Hyalite Canyon Update

[Chad_A]

I received an email that drew my attention to this. Spread the word to anyone you think would be interested. The main information below is on the www.hyalite.org page.

 

 

THE LATEST NEWS!

 

updated September 26, 2007 : SCROLL DOWN FOR CURRENT ACTION STEPS

 

The Gallatin National Forest remains committed to the agreement reached with ice climbers on March 15, 2007 (see below for more information). This is a great situation and the Forest Service's continued dedication and efforts to acknowledge and encourage the incredible skiing and climbing assets of Hyalite has been phenomenal.

 

However, the unfortunate issue of the landslide on the road near Practice Rock has complicated some of the plans we hoped to impliment this season. As many of you know, there was a mudslide across the road in the spring of 2007. Check back to this site soon as I'll be posting images of the mudslide.

 

There remain additional fractures in the hillside (that could go in the next deep rain) and can not get fixed until next summer (2008). Thus, throughout the winter the road will remain narrowed to a single lane with jersey barriers blocking the debris and hopefully protecting the road from futher damage.

 

In light of these safety concerns, and compounded with the City's baffling and last minute arguments over road use threatening the watershed and the entire water supply to Bozeman, the acting Forest Supervisor Tom Puchlerz has unilaterally decided to more or less maintain the status quo for the Hyalite Road for the 2007-08 winter season.

 

This gives the Forest Service, among other things, time to fix the slumping hillside, develop plans for other road improvements (see below for longer term plans), source funds for plowing, and generally buy more time to re-educate the public about the recent changes and future plans for Hyalite.

 

Please keep in mind, the status quo refers to the road only. All other aspects of the travel plan will be implemented. That is, no snowmobiles off the road, across the reservoir or beyond the Grotto Falls or Emerald Lake Trailheads.

 

For the 2007-2008 season, Hyalite Access looks like this:

 

1/ The Hyalite Road will not be plowed. The County will continue to plow to the Fishing Access at the bottom of the canyon just as they always have.

 

2/ The Main Road will remain open to motor vehicle traffic to the Emerald Lake Trailhead (East Fork and Flanders) and Grotto Falls Parking Lot as long as conditions allow. This is exactly what we've traditionally had.

 

3/ If and when a "season-ending" event happens or the road is otherwise too tricky to drive, it will be gated at the bottom. At this time the Bridger Ski Foundaton may or may not groom the main road.

 

4/ Snowmobiles will be allowed on the main roads ONLY (not on the Reservoir or elsewhere) to Emerald Lake Trailhead and Grotto Falls parking lot until March 31. If you are an ice climber with a snowmobile it is critical you do NOT drive it past the Trailheads.

 

5/ The Forest Service will install a series of signs regarding the hazards of the road as well as recommended times of travel, among other things. This is part of a larger educational push we will be making in order to help reduce the amount of bone-head behavior we are so familiar with.

 

6/ The entire canyon will be gated at the bottom between April 1 and May 15.

 

The Medium term plan (1 to 3 years) includes:

 

1/ The Forest Service is currently putting together a plan to install guard rails at various points along the Hyalite Road. This is the first step to bring it up to "Winter Use Standards" to ease City watershed concerns.

 

2/ Create a separate XC ski trail that is preferably away from the road on the east side of the Reservoir. This is a key element to link up many of the desired trails farther up the valley and for loops around the Reservoir, etc. It also leaves the road free for vehicle access for hikers and climbers.

 

3/ Create an independent snowmobile route on the west side of the Reservoir that allows access to the Window Rock Cabin and to the Grotto Falls trailhead.

 

4/ Form a non-profit organization to run point on the education aspects of getting the word out about Hyalite and to help manage the plowing funds (since they will be coming from several sources) and perhaps some day even a permit system, if it gets to that.

 

5/ Start lobbying (see long term plan below) for Highway Trust Fund money to improve and pave the road at least to Chisolm Campground if not all the way to Grotto Falls Trailhead.

CRITICAL ACTION STEPS

 

1/ Go ice climbing this season in Hyalite Canyon!

 

For once in our political lifes we are asked to do something we want to and is fun!

 

The more climbers go up Hyalite and keep the road passable, the longer we'll maintain vehicle access.

 

2/ While in Hyalite, do the right thing.

 

Do NOT drive your snowmobile past the trailheads. EVER. As long as everyone follows action step number one, there should be good trails from the parking lots leading to all the climbs. The same thing goes for the Reservoir itself. Stay on the main road around the east side. Do not cross the reservoir itself. This is very important.

 

We are working closely with the Forest Service to develop signs and educational programs about how we can all get along and make Hyalite a better place for everyone.

 

In otherwords, do everything you can to AVOID conflict and accidents with other users as this will be the quickest way possible to get the entire canyon closed to vehicles.

 

Make no mistake, road safety is THE number one priority for the Forest Supervisor and the District Managers. It is up to climbers to help keep them from loosing sleep.

 

3/ Write the incoming Gallatin Forest Supervisor a short letter and send it to:

 

Gallatin National Forest Supervisor

PO Box 130

Bozeman, MT 59771-0130

 

State that having vehicle access to Hyalite Canyon ice climbing is important to you (use your own language here) and that you applaud the Forest's efforts to work with ice climbers in managing the road, that you support the local climbing coalition and that you look forward to seeing long term solutions to keeping the Hyalite road open to vehicles for a majority of the winter.

 

4/ Join the Southwest Montana Climber's Coalition (SMCC).

 

We need your help!

 

If you are interested in getting involved in the Hyalite Road issue please contact Joe Josephson at (406) 581-1716 or joe at firstascentpress dot com.

 

Long Term Plan

 

Between the next election cycle and that incredible waste of treasury known as the Iraq War, it is going to be a challenge to find any federal money to plow the road up Hyalite. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however.

 

Provided he gets reelected in 2008, Montana's senior Senator, Max Baucus (D), will be the lead writer of the next Highway Trust Fund Bill (2009). This is the mulit-billion dollar appropriation to fund America's highways, roads and other infrastructure. The SMCC and the Access Fund will be lobbying Max and the rest of the MT delegation to appropriate funds to not only improve the Hyalite road from the Reservoir to the parking lot (one of the Forest Service's stated goals as well), but also to secure long term funds for plowing for the entire season (until April 1).

 

This will benefit not only ice climbers and xc skiers, but the entire outdoor community (both the extreme and the casual) of Bozeman. However, it is a bit too early in the process to start our Congressional letter writing campaign. But rest assured we will need your help. So please, join the SMCC or the Access Fund so you'll get the email alerts. Otherwise bookmark this page and stay posted for future action steps (encouraging your state delegation to support the MT efforts at appropriations) that will be critical in securing season long access to the world-class ice of Hyalite.

 

 

[DanielHarro]

why are snow machines not allowed past trail heads??

[JoJo]

NO snowmobiles are not allowed anywhere in the canyon except on the Main Fork Road to Window Rock Cabin and the Grotto Falls Parking Lot and also the East Fork Road to the Emerald Lake Trailhead. That's it.

 

It will be VERY tempting for climbers wanting to go to "Dribbles" to ignore this (especially when other non-climbing motorheads do) but it is imperative that when in Hyalite we do the right thing. The Forest Service hopes to crack down pretty hard on enforcement this season as a few big tickets ($250) are one of the quickest ways to "educate" the public about the new regulations.

 

We have worked extremely hard and put WAY too much into this. That is, we wouldn't even be in the position to have to road open at all if climbers weren't perceived by the USFS as responsible stewards. I'm serious here. With the golden fleece in sight, it's important we don't blow it now.

 

Our goal this season is to pound that road into submission and get climbers and their vehicles to the trailhead as long as possible. Come one, come all. As you know, if climber traffic stays consistent there will be good climber trails going wherever you want to go.

 

Go to www.hyalite.org for the latest updates.

[JoJo]

The reason they are not allowed past the Trailheads is because the larger Travel Management Plan that is now in effect is designed, among other things, to limit snowmobiles throughout Hyalite Canyon.

 

In fact, the only reason we are able to use the road with snowmobiles or even cars at all is a direct result of the negotiatons last winter and spring between ice climbers, the Southwest Montana Climbers Coalition and the Forest Service.

 

[DanielHarro]

JOJO-

 

thanks for the update, it seems like everytime I am in the canyon their are over 20 plus machines up the canyon twards twin falls, mostly people just our ridding and other getting some BC skiing in. Are these people not going to be allowed as well?? is this a new rule or is this the first year that it will be enforced.

[JoJo]

ALL snow machines are restricted to the Main Road ending at the Grotto Falls Parking Lot and to the East Fork Road no further than the Emerald Lake Parking Lot.

 

This is part of the adopted travel management plan where snowmobiles are cut out of Hyalite all together except for the above mentioned roads. In the past, snowmobiles have been allowed anywhere and everywhere in Hyalite.

 

It is important to note that in our negotiations with the FS last winter, we as ice climbers had to condone the plan of no snowmobiles past any of the trailheads in order to, in part, help gain consessions on the closed gate on January 1, which was the original adopted plan. I can not under-emphasis the process we went through to get them to change the gate plan and arrive at the positive place we are today.

 

The Forest Service claims they will be enforcing these new rules rather strictly this first season. So in order for climbers to maintain our hard-won positive relationship (and out of respect for the hundreds of hours myself and others have personally put into this), it is imperative we are not among those that will be breaking the law (we all know the motor-heads are going to push the boundaries big time).

 

Snowmachines on the road is a temporary situation until we sort out the plowing of the road and location of future XC Ski Trails. Eventually, snowmobiles will be banned from the road as well. The USFS is, however, committed to maintaining vehicle access to the Window Rock Cabin and Grotto Falls Parking Lot. This year it is snowmobiles on the road. Next year (08-09) this will be via a new snowmobile dedicated route on the west side of the reservoir starting at Blackmore.

 

Long term, we hope and pray it will be via motor-vehicles on the main road once we get it paved and plowed to the bitter end. At this point snowmobile access will be irrelevant.

 

So please for the sake of Christ, Allah, Yaweh, my own Buddha belly, or whatever floats your boat; help everyone out and do the right thing. The payoff down the road could be way better than any of us ever hoped for. And make no mistake, this new era in Hyalite and the potential we have for radically improved ice climbing access will be quashed faster than you ever thought possible if we don't show the Forest Service that ice climbers can be proper stewards of Hyalite and the current regulations, whether you like them or not.

 

Comprende?

Edited October 5, 2007 by JoJo

[DanielHarro]

JoJo-

 

Thanks for all of your hard work and all the time you have put into keeping Hyalite (local ice crag for us PNW kids) open!!

[Chad_A]

ALL snow machines are restricted to the Main Road ending at the Grotto Falls Parking Lot and to the East Fork Road no further than the Emerald Lake Parking Lot.

 

This is part of the adopted travel management plan where snowmobiles are cut out of Hyalite all together except for the above mentioned roads. In the past, snowmobiles have been allowed anywhere and everywhere in Hyalite.

 

It is important to note that in our negotiations with the FS last winter, we as ice climbers had to condone the plan of no snowmobiles past any of the trailheads in order to, in part, help gain consessions on the closed gate on January 1, which was the original adopted plan. I can not under-emphasis the process we went through to get them to change the gate plan and arrive at the positive place we are today.

 

The Forest Service claims they will be enforcing these new rules rather strictly this first season. So in order for climbers to maintain our hard-won positive relationship (and out of respect for the hundreds of hours myself and others have personally put into this), it is imperative we are not among those that will be breaking the law (we all know the motor-heads are going to push the boundaries big time).

 

Snowmachines on the road is a temporary situation until we sort out the plowing of the road and location of future XC Ski Trails. Eventually, snowmobiles will be banned from the road as well. The USFS is, however, committed to maintaining vehicle access to the Window Rock Cabin and Grotto Falls Parking Lot. This year it is snowmobiles on the road. Next year (08-09) this will be via a new snowmobile dedicated route on the west side of the reservoir starting at Blackmore.

 

Long term, we hope and pray it will be via motor-vehicles on the main road once we get it paved and plowed to the bitter end. At this point snowmobile access will be irrelevant.

 

So please for the sake of Christ, Allah, Yaweh, my own Buddha belly, or whatever floats your boat; help everyone out and do the right thing. The payoff down the road could be way better than any of us ever hoped for. And make no mistake, this new era in Hyalite and the potential we have for radically improved ice climbing access will be quashed faster than you ever thought possible if we don't show the Forest Service that ice climbers can be proper stewards of Hyalite and the current regulations, whether you like them or not.

 

Comprende?

 

Great information, Joe- this should be shared as much as possible. Thanks for your hard work; I certainly appreciate it as many others on this board surely do.

[John Frieh]

Alpinist Article

 

I hope everyone makes a point to make at least one trip to the canyon this year.

[Chad_A]

Rock on Can't wait for December!

 

[John Frieh]

Latest update on Access: www.hyalite.org

[Hendershot]

I guess some areas like Flanders will be open which is better than nothing.

[JoJo]

I guess some areas like Flanders will be open which is better than nothing.

 

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this. When the road closes it will be gated at the very bottom. This is 13.5 miles from Genesis I in the Main Fork, 11.5 miles from Palisade Falls in the East Fork, 12 miles from the Flanders drainage.

[Hendershot]

Looks like I misunderstood.

[Lambone]

HYALITE IS CLOSED

[Chad_A]

ACTION STEPS

 

The below steps might seem like a lot of effort but make no mistake, now is the time when your effort will go a long way and is very much needed. Thank you in advance for your time and continued dedication and love of Hyalite winter recreation.

 

First, immediately write and email a letter to the new Gallatin National Forest Supervisor and the Bozeman District Ranger with a CC to everyone on the below list. These are the decision makers in the Gallatin Forest and they ALL need to hear about this.

 

Call, email and ask every concerned person you know to do this.

 

Please write on two or three of the below points or whatever resonates the most to you or something you may have personally experienced. Do not cut and paste, PLEASE spend a few moments to craft an individual letter. This is the single most important thing you may ever do to protect Hyalite Winter Access.

 

Talking Points:

 

* Express to them your frustration with the Bozeman Districts response to the road being plowed to Grotto Falls and the unilateral decision to close the road during a Holiday with no warning or discussion of alternative solutions to safety concerns.

 

* Challenge the Forest Service to answer and produce evidence if in fact over the last few days there were so many additional complaints or problems with stuck vehicles and other vehicle/user conflicts beyond the Reservoir that it warranted closing the road.

 

* Remind the Forest Service that this decision is contrary to the months of hard work, negotiations, coalition building and common ground established with Supervisor Heath last winter. See www.hyalite.org for more background.

 

* If you were in Hyalite this past weekend, express your experience in terms of driving the road and safety. Many of us long-time Hyalite junkies found it to be the safest it has been in years, if not ever.

 

* Describe what having the road open and winter recreation beyond the Reservoir means to you.

 

* This past weekend proved beyond doubt that skiing and climbing (and other non-motorized uses) can easily coexist in Hyalite, and one activity does not be compromised to achieve full enjoyment of the other. Also, the County clearly showed that the road can be plowed all the way to Grotto Falls, obliterating the Forest Services long-held contentions to the contrary.

 

* Explain your willingness to work with the SMCC, BSF, BWAG or whatever other groups you are affiliated with to contribute signs and otherwise educate others and be responsible stewards as we endeavor to change what we call the "Hyalite Rodeo" culture, follow the new Travel Plan changes and eventually achieve the Forest Service's previously stated goal of plowing the road beyond the Reservoir.

 

* Closing the road doesn't allow for attitudes to change. Only by experimenting and finding out truly what it means to the entire community can we evaluate the situation.

 

* If you have seen or experienced illegal snowmobiling or any other questionable activity in Hyalite, mention it, condemn it, and ask what the USFS intend to do for enforcement and education.

 

GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT

 

Mary Erickson

Forest Supervisor

10 East Babcock Ave.

PO Box 130

Bozeman, MT 59771

mcerickson@fs.fed.us

 

Jose Castro

District Ranger

3710 Fallon Street

Bozeman, MT 59718

jcastro@fs.fed.us

(406) 522-2520

 

Jonathan Kempff

jckempff@fs.fed.us

 

Marna Daley

mdaley@fs.fed.us

 

Steve Christensen

schristiansen@fs.fed.us

 

Kimberly Schlenker

kschlenker@fs.fed.us

 

Here is the list in one line:

mcerickson@fs.fed.us, jcastro@fs.fed.us, jckempff@fs.fed.us, mdaley@fs.fed.us, schristiansen@fs.fed.us, kschlenker@fs.fed.us

 

SECONDLY, if you were lucky enough to recreate past the Reservoir after the road was plowed and before it was closed, we need you to write a letter to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (300 words max, you can do it online). http://bozemandailychronicle.com/

 

Explain in your letter where you parked, what you did, how much you appreciated that the road was open and a little about the quality of your experience and any other users you might have encountered.

 

NEXT, we need EVERYONE to write in your own words a similar email immediately to Senators Max Baucus and John Tester. Or preferably call the Bozeman offices the week of January 2nd to the 4th. Snail Mail letters take far too long to work their way through the channels.

 

Max Baucus

max@baucus.senate.gov

 

Bozeman Field Office - David Cobb

Federal Building - the Downtown Post Office

32 East Babcock, Suite 114

Bozeman, MT 59715

(406) 586-6104

 

Jon Tester

http://tester.senate.gov/Contact/

 

Bozeman Field Office - Jennifer Madgic

211 Haggerty Lane

Bozeman, MT 59715

Phone: (406) 586-4450

 

AND FINALLY, write the Gallatin County Commission applauding their proactive and positive approach to Hyalite Canyon Winter Recreation and their efforts to explore the true value of this asset to the citizens and visitors to Gallatin County.

 

Gallatin County Commission

311 West Main Street

Bozeman, MT 59715

(406) 582-3000

 

Bill Murdock

bill.murdock@gallatin.mt.gov

 

Joe Skinner

joe.skinner@gallatin.mt.gov

 

Steve White

steve.white@gallatin.mt.gov

 

----

 

 

Respectfully,

_________________

Joe Josephson

 

[Chad_A]

per JoJo's email that was sent out:

 

Hello Climbers,

 

 

After a busy few days the good news is that Hyalite is now open and the road conditions are great all the way to the Grotto Falls Parking Lot. Have fun and be safe.

 

 

PLEASE go to www.hyalite.org and educate yourself on the current situation and follow the action steps there.

Also, www.montanaice.com has information including a specific road condition forum.

 

 

It is imperative you do everything you can to be safe and courteous to other users and vehicles on the Hyalite Road.

 

 

Having the road plowed is an incredible gift and make no mistake, if you want this to continue to happen this year or in future years the responsibility is 100% on our shoulders to keep Hyalite a safe and enjoyable place for all. I can not stress this enough.

 

 

Happy New Year and hope to see you in Hyalite soon.

Joe Josephson

 

 

PS. If you like to XC ski you should check out it out. Hyalite has some great trails!

 

[John Frieh]

Posting for JoJo:

 

As I type this, the Hyalite Road is getting plowed again. The County also has permission to do it one more time before April 1st, if it needs it. The road will be gated at the very bottom on April 1st so we all have one month to get after it in Hyalite. I'm sure it is going off. Who needs a Spring Break in the desert or a bikini-clad beach when you got the Hyalite Road plowed? Thank goodness it is a Leap Year. A free day for Hyalite Ice!

 

Big THANKS to everyone who:

 

- donated $$$ to the SMCC

- is a member of the SMCC

- attended either the Hyalite and/or PDX ice festival

 

This is your $$$ at work!

 

For those of you still unwilling to give up on ice season chances are a lot of big rigs will be in...

[Chad_A]

This probably wouldn't be an issue, if it weren't an unseasonably cold/snowy winter, but here it is, per Tom Kalakay email:

 

"You'd best get your last skiing or ice climbing licks in before the

annual closure of the Hyalite road on April 1. No, this

is not a preemptive April Fools joke. This is a mandatory closure, from April 1 to May 15, that will occur each year during Spring break-up. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

 

Please pass the word.

 

Thank you,

 

-Tom Kalakay"

 

I imagine that most of us PNWers are done with ice for the season (except for me...I could climb ice in July) but it might be valid for the odd person who might read this.

 

Cheers,

Chad