Maintaining the vigilance and fortitude it takes to keep the extremists from eliminating the public's right to use and enjoy our public lands!
For the history of the Forest Service's attempts to close Blanca and the long road to keeping it open see Help Keep Blanca Open.
4X4NOW Editor's note: Blanca is in The [Colorado] 4X4 Trail Book Number 1
Colorado Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos
| 4X4
BOOKS
.
com World's Best Selection of 4X4, Jeep, & Offroad Handbooks, Trail Guides, Videos, Maps, GPS and More |
4X4NOW
Feature Page
4X4NOW
Trail Reports | Moab
4WD Trails
4X4NOW
"How-To" | 4X4NOW
Buildups
4X4BOOKS
| MAPNOW
get Garmin at
GPSNOW
- Order by 5pm and have it Tomorrow!
Choosing |
for Laptop/Pocket PC | Basic
| Handheld Mapping | 2-way
Radio | Automotive | Motorcycle
| RV/Truck/Bus | Land & Water
Accessories
eTrex H | Legend
| Vista | Venture
HC | Summit HC | Legend
HCx | Vista HCx
GPS 18
DLX | 60
Mobile 10 | Mobile
10 for smartphones
GPSMAP 60 | 60Cx
| 60CSx | 76S
| 76Cx | 76CSx
| 276C | 376C
| 378 | 478
MapSource City Navigator
North America | US Topo | BlueChart
nüvi
200 | 270
| 350 | 360
| 370 | 650
| 660
| 670 | 680
Quest | Quest 2
Rino 110 | 120
| 130 | 520
| 530 | 520HCx
| 530HCx
StreetPilot 2820 | 7200/7500
| c330
| c340 | c530
| c550 | c580
Astro GPS dog tracking system
zūmo 450 / 550
© 4X4NOW