Grays and Torrey parking tickets
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
What's the most galling, to me, about this is the poor conditions of the road they're trying to protect. When I 1st did these 2 peaks in 2016 my 2wd vehicle wouldn't make the last mile+ so I parked along side the road. If they want to mandate people not park along the road then maybe have the road be in good enough condition to allow cars to drive to the trailhead?
The lack of permitting while still implementing fines seems the clearest indication this is being done to generate revenue. The county knows how many spots are up there, they can issue permits. That way someone knows before they show up if they Will be able to park there. To drive an hour or 2 before dawn, endure the rough road, only to be unable to find a parking spot is frustrating. People risk losing a chance to safely summit because they would have to drive an hour to a different trailhead. Knowing this makes people more likely to park along the road. The county knows this and is using people's desire to hike, and the planned inability of knowing whether or not parking will be available, as a means of generating fine revenue. Fines should discourage against breaking a law, not a means of funding services. Clear creek county is hoping people break the law.
The lack of permitting while still implementing fines seems the clearest indication this is being done to generate revenue. The county knows how many spots are up there, they can issue permits. That way someone knows before they show up if they Will be able to park there. To drive an hour or 2 before dawn, endure the rough road, only to be unable to find a parking spot is frustrating. People risk losing a chance to safely summit because they would have to drive an hour to a different trailhead. Knowing this makes people more likely to park along the road. The county knows this and is using people's desire to hike, and the planned inability of knowing whether or not parking will be available, as a means of generating fine revenue. Fines should discourage against breaking a law, not a means of funding services. Clear creek county is hoping people break the law.
Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
As for the road, it was in much better shape this morning than I've seen it before - still a steep and bumpy road but no 4WD needed as long as you have some clearance (or drive carefully).Ptglhs wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 2:39 pm What's the most galling, to me, about this is the poor conditions of the road they're trying to protect. When I 1st did these 2 peaks in 2016 my 2wd vehicle wouldn't make the last mile+ so I parked along side the road. If they want to mandate people not park along the road then maybe have the road be in good enough condition to allow cars to drive to the trailhead?
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
Can someone clarify this?
I will be going to Grays/Torreys on Wednesday. Does this mean that parking is only available at the summer trailhead and not along the road? Or is the road entirely closed and I need to park at the winter trailhead?
I will be going to Grays/Torreys on Wednesday. Does this mean that parking is only available at the summer trailhead and not along the road? Or is the road entirely closed and I need to park at the winter trailhead?
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
The former. Get to the trailhead early and if it's full, continue past the restroom on the (easy) 4WD road to some upper parking spaces.
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
There is parking available at the 4WD trailhead - no need to park all the way down at the 2WD road, but the legal parking spots at the trailhead are very limited and filled up by 4:30am this morning. Probably better on a Wednesday but I would still plan to arrive early to be safe. It is pretty rough and a bit steep in a spot or two - as long as you have some clearance you should be ok - the road is currently in better shape than previous years.
- lordhelmut
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
Anyone know what this means for Grizzly Gulch?
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
Another complication is that the road to the trailhead goes through a lot of private property, including most of the last ~.4 miles right before the parking lot. If that landowner(s) tells his county officials that he is tired of people parking on his property then I assume they would write tickets and/or tow vehicles. To address ScottP's comments about getting off the right of way: if you do that and now you're on someone's private property who doesn't want you there, then you're probably still illegal.
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
My friend Vera got a ticket for parking in the large, flat area at the Grizzly Gulch junction in early June. I'll ask if they can add their experience with this.
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
From a report snow alien posted it looks like they posted no parking signs there already, but when I was there early June to Ski emperor, we parked our cars right at the turn off for grizzly gulch where the large and obvious "parking area" is. I parked in front of a sign that said not to block the road but didn't mention that you were not allowed to park at all. When we got back to our cars there were tickets on all of the cars windshields. They had come through at 6:00-6:30 am to ticket everyone parked there. I have a date with court and lots of pictures to fight my $85 ticket. Since they put up no parking signs I think they will be enforcing and not dismissing any more infractions. Hoping they dismiss mine since there were not any posted no parking signs at that time.supranihilest wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:08 pmMy friend Vera got a ticket for parking in the large, flat area at the Grizzly Gulch junction in early June. I'll ask if they can add their experience with this.
- Mtnman200
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
I hope your photos will win your case for you. I won a parking ticket case like that years ago, so it can be done. Good luck.VeraUndertow wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:37 pmFrom a report snow alien posted it looks like they posted no parking signs there already, but when I was there early June to Ski emperor, we parked our cars right at the turn off for grizzly gulch where the large and obvious "parking area" is. I parked in front of a sign that said not to block the road but didn't mention that you were not allowed to park at all. When we got back to our cars there were tickets on all of the cars windshields. They had come through at 6:00-6:30 am to ticket everyone parked there. I have a date with court and lots of pictures to fight my $85 ticket. Since they put up no parking signs I think they will be enforcing and not dismissing any more infractions. Hoping they dismiss mine since there were not any posted no parking signs at that time.supranihilest wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:08 pmMy friend Vera got a ticket for parking in the large, flat area at the Grizzly Gulch junction in early June. I'll ask if they can add their experience with this.
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
As this appears to be a money grab by Clear Creek county, one option is to not spend any money in the county at restaurants, gas stations, etc.
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Re: Grays and Torrey parking tickets
Not so much that junction parking area but up the road in general. I was up there on Memorial Day and didn’t notice any no parking signs at that river crossing and beyond. That wouldn’t make a ton of sense given GG sees 1/1000th the traffic that SG does.VeraUndertow wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:37 pmFrom a report snow alien posted it looks like they posted no parking signs there already, but when I was there early June to Ski emperor, we parked our cars right at the turn off for grizzly gulch where the large and obvious "parking area" is. I parked in front of a sign that said not to block the road but didn't mention that you were not allowed to park at all. When we got back to our cars there were tickets on all of the cars windshields. They had come through at 6:00-6:30 am to ticket everyone parked there. I have a date with court and lots of pictures to fight my $85 ticket. Since they put up no parking signs I think they will be enforcing and not dismissing any more infractions. Hoping they dismiss mine since there were not any posted no parking signs at that time.supranihilest wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:08 pmMy friend Vera got a ticket for parking in the large, flat area at the Grizzly Gulch junction in early June. I'll ask if they can add their experience with this.