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Graveyard CCC
Brendan Awrote: Just because there are no signs, doesn't mean it isn't closed... |
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Closures are still in affect. Just put on a jacket and you'll survive. |
Matt Swrote: My take: all areas in Clear Creek County (which includes tunnels 5 and 6) are still closed. The County Undersheriff has confirmed this within the past few days. If you enter these areas, you will possibly be fined and/or jailed. However, there are no signs, barriers or any other indications other than online announcements and if you did go into these areas, you likely would be just told to leave (if confronted at all). And I'd expect this weekend there will be the usual 100+ people at the popular crags (East Colfax, Primo, Armory, Dog House, Other Critters, Dogs and Cats, Catslab, Graveyard, Fiscal). That said, if you care about access to climbing in the future, if you care about our relationship with land managers and law enforcement, and you care about our reputation with the broader community, you should stay out of these areas until the closure is lifted. I'm going climbing in Clear Creek tomorrow (Saturday) but in Jefferson County (Tunnels 1 through 4). There's plenty of climbing there. It will be 57F at the high, which is plenty warm. In fact, the Graveyard will be too hot by noon anyway. See you out there. |
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54 cars parked at tunnels 5 and 6 around noon today. Closures are largely ignored or (more likely) people are unaware of them. No signs anywhere to indicate these areas are closed. I climbed at tunnel 2, which (ironically) was much less crowded... though it was quite cold in the shade. Tunnel 5, 12pm, Halloween day:  |
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The fact that there are no signs or barriers does not mean the crags are open. They are closed. You heard here that they are closed. The very first comment on this thread is a copy of the closure announcement. It's all over social media and news media that they are closed. Clear Creek County has enough on its hands actually fighting fires to run around putting up signs and barriers and chasing after willfully ignorant climbers. Do you live in this community? Do you perhaps know people who work for the county or volunteer with the fire department? I live here, and I have friends who have lost sleep, lost their houses, and put their own asses on the line fighting the fires. We don't need to make their lives harder. |
I was investigating land ownership once when I was considering doing some route development. Everything north of both the creek and the road at tunnel 5 and 6 is owned by an irrevocable trust under the same name as the quarry. Everything else is county owned. |
Alex Rwrote: So, as someone admittedly not area knowledgeable, does that mean those areas ARE not closed? Just trying to do the right thing. |
Kim Lwrote: Edited: to say it’s probably all closed at Tunnels 5/6 since all parking is in the County.
https://www.co.clear-creek.co.us/DocumentCenter/View/4308/CCCanyon?bidId= Tunnel 5/6 crags on Private property Dog House
East Colfax
Creekside |
Jim Twrote: I don't know if this list^ is right or not, but I'll point out that there was a rescue at Creekside just last week that involved a Clear Creek Fire Authority ladder truck and personnel. These are people and resources whose highest and best use right now is fighting fires, not picking climbers off cliffs. https://www.facebook.com/AlpineRescue/posts/3681621945215808 |
L Kapwrote: I zoomed in closer on the map and Creekside is near the line between private and County, so I updated the list.
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Jim Twrote: Conspiracy (high above Primo) is also on private property and therefore should be on the first list. When I contacted the county Undersheriff Bruce Snelling, he specifically stated that climbers may use areas located on private property (saying it was owned by "Fry and Sons"). |
John RBwrote: John, did the undersheriff say anything about parking? |
L Kapwrote: No, but in his defense I didn't ask him specifically. He addressed just my specific question. Parking on the shoulder may be state property (since the highway is state owned) and controlled by CDOT. Or it could be CC Open Space. And the parking lot by Tunnel 5 could be either one as well. It's conceivable that CC County owns the parking at Tunnel 5 since it is south of the creek; this would mean the lot is closed by parking along the shoulder is ok. On a weekend, that parking lot (with maybe 10 slots, plus 1 handicap slot) is full early and another 30-50 cars are on the shoulder nearby. |
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These closures have been all over the various media outlets. There is no real excuse for not knowing, other than just disregarding the closures. Sounds like a mtn bike forum here folks complaining about losing trails when they ignore closures. Climbing is not a right and we can lose access real quick. |
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I know that (according to the handful of commenters in this thread) all of the front range should know (no excuses!) that Clear Creek canyon is closed to climbing but based on the amount of cars there last weekend (and the amount that will be there this weekend) it might be a stretch to say that not everyone knows. I haven't climbed there since it closed but someone should post on the Clear Creek Canyon page about the closures and fines. |
John RBwrote: Do you think the undersheriff would be willing to clarify the parking situation if you replied to his message and asked? He seems like the person who has been the most clear about it. I appreciate that you made the effort to get in touch with the county. |
Devin Quincewrote: I agree with you Devin, but I also wouldn't be surprised if folks are intentionally ignoring the media (I have been) due to the current political climate. Things have gotten out of hand and people need to tune it out sometimes for their own wellbeing. |
Matt Swrote: Definitely there are some people tuning out, but they probably have friends and climbing partners who are more tuned in. |
Brendan Awrote: Clear Creek County is closed, not the whole Canyon, correct? Everything in JeffCo is still accessible unless I am misinformed. |
Stephen Szyszkiewiczwrote: Correct! The public lands in the CC county are closed until further notice. |
