Thompson: Maroon Bells issues

Has everyone been to the Maroon Bells? It is the best example of simple spectacular perfection.

However, this year, the water system is not turned on. The former volunteers who have turned on the water and maintained it for many years have volunteered to turn it on and maintain it in exchange for parking at one of the campsites, but the District Ranger Kevin Warner refuses the offer. These volunteers are well-liked at the Bells and always available and smart enough to fix anything. It is dumbfounding as to why Kevin is not thrilled to have the peace of mind to have them again.

This lack of care could cause problems.

We have a bus system to transport everyone from the Highlands to the Bells. The parking and drop-off zones are confusing and cause the landscaped areas to be trampled. The bus drivers have asked us to remove the landscaping ,so it will be safer for people to walk through.

The district ranger will not allow the visitors center to be opened either (no water taps in there); it provides a indoor place to hide from thunderstorms or the scorching sunshine, and we have supplies to help someone who has been hurt and radios to make emergency calls.

The bathrooms across from the visitors center cannot be opened, as well.

And there are four outhouses, and no one — besides the former volunteers who want to help — know how to operate them, so they aren’t smelly and function correctly.

I have a copy of a letter to the editor from my husband, Ron Thompson, a former U.S. Forest Service Ranger, from Oct. 2012 where he said the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District got four summer employees that year and four last year, and he was writing asking for volunteers or a organization to help with the trail work. The Forest Service has always needed to be resourceful, and there are always people to help.

“Caring for the Land and Serving the People” is the Forest Service motto.

Donna Thompson

Aspen