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News in Brief

Aspen Times staff report
Aspen, CO Colorado

EL JEBEL – Midvalley residents are advised to keep an eye out for the Crown Mountain Survey.

The survey is intended to assist in the planning process and to determine the attitudes of residents toward the design and development of an indoor recreation center in the midvalley, as well as evaluate the potential for additional facilities.

The distribution of the survey follows the boundaries of the Crown Mountain Recreation District, including residents of Missouri Heights, Thomasville, Old Snowmass, the town of Basalt, El Jebel, Willits, Blue Lake and Ruedi. Closely related areas of Garfield County that are part of the midvalley area will also have the opportunity to complete the survey online by logging onto http://www.rrcinfo.com/crownmtn.



Surveys must be returned within 10 days of receipt in the enclosed self-addressed, postage-paid envelope or online to ensure all responses are recorded. The last day to submit a survey response is May 7.

BASALT – The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority will open its winter-closure section of the Rio Grande Trail from the Catherine Bridge trail head to Rock Bottom Ranch Friday at 5 p.m. Cyclists and recreationalists will now be able to use the entire length of the Rio Grande Trail from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, without any detours off the trail.




This opening will also permit access to the north slope of The Crown via a side trail. Trail users are reminded that no pets are permitted on the trail between Catherine Bridge and Rock Bottom Ranch.

RFTA closes the trail, as part of the wildlife management plan for this section of the trail corridor in the winter months, to protect elk and deer habitat, as well as the blue heron nesting areas in the spring. The winter closure area consists of 2.75 miles of riparian and upland areas extending from the end of Hooks Spur Road, south of the Roaring Fork River, to Catherine Store Road at the Catherine Store.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – The Hanging Lake Trail will be closed from May 1 to Aug. 1 to allow the U.S. Forest Service to undertake several reconstruction and maintenance projects.

Located in Glenwood Canyon on the White River National Forest, the Hanging Lake Trail is one of the most popular recreation attractions along the I-70 corridor with more than 80,000 visitors annually.

In addition to replacing the board walk around Hanging Lake, sections of the pipe handrail on the upper trail will be repaired or replaced, debris flow control structures will be installed, and heavily impacted sections of the trail will be reconstructed.