Developer Closes Chunk of Telluride Backcountry
By Rocky Thompson on April 5th, 2010
A developer who bought 103 acres of mining claims near Telluride has posted No Trespassing signs and let the locals know they’re not allowed. He cites liability claims as the reason for closing the area to hikers and skiers. Hopefully hanging the signs and putting the word out releases the guy from liability since people will hike and ski on the land regardless of the legality. The real crime here is that these small chunks of land in the middle of federal forests and national parks get sold to developers who close them off and build monstrous mansions in them.
Tags: Skiing
Ahhh, national forests, the lands of many uses. Among those many uses is preventing people from hiking in to enjoy what bit of unspoiled nature is left, so that it can be spoiled by the rich, the few, the people with good connections to the zoning board.
where’s george washington (hayduke) when you need him?
I think you may be confused on some facts. Land use permits inside a NF are quite specific. Yes, he may have a mining, agriculture or even a ski area (surprise!) permit. But they don’t allow for private development of monstrous mansions as you put it.
Besides, 103 acres in the nearly one million acre Uncompahgre is nothing. And yes, Telluride locals will no doubt keep on keepin’ on.