Bear peak West ridge

Colorado peak questions, condition requests and other info.
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jomagam
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Bear peak West ridge

Post by jomagam »

Does anyone know if this was reopened ? The map at the trailhead suggested it was not, but there were no signs at either termini.
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DanR
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Re: Bear peak West ridge

Post by DanR »

It isn't - there's a list of what's open here: https://bouldercolorado.gov/pages/osmp-trails9-21
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jomagam
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Re: Bear peak West ridge

Post by jomagam »

DanR wrote:It isn't - there's a list of what's open here: https://bouldercolorado.gov/pages/osmp-trails9-21
I'll have to say that either https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/ ... 251335.pdf is outdated, or there were dozens trespassing on Bear Canyon trail. There was no sign to suggest that it was closed. I was a little surprised not to see anyone on Green Mountain though.
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Jeff Valliere
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Re: Bear peak West ridge

Post by Jeff Valliere »

It is getting increasingly difficult to keep up with current trail status and navigate OSMP legally.

Many of the existing signs/barricades have been removed by upset trail users. For a while, there seemed to be a back/forth between the monkey wrenchers and OSMP staff with the barricades, but it seems as though this has subsided a bit. However, in certain problem areas, OSMP has decided to employ a new tactic of cutting healthy trees to block trails (see start of the closed section of Royal Arch Trail), you know, to prevent users from damaging nature by crossing eroded washouts. Makes perfect sense.

Interestingly, the majority of the still closed trails (like Bear Peak W. Ridge and most trails on Green, aside from a few localized areas) are in better condition than many of the now open trails (Shadow Canyon, S. Shanahan, lower Saddle Rock and many of the trails around Chautauqua). There really seems to be no logical, consistent criteria as to which trails get re-opened and when.

So, to confirm the original question, Bear Peak W. Ridge is still closed for no good reason, as it was not really affected by the floods (although OSMP is stating that they can't open certain trails until Flagstaff Road re-opens due to SAR response times).

On a positive note, the trails are re-opening at an increased pace and the signs are coming down (legally or not).
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jomagam
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Re: Bear peak West ridge

Post by jomagam »

Thanks, makes sense what you're saying. The Cragmoore connector (open) seemed to be in rough shape. I was wondering how a ridge trail could get a lot of water damage...
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Re: Bear peak West ridge

Post by Jeff Valliere »

As per the copied announcement below, Bear Peak West Ridge is now open, along with Bear Canyon, Green Bear to the summit of Green.

"Open Space and Mountain Parks opens more trails and a popular area peak today
Department has now opened almost 3/4 of its flood-damaged trail system

The City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Department today reopened trails that allow hikers, runners and climbers to access Green Mountain summit.

Today, OSMP opened the following trails:
Sacred Cliffs
Green Bear
Bear Peak West Ridge
Bear Canyon
The eastern part of Green Mountain West Ridge trail

With today’s trail openings, OSMP has now reopened access to all of its major peaks since the recent flooding that significantly damaged the trail system. The department has now reopened 108 miles of trails – about 74 percent of the trail system.

OSMP originally anticipated that these trails would likely remain closed through the rest of the year. However, OSMP trail crew and volunteer efforts to reopen trails have progressed rapidly in the last two weeks, and their work has helped the department close in on its goal of opening 80 percent system by the end of the year.

For the latest information on reopened trails, open climbing areas and where nighttime and off-trail restrictions have been lifted, go to osmp.org.
Click on the link below to change your email preferences for communications from City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Dept.. Please note that we only send email when necessary, so opting out of our mailings could cause you to miss important information.
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