Private group acquiring Mount Shavano summit

[yardman]

Breaking news about another private 14er! CFI has just learned that a private group has acquired the rights to purchase the actual summit block of Mount Shavano. Recent field work, including locating a 1902 minerals survey post, confirms that the summit of Shavano is not on Forest Service land as has long been depicted on maps. In fact, the upper slopes and summit are actually located on one of three old mining claims that this entity has acquired the rights to buy.

But don't freak out; help out! Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is the group that has signed option agreements in place with the three landowners to acquire the summit block of Shavano. Acquiring the land is part of an effort to build a new, sustainably designed summit trail on Shavano, one of the worst-rated 14ers in the state. The Forest Service would not allow route planning to proceed until private access was resolved. We figured that buying the lands and eventually transferring them to the Forest Service was the quickest and most effective way of gaining access rights and protecting this peak.

CFI has funding requests pending to raise most of the $40,500 needed for these land purchases. However, we still have a gap of $5,000 (possibly more) to close the deals. If you were looking for another reason to give to CFI, here it is! As an incentive, Brad and Melissa McQueen have generously pledged to match the first $1,000 in contributions for this effort. An even stronger reason to give today.

Click the following link to give directly to CFI. Put "Shavano land acquisition" in the notes field if you want your gift directed to this effort. https://interland3.donorperfect.net/web ... 14ers&id=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bmcqueen]

Great work Lloyd and CFI team! The ability ensure continued legal access to the summit of Shavano and to be able to construct the new sustainably designed trail are great accomplishments. Hopefully the match offer from me and 2toes helps raise the necessary funds.

[AyeYo]

one of the worst-rated 14ers in the state.

In what way? I thought that trail was great.


Why do people still purchase these old mining claims on land that'll more than likely never be mine-able?

[AlexeyD]

one of the worst-rated 14ers in the state.

In what way? I thought that trail was great.

I assume he's referring to the myriad of social trails on the summit cone.

[Jay521]

Cool! But I don't see a "notes" field on the donation page??

[yardman]

Just use the "tribute" field to list any Shavano land acquisition gifts. Sorry to not be more specific about the field.

[Doug Shaw]

Why do people still purchase these old mining claims on land that'll more than likely never be mine-able?

Because the land is in demand - it's a 14er, there's a history of people being able to go there, and if you take it away people will raise hell. The landowners can use this as leverage to try to get the FS to swap for the land they really want. This is what happened with the Rock of Ages fiasco, and I believe there have been several other incidents where landowners dangled "popular" land to get the FS to give them property that they really want or that was in actuality more valuable than what they actually had.

[Jay521]

Just use the "tribute" field to list any Shavano land acquisition gifts. Sorry to not be more specific about the field.

Thanks! Donation made.

[AyeYo]

Why do people still purchase these old mining claims on land that'll more than likely never be mine-able?

Because the land is in demand - it's a 14er, there's a history of people being able to go there, and if you take it away people will raise hell. The landowners can use this as leverage to try to get the FS to swap for the land they really want. This is what happened with the Rock of Ages fiasco, and I believe there have been several other incidents where landowners dangled "popular" land to get the FS to give them property that they really want or that was in actuality more valuable than what they actually had.

Kind of messed up, but pretty interesting.

[Dakota]

Why do people still purchase these old mining claims on land that'll more than likely never be mine-able?

Because the land is in demand - it's a 14er, there's a history of people being able to go there, and if you take it away people will raise hell. The landowners can use this as leverage to try to get the FS to swap for the land they really want. This is what happened with the Rock of Ages fiasco, and I believe there have been several other incidents where landowners dangled "popular" land to get the FS to give them property that they really want or that was in actuality more valuable than what they actually had.

Yeah, I remember this A-hole.

http://www.eenews.net/stories/90405

http://www.denverpost.com/2010/05/10/co ... ilderness/

[yardman]

one of the worst-rated 14ers in the state.

In what way? I thought that trail was great.


Why do people still purchase these old mining claims on land that'll more than likely never be mine-able?

CFI did a detailed, foot-by-foot inventory of all the work needed on the Shavano trail. The attached file provides a sense of what needs to happen to the trail. Every icon is either something new to be constructed (blue), the condition of an existing feature or an environmental problem to be remedied. The USFS has planned a full re-route on the upper slopes to provide a sustainable route that will lessen the erosion occurring on the existing social trail, which is substantial. Lots of stabilization, restoration and revegetation needed on the upper slopes of the mountain to repair all of the hiker-caused damage.

As to the second question, patented hardrock mining claims essentially become private lands that can be bought and sold like other private lands. Depending upon county building regulations people can often build remote mountain cabins in the middle of the public forest. A super high altitude claim (like those on Shavano) don't have much, if any, development potential, but claims near forest roads can be quite valuable.

[Dakota]

Yeah, I remember this A-hole.

There are worse examples.

https://www.tpl.org/magazine/back-top-landpeople" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dick

Dang, Rusty Nichols is even a cooler land tycoon super villain name.