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Eldo Status Update

Original Post
Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

For those stuck indoors: a hopefully brief, informative summary of progress in Eldorado post-flood.

Angry creek.

Climbing areas:

As of today, almost all climbing access is normal - there are a few exceptions:

Shirt Tail Peak is currently closed to protect a golden eagle nest.

Access to Supremacy is a little different - park in the Rincon lot and walk across the bridge. At some point this summer, the area will close for a week or two to rebuild the road. (I did just enough road repair there to get the honeywagon in to hoover the pit toilets)

The West Ridge should be approached with caution if using the Streamside trail. The creek just seems fast this year.

In the fall, access to the Bastille will probably be restricted. More in the "roads" section below.

Roads:

The big repair at the Bastille is going to take place this Fall. In the most likely scenario:
  • Most of the parking at the lower (East) end of the park will remain open.
  • Climbing on the North side of the canyon (Rotwand-Cadillac) will remain open.
  • Vehicle access to the western end of the park will be very restricted.
  • Climbing at the Bastille will be closed to keep people out of harm's way.

We'll be negotiating with the contractor to try and have improved road/Bastille access on weekends - but there's a good chance they'll want to work seven day weeks to get the job finished.

Be wary of any climbing gym rumors about Eldo. We've done everything possible to maximize climbing access during repairs and will continue to do so.

The Picnic Area:

Closed. It'll probably re-open in August.

Trails:

Shameless plug: If you'd like to help with trails, this is your year. There's a lot to do. eldo.eventbrite.com

A bunch of gnarly volunteers got a lot of the big repairs done. Some of the most notable:

Over the winter/spring, I'd bet we moved 50+ tons of material to rebuild the Streamside Trail from the bridge to the coffer dam. Yeesh.

During.

After.

The Eldorado Canyon Trail - we moved a LOT of material to repair the 100 yard, 2-foot deep rut that was left after the flood.

Ben, rock.

Almost done.

Final product.

The Front Range Climbing Stewards

Over the last few years, some folks have been busting butt to build a professional trail team for front range climbing access. This year, the team started working in Eldo.

So far, JB, Matt, and Ben have done some amazing work at the Roof Routes:

Much improved Roof Routes trail/staging areas.

Currently, the team is working on the big blowout just before the West Ridge:

JB and Ben slingin' rocks.

In case you're curious, we use shackles (not steel carabiners) for rigging.

The Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is still closed. The trail contractor should start work in the next month or so. They'll build a pedestrian bridge across the big blowout.

All in all, thanks to everybody

who's helped out, and thanks to the Eldo climbing population for your understanding while we get everything back in order.

Mike McHugh
Park Resource Technician
Eldorado Canyon State Park
Gregger Man · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 1,759

Thanks, Mike. And thanks to the Front Range Climbing Stewards for the nice stone work!

Steve Williams · · The state of confusion · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 235

A super hooray for JB, Ben, and Matt!!!(of course, Mike too)!

Adam Pecan · · Moab, UT · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 157

Thanks for all the hard work!

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

Bump for the good work folks… I have not been in Eldo for awhile. (sigh..)

In looking at those photos of moving big rocks with ropes, etc..
Could we get ClimbTech to donate some removable bolts??
Looks like you guys were putting a bolt in to help facilitate moving things in the pictures.

Cheers All !!

Cor

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

Yeah, Cor, what's up?

We're using the Climbtech Swivel Hybrid - it's got a decent WLL. A lot safer for crew than using slings, lets us get rocks closer to the skyline to use the rigging more efficiently. (It's painful even to me how much I geek out about this stuff).

Vinny at Climbtech has been pretty helpful over the years. If he's reading, I'm sure the crew and I would take a t-shirt or something, though ;)

fossana · · leeds, ut · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 13,318

Wow, the trails/stairs are looking good. Thanks to the trail crew for all of the heavy lifting!

DennisL · · Bishop, CA · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 75

I traveled through Boulder on my road trip a month ago and spent a bunch of great days at Eldo. Every time I went, I saw Matt, JB, and Ben hard at work at their latest project. I was as impressed by their professionalism and great attitude as by the fantastic improvements they were making to the trail - you guys are super lucky to have such a great crew hard at work on your crag!

Thanks to the crew for their work and beta, and to all the area climbers who showed me around!

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

Supremacy and environs will be closed from May 27th until June 17th. Heavy construction will be taking place on the road immediately adjacent to the "Pyramid".

If construction proceeds more rapidly than expected, we'll re-open the area ASAP.

There may be further periodic closures during the summer as needed for picnic area reconstruction.

Some climbs on the North facing slabs - in particular Quartzite Ridge South Side through Right Wall, may be accessible during construction.

Contact the park (303 494 3943) or PM me for status and specifics.

Thanks for your patience.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

Mike.. That's awesome ClimbTech is helping you(all of us) out!!

I will be back! :). Just been busy in Boulder Canyon on some new routing.
And right now I am in Taiwan! Hoping the rain stops when it when it is time to head to Long Dong for some climbing.

Holly shit, and to add to that I am staying in a hotel on the top floor (12) and just thought I was tripping !! The whole building/room just started to shake.
Earthquake!! I have felt minor ones years ago, but while on the ground, but never up so high.
That was freaky!

C

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

Some minor updates. At this point, there are three big projects pending, and they're (mostly) in the hands of project managers and contractors.

1) The picnic area may be sorta kinda nearing completion. The project has run months over, but it's getting there. I'd say if you want to do a Thanksgiving day picnic, it might be ready.

2) Construction on the road at the Bastille is slated to begin in Spring 2015. My opinion ain't worth much, but my hunch is that they'll reconsider putting big equipment in the creek during high runoff and the project will probably get booted back to late summer or fall of 2015.

3) Rattlesnake Gulch is open again! Long story short, the bridge project planning/approval is going wayyyyyy slower than anybody expected. About three weeks ago, the park staff got tired of waiting and decided to punt and reopen the trail.


Big thanks to Eldorado Springs' Ian - he volunteered for a very long day of building and really got the project started the right way. If you're interested in some of the details, read this post or this pdf .
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Huzzah to park staff not wanting to wait any longer! The park is in good hands.

Steve Williams · · The state of confusion · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 235

Great stuff, Mike.
Did you finish your rock wall?

Mike Gilbert · · Bend, OR · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 21

Eldo is an amazing place and it as much because of the people, as the rocks.

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420
Steve Williams wrote:Great stuff, Mike. Did you finish your rock wall?
Had to ditch the wall for a while to build RG stairs. Finally get to get back at it this week...

Wall.
Steve Williams · · The state of confusion · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 235

Nice work, Mike!
I was up in Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago and got a picture or
two of a wall they're building near Tower Junction.
Once I get them uploaded I'll share. . .
Thanks for the pics!
Steve

Matt Pierce · · Poncha Springs, CO · Joined May 2010 · Points: 312

AMAZING work! Well Done!

Mark Hammond · · Eldorado Springs, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 466

I walked by that wall a few days ago, amazing work, really beautiful Mike.

Eliot Augusto · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 60

Your work and the work you help coordinate is stellar. Thank you all for helping fix Eldo.

climberz · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 90

Awsome work on the new trail between darkness till dawn and disappearing act. Wow, it's hard to imagine moving those rocks. Beautiful job fitting them together. Thank you for sacrificing some of your lower back for current and future climbers.

Mike McHugh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 420

Some kinda interesting developments:

Lafayette water will begin reconstructing the coffer dam just upstream of their sand trap (it's the big concrete structure beneath NED (Nothing Except Dynamics)). They'll start by building a road down to the creek from the main canyon road, just west of The Bastille. They'll break ground in the next week or so.

The oh-so-moderately bad news is that there will be some traffic control on the road. It sounds like they're going to work mostly weekdays, but may do some weekends if there's a time crunch. Be prepared for delays if you're going up to the west end of the canyon (Rincon, Cadillac, and such).

The mildly good news is that the temporary road down to the creek might make the reconstruction of the road at the Bastille quicker and easier.

As a side note - with the freakish freeze/thaw this winter, the road has been super-dicey. We're plowing/sanding thoroughly - *but* please drive cautiously, use 4WD/AWD, put on some decent tires, or just park in the main lot and hike if your vehicle isn't up to spec. This happened yesterday (driver totally okay - I woulda soiled my panties, personally)

One very lucky dude.

Keep your stick on the ice,

Mike McHugh
Park Maintenance Hombre
Eldorado Canyon State Park
mike.mchugh(at)state.co.us

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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