S. Colony 2WD TH - overnight no more?

[MaryinColorado]

I just spoke to an officer. He had the same opinion as me saying he believes the signs are saying not to sleep in your cars there. He said “don’t worry about parking there overnight” assuming you are in the lot and backpacking in the area.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the sheriff is the right authority to ask? If this is a private landowner, and if they do literally mean "No Overnight Parking", they still have the right to have you towed or to have authorities come enforce.

And if it's an arrangement between landowner and USFS, then USFS would be the actual authority, I think.

[Istoodupthere]

I just spoke to an officer. He had the same opinion as me saying he believes the signs are saying not to sleep in your cars there. He said “don’t worry about parking there overnight” assuming you are in the lot and backpacking in the area.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the sheriff is the right authority to ask? If this is a private landowner, and if they do literally mean "No Overnight Parking", they still have the right to have you towed or to have authorities come enforce.

And if it's an arrangement between landowner and USFS, then USFS would be the actual authority, I think.

It isn’t on usfs land. The officer also said that if they were having any problems the police would hear about it and they haven’t heard anything. Feel free to knock on the landowners door and ask them.

[MaryinColorado]

I just spoke to an officer. He had the same opinion as me saying he believes the signs are saying not to sleep in your cars there. He said “don’t worry about parking there overnight” assuming you are in the lot and backpacking in the area.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the sheriff is the right authority to ask? If this is a private landowner, and if they do literally mean "No Overnight Parking", they still have the right to have you towed or to have authorities come enforce.

And if it's an arrangement between landowner and USFS, then USFS would be the actual authority, I think.

It isn’t on usfs land. The officer also said that if they were having any problems the police would hear about it and they haven’t heard anything. Feel free to knock on the landowners door and ask them.

I know it's not on USFS land, I just don't know if the USFS ever has arrangements or anything. I thought it was suggested they might, but maybe I have misread or misheard.

All I'm getting at is "official" is important. "Opinion" is how we lose things - even if we're well-intentioned. That's all. These new signs will undoubtedly create a lot of questions and confusion for folks this summer.

[slawrence2011]

Totally agree with needing to confirm landowner intent, it is horrifying how much access we have been loosing, especially through preventable things like trash at trailheads and loud camping/fires. I am not sure how to resolve this, other than if someone knows the landowner, but this would be a huge loss to the community. Let us know if anyone has a connection to the landowner and if there is anything any of us can do to try to build a bridge.

[Ryan987]

Well, Blanca+ellingwood via Zapata and little bear peak via SW ridge it is

Edit: reading is hard

[nickj3188]

I had posted the original photo on the Facebook page asking if they were new signs. There is another sign on the north end of the lot stating “vehicles towed at owners expense” which made me reconsider parking and backpacking in.

[MaryinColorado]

Well, Blanca+ellingwood via Zapata and little bear peak via SW ridge it is

This thread is about South Colony, not Lake Como. Unrelated to the peaks you mention.

[MaryinColorado]

I had posted the original photo on the Facebook page asking if they were new signs. There is another sign on the north end of the lot stating “vehicles towed at owners expense” which made me reconsider parking and backpacking in.

Oh wow. Yeah, this definitely feels like a true overnight restriction, then. Really makes me wonder what happened.

[Istoodupthere]

Totally agree with needing to confirm landowner intent, it is horrifying how much access we have been loosing, especially through preventable things like trash at trailheads and loud camping/fires. I am not sure how to resolve this, other than if someone knows the landowner, but this would be a huge loss to the community. Let us know if anyone has a connection to the landowner and if there is anything any of us can do to try to build a bridge.

Horrifying? I’d go with sad but that’s just me. The only thing horrifying is the length of this thread.

[michael m]

I had posted the original photo on the Facebook page asking if they were new signs. There is another sign on the north end of the lot stating “vehicles towed at owners expense” which made me reconsider parking and backpacking in.

That pretty much seals the deal for me. Sadly.

[Bale]

So where do y’all suggest I park my 2wd van to backpack into S. Colony Lakes?

[hillcody975]

So where do y’all suggest I park my 2wd van to backpack into S. Colony Lakes?

This sucks, but it seems like the best option would be:
1. Park at Horn Creek TH and backpack in, it's about 9 miles to the upper S Colony TH via the Rainbow trail or
2. Make a big trip out of it from the other side of the range via Cottonwood Creek trail. I really enjoyed this approach to climb the Peak and the Needle but it's a hassle if you're specifically trying to get to the lakes or climb Humboldt
3. It's actually only 6.5 miles on the rainbow trail if you hop on it where the rainbow trail meets Music Pass road but I'm not sure if you'd have to park lower than that junction, can't remember how far up the road gets bad or how much parking is at that lot. There's a bathroom symbol there on Gaia so...maybe a good option.

I wish we knew specifically what counted as overnight parking. I don't need to backpack but I'm certainly going to be leaving now later than 3 am if I want to climb the peaks as a day hike. Not worth the stress of leaving my vehicle without certainty that it'll be there when I get back unfortunately.