Fryingpan-area roads will be plowed

THOMASVILLE — One of the potentially best spring skiing years is about to be messed up by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The federal agency will begin plowing U.S. Forest Service Roads in the Upper Fryingpan Valley on March 10.

“This may cause inconveniences for recreation users, especially skiers using these roads to access some of the 10th Mountain Division Huts,” the Forest Service warned in a press release. “People coming from Margy’s or McNamara Huts to the Fryingpan River drainage, or those accessing Betty Bear Hut from the Fryingpan River, may encounter plowed roads.”

The snow removal is necessary to provide access to the bureau water diversion facilities for maintenance and minor repairs. The work needs to be performed before the runoff season begins.

The bureau anticipates plowing to be completed over a three- to four-week period. The roads will be plowed in the following order:

• Chapman Gulch Road, also known as Forest Road 504, from the Fryingpan River Road to a point beyond Twin Meadows.

• Fryingpan River Road, also known as Forest Road 505, from the Fryingpan River Road pavement to the Fryingpan Lakes Trailhead.

• Ivanhoe Creek Road, Forest Service Road 105, from Fryingpan River Road.

• North Fork Road, Forest Road 501, from Elk Wallow Campground.

For more information, please contact the Sopris Ranger District at 963-2266 or the 10th Mountain Hut Association at 925-5775.