Category Archives: USFS

Hunting In The Monument Preserve

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As the area around the Preserve has grown over the last 20 years we have seen increased reports of hunters on the Preserve every fall hunting season. This season is no different although we are hearing about this more frequently.

Recently we have had reports of both bow & arrow as well as rifle hunters in full camouflage near the main parking lots.

According to the Division of Wildlife and the USFS hunting is allowed all throughout the Preserve except for the 35 acre administrative Hot Shot area.  Target shooting is not allowed.

Many member of the Friends of Monument Preserve are pro-hunting and hunters themselves; however, we are all in agreement that the Preserve is an inappropriate place to hunt – much of the “Urban Interface” has too much human traffic and really should not be hunted for safety reasons, yet some hunters do not feel the same as we do (at least 1 BOD member pulls licenses for Elk and Deer every year themselves).

We have also received the following report this week:

“Yesterday morning, I found a cleaned doe dumped in the scrub oak at the main trail head (in the scrub oak right where the two parking lots join).  Full neck and head, cleaned rib cage, legs with flesh on them, and cleaned skin.  A mountain biker who is a veterinarian confirmed that the animal had been recently killed because the tissue was still fresh.  There were no entrails.”

The BOD finds this unacceptable from any hunter or any other Preserve user. Dumping trash of any kind (including shoveling horse manure from trailers) is illegal. Take your trash with you, clean your horse trailers at home, and pick up after yourself if you hunt.

The FOMP BOD has repeatedly brought the issue of hunting in the Preserve up with USFS management and we will again at our next opportunity.

Any unsafe, or potentially illegal issues: such as shots towards houses, over roads, over occupied trails, poaching, etc.  needs to be reported to the DOW (DOW Website Contact page) , local law enforcement (El Paso County Sheriff — 719.520.7333), and Tom Healy (USFS’ sole law enforcement office for the district — 719.477.4204) ASAP.  This includes the Preserve itself and any surrounding areas such as Mt. Herman Road.

Thanks and please be careful out there!

 

Last Chance for 2012 – FOMP needs you!

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Tuesday September 11 at 6:00 PM – Trail work.

FOMP is pleased to be holding a our final volunteer trail work and tree trimming work session of the 2012 season!

 

FOMP and USFS provide all necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping type of work. Volunteers should bring leather gloves, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area. In the event that you are joining us late we always leave a note at the trail head parking lot or you can call Jon Nordby (719.640.1347) or Chris Tirpak (719.439.8865) to find out where in the Preserve we are working that evening.

 

We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally we perform activities such as water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, and trimming, etc. So, pretty much everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interest and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we do ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child or not.

 

Meet at the main trailhead parking lot at 6:00PM! (map: http://bit.ly/FOMPMeetingSpot)

Thanks and we hope to see you out there soon!

FOMP

Mt. Herman Rd is Now Open!

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Good news! Mt. Herman Rd is Now Open!

Mt. Herman Road and some of the surrounding areas are now re-opened! Please see the zoomed in map below fo rthe Northern area of the closure and then visit www.fomp.org for the full map. We will also post an updated list of know open/closed as soon as we have a chance.Please note that fines for crossing into the closed area begin at $125 and go up from there.Enjoy!
full map – waldo canyon fire order 12-15 (full size requires Adobe PDF reader)
Mt Herman Rd Re-open Map Click to Zoom

Mt Herman Rd Re-open Map Click to Zoom

 

Monthly Trail Work, Fires, Openings, Closings

Monthly Trail Work, Fires, Openings, Closings

It has been a chaotic couple of weeks in the area and we have up to date information on what is open, what is closed, maps, orders, and volunteer opportunities!1. Open or Closed?

At the top of everyone’s mind … what is open and what is closed?

The good news, the Preserve is OPEN! Despite some signage to the contrary it is open. We’ve worked witht the USFS to correct the signage and post maps. You do need to steer clear of Mt. Herman Rd – the machinery working on the road can throw rocks and debris 200+ feet – so stay away from the road. USFS 715 “Stoopid Trail” is closed where it turns SW in the SQ corner of the preserve. We have placed a sign there – that leads you into the closure – stay out or risk a ticket.

The bad news, Mt. Herman Rd and everthing West of Red Rocks Rd to Palmer Lake and then West on 322 to Rampart Range Rd is CLOSED. There was a new order in place as of Friday closing this section.

Why: So that the Forest Service can finish cleaning up the fire line on Mt. Herman Road – they are using masticulating machines and feller bunchers and they are also removing all the logs from the Mt. Herman Rd fire line. This will continue for several more days at the very least, maybe a couple of weeks. We hope that it will re-open after that but we have no firm date or commitment from the USFS yet. If we get one we will let you know.

Please have a look at this zoomed in map of our area from the latest USFS closure order.

 

Full map and closure order (Adobe PDF Reder required), these are somewhat large, be patient:

Waldo Canyon Fire Area Closure Order 12-08

Waldo North Closure REVISED map

A list of other regional openings and closings is at the end of this email/post.

2. Fire

We still have high fire danger so be aware. The recent rains have not changed the fire danger.

3. Shooting Range Update

After FOMP volunteers cleaned up over 60 (yes 60!) bags of trash and debris from illegal shooting on Mt. Herman Rd the FS then cleaned up just as much 2 days later and closed parking and roped off these areas. There was approximately 2 acres total sutdown to shooting in areas that are not safe to shoot in the first place. Social ranges that were on the top of ridgelines with not backstop were closed down. Much, muc more remains to be done to make Mt. Herman Rd a safe place for other recreational users as some of the remaining social ranges have been utterly destroyed and shooters are shooting uphill with stray and ricochet bullets landing in Limbaugh Canyon still as well as on the Mt. Herman hiking trail. We continue to work with the USFS to try and make the Mt. Herman corrider a safe place again. The illegal shooting is just that – illegal and unsafe. It is in areas where shooting is allowed unfortunately many (and it appears a majority) of the recreational shooters on Mt. Herman Rd choose not to follow the rules of the USFS and are destroying trees and other resources as well as creating very dangerous situations for themselves and others. FOMP’s BOD continues to work with the USFS for good solutions for all parties including recreational shooters.

4. Monthly Trail Work Session Information

Tuesday July 10 at 6:00 PM

FOMP is pleased to be holding a volunteer trail work and tree trimming work session!

FOMP and USFS provide all necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping type of work. Volunteers should bring leather gloves, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area. In the event that you are joining us late we try to leave a note at the trail head parking lot or you can call Jon Nordby (719.640.1347) or Chris Tirpak (719.439.8865) to find out where in the Preserve we are working that evening.
We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally we perform activities such as water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, and trimming, etc. So, pretty much everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interest and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we do ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child or not.
Meet at the main trailhead parking lot at 6:00PM! (map: http://bit.ly/FOMPMeetingSpot)
Thanks and we hope to see you out there!

FOMP==== List of Known Open / Closed Regional Trails ====

Thanks to David Wagner for putting this list together – we will try and update it as he provides updates and eventually make it a seperate post on www.fomp.org

Open:

Colorado Spring Parks and Open Spaces
Douglas County Parks and Open Spaces
Barr Trail
Pikes Peak Highways Trails
State Parks
El Paso County Parks
Castle Rock Parks
updated: Old Stage Road and Gold Camp Road are now open

Falcon Trail (Air Force Academy) with military ID update: The Falcon Trail (Air Force Academy) is only under FPCON ALPHA, so only drivers license is required — update #2: Falcon Trail may be only partially open unless you have a military ID – please verify before you go!

Trail Closures due to the Waldo Canyon Fire:

Order 12-10 and Municipality Rulings
High Arson and Fire Risk & Limited Resources Available
48,000 acres (75 square miles) of forest service land in the closure area
14,270 acres of forest service land burned (30% of closure area)
NOTE: USFS system trails listed below have there number after them
Some private and social trails are listed
USAFA : Eagle Peak, Stanley Canyon 707, West Monument Creek 713
Blodgett Peak Open Space & Blodgett Peak
Oak Valley trails off Coldwater Dr, Colo Spgs (?)
Palmer Lakes via Balanced Rock Rd 322 from Old Carriage Rd (per PL Water Dept.)
Monument Preserve, partial closure, Monument 715, I-A Fitness 718
Mt. Herman 716
Farish (4 trails)
Various Forest Service Roads (including portion of Rampart Range Rd 300)
Williams Canyon (Williams Canyon Project)
Waldo Canyon 640
Pyramid Mountain Estates (Cascade)
Green Mountain Falls trail system (per Lorrie Worthey, mayor)
Kings Crown Road area trails (Woodland Park)
Rainbow Gulch Rd, Nichols 709, Reservoir 700
Ormes Peak

Shooting Range Cleanup and Reclamation work session!

Update: Cafevelo Bikes is so excited to hear about the progress FOMP has made getting the shooting areas on Mt. Herman cleaned up that they would like to buy a coffee for any volunteer who shows up and helps tomorrow!  FOMP will be collecting names and giving it to the owner on Wed. If you can not make it please be sure to show your support and drop by Cafevelo Bikes and show them some love in return for encouraging everyone to get out and participate and ride!

http://www.cafevelobikes.com/

FOMP urgently needs you for this special work session!

Tuesday June 12 at 5:00PM or 6:00 PM – Trail work to clean up and reclaim shooting ranges in conjunction with USFS.

FOMP is pleased to be holding a volunteer work session with USFS!

informal shooting ranges that have resulted in massive resource destruction, trash, and very dangerous conditions on Mt. Herman Road will be cleaned up and closed down.
Two groups will go up Mt. Herman Road to the shooting sites to perform clean up in advance of USFS work later this week. Meet at the main trailhead and form carpool groups to go up to the cleanup sites. If you miss a group at 5PM or 6PM then please proceed up the road to catch up with the group.Meet at the main trailhead parking lot at 5:00PM or 6:00PM! (map: http://bit.ly/FOMPMeetingSpot)

Please bring heavy duty black trash baghs if you have them, work gloves, bug spray and a personal water supply.

Primary work location will be up Mt. Herman Rd. about 4.5 miles, at the upper Limbaugh entrance. About 1 mile past where 715 crosses Mt Herman Road. Look for the vehicles, hard to miss.
Thanks and we hope to see you out there soon!

FOMP

Trail Work Tuesday!

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FOMP would like to remind you that we will be hosting a Trail Work session Tuesday night May 10!

Tuesday May 10 at 6:00 PM – Trail work!

FOMP is pleased to be holding our first volunteer trail work and tree trimming work session for the 2011 season! It has been a long dry winter and we have lots of work ahead of us this summer so please join us!

FOMP and USFS provide all necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping type of work. Volunteers should bring leather gloves, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area. In the event that you are joining us late we always leave a note at the trail head parking lot or you can call Jon Nordby (719.640.1347) or Chris Tirpak (719.439.8865) to find out where in the Preserve we are working that evening.
We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally we perform activities such as water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, and trimming, etc. So, pretty much everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interest and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we do ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child or not.

Meet at the main trailhead parking lot at 6:00PM! (map: http://bit.ly/FOMPMeetingSpot)

Thanks and we hope to see you out there soon!
FOMP

Upcoming Events

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FOMP would like to remind you of several upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.

Tree Planting
April 16 – Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – FOMP will be planting 350 seedlings in the Preserve! And that means we need volunteers! We should be done by noon, or perhaps a little earlier if we have a good turnout. Folks should bring gloves and water and a daypack or small backpack, but should not need lunch. We will have trees, shelters, stakes and tools staged at the trailhead. Meet at the Nursery/Shilling Parking lot at 9:00 AM. Dianne Strohm is the coordinator for this project ( dstrohm AT kellin.net but she doesn’t carry a newfangled phone so be sure to reach out ahead of time if you need to get more information)

Annual Hot Shots and Helitac Crew Dinner
April 28 – Thursday 5:30PM – every year FOMP hosts a pot luck dinner for the Hot Shot and Helitac crew based in the Preserve. We will have dinner ready for the crews at 5:30pm. Drop in and meet the great team that will be based right here in the Preserve this summer as they wind down their training and get ready to go out on the firelines. FOMP runs this as a potluck style operation so please bring some food this is a hungry bunch and we could always use more!

* Casseroles, crock pot dishes,etc.. for the main course.
* Salads, breads,fruit and desserts to accompany the meal.

The FOMP coordinator for the event is Diane Bandle and she can be reached at dmbandle AT hotmail.com. Please let Diane know what you might be able to provide or bring to the work center that day between five and five thirty. If you can not attend but would like to cook some food please let Diane know and she can accomodaye a drop off at her house prior to the event.

March 2011 BOD Meeting Minutes

Get all the juicy details in the attached pdf document.

2011-03-08 FOMP BOD Minutes (pdf requires Adobe Reader)

I.  Call to Order and Attendance: The quarterly Board meeting of the FOMP began at 7:00 p.m. in the Fire Center Classroom.  Members present were Jon Nordby, president; Chris Tirpak, vice president, Diane Strohm, treasurer; Marianne LaRivee, secretary; Bill Bunson and Brian Mullin, members at large.  Joe Ennis, Nancy Spielkamp, Gayle Humm, and Jay Huey were also in attendance.

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