The Decalibron 14ers Are Closing Again

[headsizeburrito]

Essentially, those things didn't happen because of bad luck with the timing.

Thanks for the addition context and I agree with your points.

[dwoodward13]

Here is the vote where the bill died: https://legiscan.com/CO/rollcall/SB103/id/1266135

I don’t know why each senator voted the way they did. If anyone recognizes their own here they may want to reach out and ask, and perhaps emphasize support for finding a solution next session.

This is very misleading.

What this is showing is the voting to postpone the bill (which occurred after voting on the bill itself failed). This was doing using a "reverse roll call" process. I.e. a vote in favor of SB23-103 would show as a "no" for the postponement in this link. So the no voters on this link actually voted *for* SB23-103.

Something to know before you go contacting a rep who actually *did* vote in favor of the bill.

[colingoodman]

Here is the vote where the bill died: https://legiscan.com/CO/rollcall/SB103/id/1266135

I don’t know why each senator voted the way they did. If anyone recognizes their own here they may want to reach out and ask, and perhaps emphasize support for finding a solution next session.

This is very misleading.

What this is showing is the voting to postpone the bill (which occurred after voting on the bill itself failed). This was doing using a "reverse roll call" process. I.e. a vote in favor of SB23-103 would show as a "no" for the postponement in this link. So the no voters on this link actually voted *for* SB23-103.

Something to know before you go contacting a rep who actually *did* vote in favor of the bill.

Yes, you are correct here and I apologize for not being more clear or providing a better link. The vote was 3-2 to kill the bill, with the majority obviously being the ones to reach out to with questions.

[peter303]

As a side issue, landowners may not want to sell because mining claims are becoming valuable again. One is precious metals which prices have been touching new highs in recent years. As a geologist, I see a lot of mom-and-pop activity in trading mining claims and small development. Even discarded tailings from the 1800s have 15x the grade Victorville gold mine now operates profitably.

Second the conversion to renewable energy requires vast mineral resources- copper, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, uranium- for batteries, motors, solar, transmission. Colorado is a minor player in this regards, but has some potential.

[cottonmountaineering]

As a side issue, landowners may not want to sell because mining claims are becoming valuable again. One is precious metals which prices have been touching new highs in recent years. As a geologist, I see a lot of mom-and-pop activity in trading mining claims and small development. Even discarded tailings from the 1800s have 15x the grade Victorville gold mine now operates profitably.

Second the conversion to renewable energy requires vast mineral resources- copper, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, uranium- for batteries, motors, solar, transmission. Colorado is a minor player in this regards, but has some potential.

i think thats whats going on with the mine right outside fairplay, going through old tailings, i just have to think it would be near impossible to profitably mine at the top of a 14,000 peak, there is no infrastructure to process the ore anywhere close by, and making a road etc to the valley likely wouldnt happen since its on public land

[two lunches]

How do they plan to enforce this? Kite lake campground is public. A good bit of the trail is also public. The private areas are high in the alpine. Are they just planning on putting no trespassing signs or actually employing the culebra Gestapo with drones, guns, and ATVs to threaten and kidnap trespassers?

interestingly enough, Perry, not all of Kite Lake Campground is public- Earth Energy Resources owns almost all of the southern portion of the lake, as well as part of the road to access the campground (and likely some of the camping spots). i've never used the Private Lands layer in Gaia before but that whole area is a jumbled mess of private property- some mining, some US-owned, some Alma-owned, some corporations, and a few independent families. if nothing else it would be nice if JUST the trail/ridgelines were made public. we're talking about a few linear miles of public access and maybe several yards of grace on either side... seems like a small ask when you look at the area as a whole

@Fisching- thank you for posting the draft e-mail. i sent mine and very much hope others do the same. if there's anything anyone else can think of to help sort out these issues, i'm happy to contribute my time and money to sharing the outdoors with people who will respect it

[cottonmountaineering]

How do they plan to enforce this? Kite lake campground is public. A good bit of the trail is also public. The private areas are high in the alpine. Are they just planning on putting no trespassing signs or actually employing the culebra Gestapo with drones, guns, and ATVs to threaten and kidnap trespassers?

interestingly enough, Perry, not all of Kite Lake Campground is public- Earth Energy Resources owns almost all of the southern portion of the lake, as well as part of the road to access the campground (and likely some of the camping spots). i've never used the Private Lands layer in Gaia before but that whole area is a jumbled mess of private property- some mining, some US-owned, some Alma-owned, some corporations, and a few independent families. if nothing else it would be nice if JUST the trail/ridgelines were made public. we're talking about a few linear miles of public access and maybe several yards of grace on either side... seems like a small ask when you look at the area as a whole

@Fisching- thank you for posting the draft e-mail. i sent mine and very much hope others do the same. if there's anything anyone else can think of to help sort out these issues, i'm happy to contribute my time and money to sharing the outdoors with people who will respect it

theres a few things going on here, theres a bunch of unpatented mining claims around higher up in the mosquito range which are essentially abandoned, more patented ones down in the valleys, i believe having a patented claim makes you have additional liability if an accident happens on it. an unpatented claim, the fed gov technically still "owns" the land

can look around here
https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/research-map#3,3 ... 8686376355

[amderr22]

I've put together a FB Group to share info and coordinate action among 14er public access supporters - it'll be a space to share updates and information, allow supporters to network and connect, and help coordinate action to support future attempts to restore access to the peaks.

It's a good way to get more involved and stay up to date: https://www.facebook.com/groups/8831211246952449/

You can also subscribe to the CMC's conservation newsletter, which will also share updates: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1728668/1367907/

It is heartening to know so many care about this!

[Joey_parm]

Is the closure of the entire Decalibron effective immediately? Could not determine from the article exactly.

[malogos]

Would definitely recommend writing to the reps that voted it down:

• julie.gonzales.senate@coleg.gov, district 34
• dylan.roberts.senate@coleg.gov, district 8
• robert.rodriguez.senate@coleg.gov, district 32

Seems like a very clear case of politicians voting against the interests of everyone in the state -- except themselves and a narrow interest group. (And of course most lawmakers are also former lawyers.)

[justiner]

i think thats whats going on with the mine right outside fairplay, going through old tailings, i just have to think it would be near impossible to profitably mine at the top of a 14,000 peak, there is no infrastructure to process the ore anywhere close by, and making a road etc to the valley likely wouldnt happen since its on public land

A stone's throw away you do have Bartlett Mountain, which does show the scale at which a mining company would go to, to mine relatively mineral poor ore if the market makes it profitable. I think that's what the owners of say: Bross are dreaming about.

[Chicago Transplant]

As disheartening as this reclosing is, it is not unexpected as this has happened to these peaks in the past. I am more concerned about how far this is going to go before we get the changes to the CRUS resolved. There are a lot more peaks than just these and Lindsey that have private parcels as part of their access, as well as many other recreational trails, non-trailed areas or waterways. I wonder if those are now becoming at risk for closures? While this decision has so far "only" closed 5 fourteeners, the decision is 2 days old and there could be a lot more impacted. I encourage others who are writing letters to note that potentially broader impact in hopes that it helps sway the decision to help ensure access across the recreational spectrum.