The USA Pro Challenge’s Independence Pass party won’t roll through the starry night as it did last year.
Forest Service officials have banned roadside camping atop the 12,095-foot pass during the Wednesday and Thursday stages of the stage race.
All campgrounds on the Aspen side of the pass are open, but camping Last year, more than 3,000 campers lined the race course atop the very peak of the pass, . Down the road in Aspen, as many as 15,000 visitors crowded city streets to welcome the racers.
But this year, with racers descending from Independence Pass into Aspen on Wednesday and then climbing back up Thursday, Forest Service officials were concerned that many more spectators could be trampling tender tundra.
“Our decision was not based upon anything that happened last year, because we were quite pleased with crowd reaction,” said Bill Kight, public affairs officer for the White River National Forest. “We’ve seen projections for four times as many people this year. … We didn’t want to take any chances impacting the fragile tundra. If it becomes a problem, it’s already too late for that kind of fragile environment and ecosystem.”
Last year’s mountaintop party impressed officials. There were few incidents requiring official attention, and Forest Service officials reported little trash.
Greg Ralph, the Salida-based marketing chief for the Monarch ski area, was the last camper down Independence Pass last year. He was impressed with how well people cleaned up after themselves after 24-plus hours on the pass.
“I hung out specifically to help the Forest Service and make sure we were being good environmental stewards,” Ralph said. “But everyone picked up the trash. And the rain practically erased everyone’s tracks. I was pretty proud of everyone up there. Cyclists are environmentally sensitive. We are not pillaging marauders.”
Ralph is one of many who complained to the Forest Service about the change in camping rules this year.
Even race organizers lobbied to keep the roadside camping. Last year, race chief Shawn Hunter said his heart swelled as he topped Independence and saw the Tour de France-type crowds.
“We did our best, but at the end of the day we honored the Forest Service decision,” said Hunter, who was not part of the review process that nixed overnight camping on the pass.
This year, Hunter said he expects 30,000 to 50,000 Stage 3 spectators along Cottonwood and Independence passes as well as in Aspen.
“The fans at every stage last year were so respectful of the open space and the Forest Service areas that in most cases, they left the area better than when they found it,” Hunter said. “That’s one of our goals, and you will see that again this year.”
The complaints did not sway the Forest Service. Camping is allowed at several improved campgrounds on the west side of Independence Pass. On the east side, camping will be allowed up to Lackawanna Gulch.
Kight said standard Forest Service policy prohibits camping within 100 feet of Colorado 82.
“We feel like we are giving in quite a bit for the need to have people enjoy this race. Normally, there is no camping at all,” Kight said. “We’ve heard from a few people who aren’t pleased, but we have the support of the Independence Pass Foundation. The partners we work with in the long haul feel like we are making the right decision.”
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest — or GMUG — , which racers will climb before Independence Pass at the start of Wednesday’s 130.5-mile Stage 3 from Gunnison to Aspen. But the local rangers are encouraging campers to move off Cottonwood Pass Road (CR 209) and
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374, jblevins@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jasontblevins
