Devils Head Closure Signage?

Every spring/summer, the big multipitch routes on Devils Head Rock close for raptor nesting and, every year, it's by far the most climbed-at closed area in the front range.

Clearly, if climbers can respect the Cathedral Spires/Flatirons/BoCan/Lumpy closures, they can respect the ones on Devils Head, which makes me wonder if there's sufficient signage/roped-off access trails. 

For most popular formations' closures it's easy to know they're closed because the access trails are clearly marked as closed and flagged off (meaning you'd have to intentionally duck ropes to access the area). How do things look out there signage-wise because I'm skeptical that somehow Devils Head climbers are a special breed of careless/selfish rather than just missing the closure notices... 

Last time I was out there, there was at least one sign on the way up the trail to devils head rock, above the campground at the base. There may have been two but I can’t remember.

That being said, people are getting ticketed every weekend at tunnel 5 for parking directly below “no parking” signs and people are ignoring the raptor closures anywhere they think they may not get caught. Brazenly ticking it on MP might be a bit unique but nothing else about the situation is IMO

I mean, the fact that they're ticking these routes publicly would seem to indicate that they're unaware of the closures, not that they're particularly brazen at poaching. We can get sanctimonious or we can improve the signage that leads to such frequent trespass.

As I recall there are a number of social trails up to the base, especially if coming from the 'closer' parking spur past the campground. Perhaps flagging tape is the only surefire solution (whether at the trailhead or at the base of the wall). Say what you want about ignorance but it's a lot harder to justify when you're ducking a rope. It's not my local area or I'd go out and string some up myself.

It seems most of the ticks/comments are climbers unaware of the closures, since they remove when informed.

I agree closure signage is severely lacking and is main cause (lack of large dedicated parking with a number of unsigned social trails), but there are a number of contributing factors: closure not announced by LCO, closure not found by searching on Forest Service website or talking to ranger office receptionist (my experience), relatively less experienced/more casual climbers clipping multipitch bolts (vs trad climbers), more of a unique destination/goal, and a lack of communication/feedback on raptor nesting observations (just a rolling 5-year closure order). 

Compared to the raptor closures at Cathedral Spires, Flatirons, Rocky Mountain, and Boulder Canyon the closure at Devil's Head appears to be not actively managed. I think it would be helpful if the Forest Service allowed for a large dedicated parking area with an official trailhead sign and closed the meandering web of social trails.

ryan lairdwrote:

closure not announced by LCC, closure not found by searching on Forest Service website or talking to ranger office receptionist (my experience), 

I called the forest service office responsible for DH and asked about the closure last year and had to explain the concept of a raptor closure to the person on the other end. They put me on hold for a bit and then came back and said there was no closure. I didnt end up going due to weather but I thought I was being responsible.

Could somebody provide links to the closure order?

It is order 2020-24, (issued in 2020 and valid through 2025). Here is the link, until they change their website and/or issue a replacement. It has a summary, full text of the order, and a map.      

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/psicc/alerts/devils-head-peregrine-falcon-protection-seasonal-closure-order

Unfortunately the USFS put one of the two closure signs on the trail to Devil’s Gate instead of the trail to DHR.  It would be better if there were signs on the trails to the area that is actually affected, but that’s not the case right now. Can’t really blame people for not knowing when the signs aren’t in the right places 

Can someone confirm whether it is still closed? The order expired already, but the flyer from 2020 says it goes through July 31 annually.

Edit. Called and looked on the website w no resolution.  

Matt Castelliwrote:

Can someone confirm whether it is still closed? The order expired already, but the flyer from 2020 says it goes through July 31 annually.

Edit. Called and looked on the website w no resolution.  

The forest service order mandating it is valid through 2025

Tal Mwrote:

The forest service order mandating it is valid through 2025

According to the FS site the order expires July 15th 2025, which is not the end of the closure window posted in the order's map. Hence his question. In the absence of confirmation one way or another I'd default to assuming it's been extended (or observe it in good faith regardless for the remainder of this year's closure).

I know the sort of proactive BoCan/Lumpy Ridge style nest monitoring isn't feasible down in the SPlatte but given the popularity of the wall it'd be great to have someone from the FS come out maybe 2/3rds through and check whether nesting has occurred at all (or at least make sure those at the FS office day-to-day know about this order since it seems several people have been given mistaken advice after calling in).

Appreciate the dialogue.

I have nothing truly useful to add. 

Nevertheless, he persisted.

I attempted to drive out to DHR in mid April, completely ignorant of the closure. Was stopped by the main DH gate (for seasonal snow, I think?), so didn't get to a point of being confronted by any trailhead raptor signage. 

Didn't review the mp page too closely, just kinda glanced at draw-count and navigations. Even so,

MP's Falcon Warnings are pretty dang easy to overlook. Maybe some relatively low hanging fruit, if OnX wants to make that feature much more obstructive and in your face. 

Haven't been out to DHR in some time, but I do remember seeing signs about seasonal closure. Don't remember them being "in the way" or there being any kind of gate or obstruction prompting any kind of "crossing a threshold" psychological experience. 

I think some kind of seasonal trailhead obstruction might be a helpful additional inhibitor, but I also agree that careful, considerate people read signs and respect reasonable regulations and restrictions, while dumb/selfish people duck ropes regardless. 

I think the presumption is reasonable, that a sizable and convenient parking lot where some clear signage and gates might help communicate restrictions and minimize social trail chaos, but (1) that's a big ask on the heels of "a disproportionate number of members of our community are naively and/or intentionally violating raptor closures; maybe we need better signage." (2) I'd worry about the induced demand. There were fewer witless mess-makers climbing at Canal Zone and The Doghouse / Graveyard before the parking lots were built. Chicken and egg. 

Anyways. ''Member that episode of The Office where Michael decides to do his own version of 'Survivor Man' while Dwight secretly watches over him and at one point Dwight forages a handful of bird eggs from a nest and says "Lunch."? That was a funny episode. 

Wish I could have gone with Ryan on that cool retreat!

Jan has plastic boooooobs!

I HAAAVE HEMORRHOIDS!