Park County Road 696

[k_fergie]

Update: Played some phone tag with Park County this week and received a voicemail indicating that it is a known and ongoing issue; truncated transcription below.

"This is an ongoing issue with the gate out there. Our upper management coincidentally met with the representatives out there yesterday. I'm not sure what was discussed but I brought up your concerns with the director today who was in that meeting. He's going to do a little bit further checking and get back to me on the status of the road and the gate. Once I get more information, I'll get back to you."

[Boggy B]

Good on you for following up.

Also, it doesn't matter which peaks can or can't be accessed legally from that road. Public land and public roads are public and serve a multitude of activities.
Every time an illegal gate blocks access to a swath of public land, 10 more people go to <your favorite spot that's getting really crowded>.

[Trotter]

I was back there years ago, and it was just a swing open gate that was wide open. I drove in, and someone (the owner?) coming the other way, pulled in front of me, demanded I get off his land, and said google maps was wrong and it was private land and road. He invited me to call the sheriff. Of course there is no cell signal there, so I just left and hiked evans B from mosquito pass.

I hope the sheriff stops this ahole if it really is still public road.

[cottonmountaineering]

Update: Played some phone tag with Park County this week and received a voicemail indicating that it is a known and ongoing issue; truncated transcription below.

"This is an ongoing issue with the gate out there. Our upper management coincidentally met with the representatives out there yesterday. I'm not sure what was discussed but I brought up your concerns with the director today who was in that meeting. He's going to do a little bit further checking and get back to me on the status of the road and the gate. Once I get more information, I'll get back to you."

much appreciated, i always thought that area was public land but the mine owner seems territorial

[RyanSchilling]

Update: Played some phone tag with Park County this week and received a voicemail indicating that it is a known and ongoing issue; truncated transcription below.

"This is an ongoing issue with the gate out there. Our upper management coincidentally met with the representatives out there yesterday. I'm not sure what was discussed but I brought up your concerns with the director today who was in that meeting. He's going to do a little bit further checking and get back to me on the status of the road and the gate. Once I get more information, I'll get back to you."

As someone who encountered this problem years ago (albeit with a much less sturdy gate in the way!) I appreciate this thread. Did you hear any further updates from the county after this?

[k_fergie]

Update: Played some phone tag with Park County this week and received a voicemail indicating that it is a known and ongoing issue; truncated transcription below.

"This is an ongoing issue with the gate out there. Our upper management coincidentally met with the representatives out there yesterday. I'm not sure what was discussed but I brought up your concerns with the director today who was in that meeting. He's going to do a little bit further checking and get back to me on the status of the road and the gate. Once I get more information, I'll get back to you."

As someone who encountered this problem years ago (albeit with a much less sturdy gate in the way!) I appreciate this thread. Did you hear any further updates from the county after this?

Unfortunately, I never got any farther with the county. I called them maybe twice after my initial phone call. I felt like I was getting stonewalled and then became extremely busy this summer and had to drop some personal projects/grievances like this. I suspect the county is in on it based on my interactions, *allegedly*, and I didn't have the resources to do anything about it or take it further.

This winter I do intend to head out there again as I would like to ski there, but I expect that nothing has changed.

[Ptglhs]

So maybe we just go there anyway? If it's public land then they can hoot and holler as much as they want. Invite them to call the sheriff when we're on public lands, or leave a couple of cars in front of the gate, since it's blocking our access to our public land.