Trailhead condition requests, questions, alerts, etc.
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ballardwf04 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:58 am
Agreed. Although the Bells are gorgeous, and worthy of more protection IMO, not sure what problem is being solved by the new permit system. I've never had issues with crowds in the Bells Wilderness. There's got to be another way that better balances the needs of competing interest groups... to be figured out by someone smarter than me.
On an unrelated note, I'm looking to hike Pyramid 7/20, but don't know of a way to get to the trailhead beyond taking the shuttle (and therefore a 8am start time) or a parking permit, which are all sold out. Anyone have a permit for that day they'd be willing to sell, or carpool with my group of 3 hikers? Happy to compensate via cash and/or beers. Open to alternative methods as well (i.e. does Uber or Lyft run at that time of the morning??)
If you are talking about the backpacking permits...the 4PL was previously a disaster. Surface poops everywhere, campsites being made where they shouldn't, trash all over, yada yada. It was being over run and would only continue to get worse (google 'best backpacking in Colorado and guaranteed its in the few few hits, if not the very first). As 14er hikers, we missed out on a lot of that visibility as for the most part we were just day hiking these peaks. Now will the permits help improve that? I think only time will tell.
Commercial rideshare services are not allowed to drop off at any time. You can also bike up the road anytime for free. There are several bike racks.
ballardwf04 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:58 am
Agreed. Although the Bells are gorgeous, and worthy of more protection IMO, not sure what problem is being solved by the new permit system. I've never had issues with crowds in the Bells Wilderness. There's got to be another way that better balances the needs of competing interest groups... to be figured out by someone smarter than me.
On an unrelated note, I'm looking to hike Pyramid 7/20, but don't know of a way to get to the trailhead beyond taking the shuttle (and therefore a 8am start time) or a parking permit, which are all sold out. Anyone have a permit for that day they'd be willing to sell, or carpool with my group of 3 hikers? Happy to compensate via cash and/or beers. Open to alternative methods as well (i.e. does Uber or Lyft run at that time of the morning??)
ballardwf04 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:58 am
Agreed. Although the Bells are gorgeous, and worthy of more protection IMO, not sure what problem is being solved by the new permit system. I've never had issues with crowds in the Bells Wilderness. There's got to be another way that better balances the needs of competing interest groups... to be figured out by someone smarter than me.
On an unrelated note, I'm looking to hike Pyramid 7/20, but don't know of a way to get to the trailhead beyond taking the shuttle (and therefore a 8am start time) or a parking permit, which are all sold out. Anyone have a permit for that day they'd be willing to sell, or carpool with my group of 3 hikers? Happy to compensate via cash and/or beers. Open to alternative methods as well (i.e. does Uber or Lyft run at that time of the morning??)
If you are talking about the backpacking permits...the 4PL was previously a disaster. Surface poops everywhere, campsites being made where they shouldn't, trash all over, yada yada. It was being over run and would only continue to get worse (google 'best backpacking in Colorado and guaranteed its in the few few hits, if not the very first). As 14er hikers, we missed out on a lot of that visibility as for the most part we were just day hiking these peaks. Now will the permits help improve that? I think only time will tell.
Commercial rideshare services are not allowed to drop off at any time. You can also bike up the road anytime for free. There are several bike racks.
If anyone has parking day passes in the next week that they’re not using for any reason please let me know if I can transfer. Looking to finish 14ers with Pyramid/Bells in the near future
Adding this post to this thread as a followup to a conversation on page 1 regarding permits being checked. A friend and I spent this past Saturday night (July 8 ) at Snowmass Lake for a summit attempt Sunday morning. There was a tent set up at the trailhead (did not appear to be USFS for what it's worth), and I heard the people there ask to see the permit of the couple starting behind us - we were never asked. A ranger was at Snowmass Lake roaming around and checking permits of anyone camping. I was not ID'd, but he did ask to see our permit, he did appear to check it for party count, and he was making sure everyone had approved bear-proof storage (we had a canister so the Ursack discussion did not come up, but the USFS claims to use the IGBC list which does include certain Ursack models). I doubt they're up there checking every day, but it does appear they patrol from time to time so ymmv if your permit isn't fully accurate (and I would guess weekends are more likely to be patrolled than weekdays).
Also note that the permit zone for Snowmass Lake starts at the logjam, not a mile or so further up as the online zone map suggests - there was a brand-new sign stating as much a few yards below the logjam crossing.
My suggestion is to just park just before the entrance station, across the street from the ranch and ride you bike up the 6 miles. I have done this multiple times with no issues.
