{"id":1319364,"date":"2020-04-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=995439"},"modified":"2020-04-09T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T06:00:00","slug":"virus-threat-raises-questions-about-summer-at-maroon-bells-other-forest-facilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/virus-threat-raises-questions-about-summer-at-maroon-bells-other-forest-facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Virus threat raises questions about summer at Maroon Bells, other forest facilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-1024x684.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/forestdelay-atd-040920-1-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption><strong>Maroon Creek Road is blocked off with a sign and piles of snow outside of Aspen on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/><em>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The coronavirus crisis is creating uncertainty over if and when developed facilities in the national forest such as those at Maroon Lake will open this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service issued a temporary closure order Tuesday for developed recreation sites throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. The order is in effect until May 31 and can be rescinded earlier. However, it could also be extended depending on the status of the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cDeveloped recreation sites are temporarily closed while dispersed camping, hiking and river uses are allowed, although discouraged,\u201d said a news release from the Rocky Mountain Region. \u201cClosed developed recreation sites include campgrounds, day-use areas, picnic areas, and any other constructed facility amenities \u2014 such as potable water stations, fire rings\/grills, picnic tables, restroom facilities with flush or vaulted toilets, and trashcans and trash collection services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Trails, trailheads and parking facilities remain open.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"row gspi-donation gspi-donation-mobile p-0\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/PI-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/PI-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/03\/pi-banner-paypal.jpg)\" class=\"col-xl-8 p-3 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/donate\/?utm_source=article&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=donation&amp;utm_term=&amp;utm_content=mid-article\">Donate<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote p402_hide\" readability=\"2.5\">\n<blockquote readability=\"8\">\n<p>\u201cDeveloped recreation sites are temporarily closed while dispersed camping, hiking and river uses are allowed, although discouraged.\u201d Forest Service order<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said Wednesday his staff is running through multiple scenarios of how the coronavirus crisis could affect facilities. They are examining \u201cwhen, if and how\u201d they can open, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A lot will depend on national and statewide guidelines on social distancing and gatherings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe have to react to that,\u201d Fitzwilliams said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The \u201cmillion dollar question\u201d is when prohibitions on gatherings will be eased or lifted, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The answer could have million-dollar impacts on the Aspen-area economy. There is a little bit of leeway in the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District because many facilities don\u2019t open until late May or June anyway because of snow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The big draws in the national forest surrounding the Roaring Fork Valley are Maroon Lake southwest of Aspen and Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon. People can currently ski or hike to Maroon Lake, but in the summertime most visitors must take a bus or ride a bicycle. Visits by private vehicles are heavily restricted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Pitkin County public works officials plan to delay the opening of Maroon Creek Road to vehicles from May 15 to as late as May 30, Brian Pettet, public works director, said Wednesday. The delayed closure coincides with the Forest Service\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If Forest Service officials open the area earlier than May 30, they will alert county officials, who will maintain the road and open it when the Forest Service is ready, Pettet said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In the meantime, Maroon Creek Road will remain open to foot, bike and other non-motorized traffic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It\u2019s too soon to speculate on how guidelines will affect the Maroon Bells Scenic Area, Fitzwilliams said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Forest Service temporarily quit issuing the necessary permits to visit Hanging Lake last month due to the health crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The regional, temporary closure order will affect facilities such as the Grottos day-use area east of Aspen Most high-altitude campgrounds aren\u2019t scheduled to open until June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Currently on the reservation website used for national forest facilities, reservations are not accepted for campsites at the popular Conundrum Hot Springs or for the amphitheater at Maroon Lake, which is a popular site for weddings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis location is not accepting new permit reservations until further notice,\u201d the website says. \u201cLocal managers are committed to the health and safety of recreational visitors and our staff. We are following guidelines from our agency and the CDC regarding COVID-19, closely monitoring the situation and responding to current conditions. Please continue to monitor this page for status updates.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It is still possible to reserve campsites after June 1 at popular campgrounds in the region such as Chapman, Difficult and Bogan Flats. Refunds will be issued if camping is not allowed, according to the website. Dispersed camping in areas outside of established campgrounds are not affected by the order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Fitzwilliams said forest visitors will have to be patient and see how conditions evolve. The big challenge for the agency is determining how many seasonal workers it can hire. Social distancing isn\u2019t a problem for seasonal wilderness rangers and trails crew workers. They generally like isolation, Fitzwilliams said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The challenge is housing them when they aren\u2019t in the field. The Forest Service provides housing for many of its seasonal workers at a bunkhouse in Aspen. That housing wouldn\u2019t meet social distancing requirements, he noted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Seasonal workers typically start work at the end of May.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"> Also on Tuesday, Acting Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien signed an order to implement fire restrictions within the region. While the high country still has ample snowpack, the Forest Service wanted to act now to eliminate the risk of fires later in the season, Fitzwilliams said. Most fire on national forest are human caused. Establishing large fire camps for firefighters could be hazardous in the middle of a pandemic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cLet\u2019s eliminate fires snow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This is the second straight year that unforeseen, natural conditions hampered the opening of forest facilities at the start of summer. Last year, some roads and trails opened late because of the volume of avalanche debris from an unprecedented amount and magnitude of slides in March.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\">Aspen Times reporter Jason Auslander contributed to this report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:scondon@aspentimes.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scondon@aspentimes.com<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/virus-threat-raises-questions-about-summer-at-maroon-bells-other-forest-facilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maroon Creek Road is blocked off with a sign and piles of snow outside of Aspen on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times The coronavirus crisis is creating uncertainty over if and when developed facilities in the national forest such as those at Maroon Lake will open this summer. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1319364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-21 16:58:49","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1319364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1319364\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1319364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1319364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1319364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}