Telluride has new back country access

USFS adds three new backcountry gates off
ski area

Lower Bear Creek and the backside of Palmyra Peak, now open for business
By Matthew Beaudin
Editor


Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009 8:49 PM CDT

The United States Forest Service removed Lower Bear Creek’s veil on Wednesday, making the tempting terrain legal to ski this winter by adding two backcountry gates — into Reggae and Contention — just off the top of Lift 9.

In the same decision, the USFS also added an access gate off the backside of Palmyra Peak, the newly opened 13,320 matriarch of the ski area. That gate will allow backcountry travel into Lena and Alta Lakes basins.

The Lower Bear Creek area is frequently skied by Telluride’s locals, legal or not. Those who have been caught and had their passes removed are, by any measurement, a fraction of those skiing the terrain.

“There’s been probably 20 years worth of violations into the closure area,” said Scott Spielman, the recreation manager and snow ranger for the USFS’s Norwood Ranger District. “With access points, it allows users to make an informed decision.”

For the rest of the article from the Telluride Daily Planet, click HERE.