Posts tagged Mike Patton
Flood-related restrictions removed on many open trails east of Broadway
Oct 19th
The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department today lifted flood-related nighttime and off-trail restrictions on open trails east of Broadway and Colorado Highway 93. OSMP also opened a significant amount of climbing areas southwest of Boulder today.
Popular recreational areas where nighttime and off-trail restrictions have been lifted include Marshall Mesa south of Boulder, Boulder Valley Ranch north of the city, and the Gunbarrel Hill area east of Boulder.
Marshall Mesa is open
While OSMP has lifted nighttime and off-trail restrictions in designated areas, hikers should be aware of changing trail conditions caused by the flood. Flood-related trail restrictions remain in place for the area surrounding South Boulder Creek Trail and the East Boulder Trail at White Rocks.
“Thanks to thousands of volunteer and staff hours,” said Mike Patton, director of the Open Space and Mountain Parks, “we’ve made significant progress on reopening trails and clearing debris to allow residents to enjoy many of their favorite trails.”
Today, OSMP also opened climbing areas accessible from the Fern and Shadow Canyon trails southwest of Boulder. The department also opened climbing formations accessible from the Mallory Cave Trail. Visitors can access these climbing areas through the Shanahan trails and the NCAR trailhead. Maps of open climbing locations will be available later today at www.osmp.org.
In the wake of the September flood, OSMP partnered with volunteers from the Flatirons Climbing Council and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group to assess area climbing routes, trails and bouldering areas. The volunteers’ assessments are now helping OSMP – which has been focused on opening trails and area trailheads – to open up more climbing formations across its system.
“The assistance from the Flatirons Climbing Council and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group has been instrumental in opening Boulder’s climbing areas,” Patton said.
With several trail openings coming soon, OSMP expects to open about 80 percent of its flood-damaged trail system by the end of the year. To view a photo gallery of damaged trails that may not be opened after Jan. 1, go to http://bit.ly/16RxFAt
As part of its rebuilding efforts, OSMP has held 15 volunteer projects, which have helped the department open trails, and restore important drainages and ecosystems. Volunteers have also assisted OSMP by providing guided hikes, which have given 600 residents insights about how the flood has impacted the city’s open space system.
Individuals interested in volunteering for OSMP’s recovery projects should visit boulderfloodinfo.net and click on “Volunteer Opportunities” for information about how to help.
For more information on open OSMP trails, go to http://bit.ly/15msF85
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Mountain Parks open slowly, starting Sat.
Sep 21st
After historic rain and flooding that caused extensive damage to trails, trailheads and natural resources, the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is announcing that it will open a limited number of trails in Chautauqua on Saturday, Sept. 21.
OSMP anticipates opening up more trails within the week. However, many trails in the system will require substantial rebuilding, and OSMP asks for the public’s patience as the department rebuilds and restores those trails.
Chautauqua trails that will be opened on Saturday are:
· A portion of Chautauqua trail.
· Bluebell Road to the shelter.
· Bluebell Spur
· Bluebell Mesa.
· A portion of the Ski Jump trail.
Trails will be opened from dawn to dusk on-trail only because of existing safety risks. Trails will be closed at night because of hazards not visible in the dark. All other OSMP trails remained closed under an emergency order.
“We have worked as hard as possible in the days after the storm to assess damage and safety dangers,” said Mike Patton, director of the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks department. “We hope to re-open more trails in the next week.”
There are some potential safety risks on trails slated to be re-opened. Current risks on the trails may include rocky and gullied terrain, as well as other potential hazards associated with a major flood event. OSMP stresses that re-opened trails will not be of the same quality residents have seen in the past.
“We understand that the public is anxious to get out on the trails,” Patton said. “We know that OSMP is a place where visitors go to reduce stress. We want to express our deep appreciation for our visitors’ patience at this time.”
Patton also wanted to express his gratitude for the outpouring of offers to help rebuild trails, and restore natural areas. OSMP staff is prioritizing volunteer projects. Volunteer opportunities will be posted at osmp.org as soon as projects are identified.
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