A rock face near Golden is coveted by both rock climbers and black bears – but for six years the Ralston Buttes and its “Sleeping Indian” profile have been wildlife’s exclusive domain.
Jefferson County banned rock climbing on the protected crags in the White Ranch Park open space in 2000 – much to the consternation of climbers like Tod Anderson.
“There are no endangered species,” said Anderson, a climber for 32 years. “There isn’t anything unique about it.”
“There are mountain lions and bears,” he said. “But show me a place where there isn’t mountain lions and bears.”
Anderson has worked to reopen the buttes in the foothills, which were closed five years ago, when the county implemented its park management plan.
County officials remain adamant that the area should be shut to most public access to protect its biodiversity.
“It has greater species richness than anywhere in the county,” said Thea Rock, Jefferson County’s open space manager of citizen outreach. “We need places for wildlife to be. We have other areas for climbing.”
In the 1960s, property west of the buttes was developed as a multilevel, hard rock underground uranium mine.
About 17 million pounds of uranium have been extracted and an additional 16 million pounds are still available in the Schwartzwalder Mine, according to its owner, the Cotter Corp.
But the mine is temporarily closed, the company said.
Property southeast of Ralston Buttes was also developed into the Beartooth Ranch subdivision with multimillion-dollar homes.
In 1994, the county paid $649,355 for 185 acres of private land that included the buttes.
Six years later, the county designated about 700 acres as a sensitive management unit, restricting access for only scientific and educational purposes.
Climbers have been filing applications and appearing at meetings ever since.
Anderson said he’s worked for years to open access. He climbed Ralston Buttes, also known as the Coors Crags, before it closed.
“There is good quality climbing there,” said Anderson, estimating 30 to 40 routes on the Eldorado sandstone.
One local climbing website called Ralston Buttes “one of the most stunning crags on the Front Range.”
County officials say the area has become an important byway for animals of all types.
“The overall biodiversity is so rich,” Rock said. “It has greater species richness than anywhere in the county – plants, mountain lions, black bears, birds. Historically, it’s been relatively isolated. That’s what makes it rich, because it means wildlife isn’t disturbed.”
The county will present its climbing guidelines to the open space advisory committee on Thursday.
“Members of the climbing community continue to ask to open it,” Rock said. “We are trying to protect the pieces that are left for wildlife. Yes, there are homes in the area, but more importantly it’s a place for wildlife to escape, hide out, to feed and travel along the corridor.”
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1201 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
