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Old 08-03-2015, 06:58 AM
 
Location: Western Colorado
12,858 posts, read 16,868,731 times
Reputation: 33509

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Jeeping on old mining roads is very popular in my area and draws thousands of tourists every summer. One of the more notorious roads is Black Bear Pass which is an old mining road connecting Ouray to Telluride. Yet, another accident this weekend.

Black Bear Pass Facing Possible Closure - WesternSlopeNow - News, Weather, Sports for Grand Junction | Montrose | Glenwood Springs

Now the San Miguel Sheriff is calling for its closure. Seems he's tired of devoting all his limited resources to picking tourists up off the mountain.
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Old 08-03-2015, 07:44 AM
 
18,721 posts, read 33,380,506 times
Reputation: 37274
Oh, dear. That's one of those one-time-in-life things I was going to do on my next visit. Certainly not on my own, but with a tour operator. First the Ute Museum is closed and now Black Bear. I'm glad I've ridden the Horsethief Trail twice in life at least (and survived the Bridge to Heaven).
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Old 08-03-2015, 08:33 AM
 
18,213 posts, read 25,850,946 times
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I saw the story, this is from the CBS affiliate out of Grand Junction, KREX.

Sheriff Masters is serious about this and I can't blame him. They don't list names here, just identifying them as a Florida couple. Counties have only X amount of funds available to them regarding search and rescue and that's it. I was in Montrose having lunch and meeting up with my friend from Ridgway a couple months ago and we could hear conversation from a couple employees of the Division of Wildlife discussing this very thing. This has been a topic of discussion for some time unfortunately.

Brightdoglover makes a good point---tour guides! Yes, they cost money. But they know that road. And they know how to maneuver that road.
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Old 08-03-2015, 09:35 AM
 
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
1,260 posts, read 1,102,677 times
Reputation: 1943
Quote:
Originally Posted by DOUBLE H View Post
Sheriff Masters is serious about this and I can't blame him.
I do a little.

While I empathize with the Sheriff and Parks Department, closing trials feels like a cop-out.
It's not fair to all the responsible and more experienced riders who go through these trails everyday without incident.

I'm not sure of the legalities, but I wonder if the county can employ "official" contractors for some rescue services, with the costs being laid on those who use the services. The tour guide idea is another good solution.

Ultimately, you can't preach "Stay The Trail", while continually closing them.
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Old 08-03-2015, 11:39 AM
 
Location: nomad domiciled in TX
134 posts, read 192,592 times
Reputation: 237
I've been over Black Bear and many other trails in SW CO. Many are dangerous to some extent, but not if you know what you're doing and paying attention. Perhaps some additional, serious, warning signs should be put up on the road at the summit warning about the switchbacks on the way down. And at the bottom near Telluride, too, I suppose, for the occasions it's opened to run it backwards. Closing it seems like a knee-jerk reaction to me. Has anyone done a rough cost comparison of these occasional rescues to what having the trail brings in in tourist dollars? My wife and I have made all years but two since 2006 for the Full Size Jeep Invasion of Ouray. We did Black Bear once but have done Imogene (our favorite) every time. (The first year we went, 2006, was phase 2 of our honeymoon. ).
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Old 08-03-2015, 12:59 PM
 
Location: Deer Creek/Edmond, OKla
664 posts, read 2,093,865 times
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sheriffbillmasters@gmail.com

Feel free to voice your concerns.
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Old 08-03-2015, 02:40 PM
 
Location: Evergreen, Colorado
1,260 posts, read 1,102,677 times
Reputation: 1943
Quote:
Originally Posted by prerunner1982 View Post
sheriffbillmasters@gmail.com

Feel free to voice your concerns.
There is no official statement on the sheriff's web page regarding Black Bear Pass, and the trail is listed as currently open. Seems like this may only be a case of public venting. The next commissioners meeting is scheduled Wednesday for 9:30am.

SANMIGUELSHERIFF.COM
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Old 10-22-2020, 05:49 AM
Status: "Nothin' to lose" (set 9 days ago)
 
Location: Concord, CA
7,184 posts, read 9,315,042 times
Reputation: 25617
Video captures horrific moment Jeep flips down 'most dangerous road' in Colorado

https://gazette.com/news/video-captu...4c711612f.html

"A Jeep attempting Black Bear Pass near Telluride, known as one of Colorado’s most dangerous mountain passes, rolled down a cliffside, ejecting its 23-year-old passenger.

The driver stepped outside of the vehicle before it rolled off and down several steep switchbacks, eventually ejecting the woman before coming to a stop.

Youtuber “Y2K Wrangler” uploaded a video of the Jeep involved in the Oct. 10 accident violently flipping in front of their own vehicle and captured via dashboard camera. The terrifying moment occurs approximately three minutes and 15 seconds into the clip. Seconds after the Jeep that captured the footage slams on the brakes, rocks and a destroyed vehicle sail by, missing the Youtuber by what appears to be just feet.

Watch the video at https://rb.gy/jm3zvx.

According to Youtuber “Y2K Wrangler”, the passenger had already been ejected from the vehicle during the time it rolled by the switchback they were navigating.

A GoFundMe page has been setup to assist in covering medical bills of the severely injured passenger who reportedly underwent surgery on her spinal cord. She’s has a long road to recovery ahead, the page said. The GoFundMe has raised more than $20,000 of a $200,000 goal.

Two dogs were also in the vehicle at the time of the accident, one of which was temporarily lost after being ejected. It was later found several hundred feet above where the accident occurred.

Black Bear Pass is an extremely technical off-highway vehicle route that starts from U.S. 550, Red Mountain Pass, and climbs to Black Bear Pass, which reaches about 12,840 feet of elevation, into Telluride.

It descends into Ingram Basin and toward the notorious “Steps” section, which consists of steep and technical rock steps.

After the “Steps,” extremely narrow switchbacks take drivers to Bridal Veil Falls Powerplant, eventually connecting to Telluride. The road is one-way."
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Old 10-22-2020, 06:35 AM
Status: "Nothin' to lose" (set 9 days ago)
 
Location: Concord, CA
7,184 posts, read 9,315,042 times
Reputation: 25617
Bill and Elfie Tower and Friends doing Black Bear Pass

This video is a hoot!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr7N...nnel=BillTower
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Old 10-22-2020, 08:03 AM
 
Location: Colorado Springs
3,961 posts, read 4,388,318 times
Reputation: 5273
Post some signs telling travelers that if they require emergency services while using this road, they will be billed for such services. El Paso County Search and Rescue has this clause so they can bill those that disregard posted requirements or those that head off into the mountains ill-prepared or inexperienced for their level of activity that there could be financial consequences for their risk taking.
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