A couple months ago I received an inquiry from one of the runners in the

San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run for Lake City EMTs.  He was interested in

renting the Colorado Trail Yurt in early June for some altitude training.  We

had been talking about the possibility of summer use for some time now

and so I called Steve Brigham, our Forest Service Ranger.  I pitched it as a

high altitude training camp for ultra runners; they could sleep at 11,800'

and train all day long above timberline!  Steve told me the FS was already

considering summer use for all the yurts on the Rio Grande National Forest.

Below is the legal notice announcing plans for summer use at the Colorado

Trail Yurt.  This is an excellent opportunity for Hinsdale Haute Route.

When we are no longer required to take the yurt and all it's furnishings

back and forth to town each year improvements to the yurt and it's

furnishings will follow.  We have already installed a nice large 4 burner

propane stove with oven and storage space.  Last weekend Josh and I

removed the flimsy window plastic and replaced it with 4 foot square

thermopane operating windows.  

If you have time and feel inclined, a letter of support would be great.

Thanks,

Jerry

LEGAL NOTICE

Divide Ranger District    Rio Grande National Forest

Proposed Summer Use of the District Yurt System

The Rio Grande National Forest, Divide Ranger District is inviting public

comment on summer use of the district yurt system.  Historically, the yurt

operators provided use of the yurts during the winter months.  This

proposal would allow yurt permit holders to rent the yurts from June

through September, depending on road and weather conditions.

The yurts are located in the following areas:  Pass Creek/Silver Pass, Lime

Creek/Fisher Mountain, Rio Grande Reservoir, Spring Creek Pass.

Current travel restrictions would be enforced.  Access to yurts located

behind locked gates would be restricted to non-motorized methods (except

for administrative use).     

Summer use of the yurts is proposed to begin in June, 2007.    

For further information related to these proposals, please contact Steve

Brigham at (719) 657-3321 or e-mail: sbrigham@fs.fed.us  

Send comments to:  Attn: Steve Brigham, Divide Ranger District, Rio

Grande National Forest, 13308 W. Hwy 160, Del Norte, CO  81132,

within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the newspaper of

record (Valley Courier).

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and

addresses of those who comment will be considered a part of the public

record and will be available for public inspection.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal

employment opportunity provider.

Billing: Rio Grande National Forest

Attn:  Steve Brigham or Ronnie Day

Divide Ranger Station

13308 W. Hwy 160

Del Norte, CO  81132