Comments on: Some Thoughts on Little Bear Peak and Private Property http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/2010/06/some-thoughts-on-little-bear-peak-and-private-property/ Frank Konsella's Backcountry Skiing and Biking Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:39:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Terry Mathews http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/2010/06/some-thoughts-on-little-bear-peak-and-private-property/comment-page-1/#comment-543 Terry Mathews Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:31:53 +0000 http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/?p=1271#comment-543 I actually informed of this by Kevin Wright, President of Alamosa Volunteer Search & Rescue. I actually informed of this by Kevin Wright, President of Alamosa Volunteer Search & Rescue.

]]> By: Frank http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/2010/06/some-thoughts-on-little-bear-peak-and-private-property/comment-page-1/#comment-541 Frank Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:43:05 +0000 http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/?p=1271#comment-541 I haven't heard anything about the Navajo Nation being landowners in that area or having issues with people climbing in that area, very interesting. Where did you hear that? In any case, I just wish access could be granted for summer peak baggers from Blanca basin. I bet the landowners could even charge money a couple of weekends a year, a la Culebra, and they'd have plenty of takers. I haven’t heard anything about the Navajo Nation being landowners in that area or having issues with people climbing in that area, very interesting. Where did you hear that?

In any case, I just wish access could be granted for summer peak baggers from Blanca basin. I bet the landowners could even charge money a couple of weekends a year, a la Culebra, and they’d have plenty of takers.

]]> By: Terry Mathews http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/2010/06/some-thoughts-on-little-bear-peak-and-private-property/comment-page-1/#comment-538 Terry Mathews Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:57:39 +0000 http://14erskiers.com/franksblog/?p=1271#comment-538 I was among a group of four who ascended Little Bear last Sunday via the Southwest Ridge. I wrote about it in my blog. Less than 24 hours after I posted, I was contacted by AVSAR and was advised that we were technically trespassing on private property because of the trailhead that we used (Tobin Creek). We, of course, didn't mean any disrespect and were regretful. The ridge can be accessed legally, but from the lower Lake Como Trailhead. The land between there and the ridge is BLM and Forest Service. I was just informed by AVSAR that some of those property owners are part of the Navajo Nation, so not allowing access is not only a property issue -- it's spiritual. As a part of their spirituality, it is believed that to step foot on the massif will result in injury and/or death. They believe that "trespassing" on the mountain is very unholy, and this is the reason why so many hikers and climbers die on it. I would like to see some kind of happy medium reached between hikers/climbers and property owners in that area, but when dealing with religious and spiritual beliefs, sometimes people only see in black and white. This may not be true of all of the property owners in the area, though. I'd like to think that as hikers and climbers, we are all respectful of the land and are careful to leave it as we found it. Good thoughts! I was among a group of four who ascended Little Bear last Sunday via the Southwest Ridge. I wrote about it in my blog. Less than 24 hours after I posted, I was contacted by AVSAR and was advised that we were technically trespassing on private property because of the trailhead that we used (Tobin Creek). We, of course, didn’t mean any disrespect and were regretful. The ridge can be accessed legally, but from the lower Lake Como Trailhead. The land between there and the ridge is BLM and Forest Service.

I was just informed by AVSAR that some of those property owners are part of the Navajo Nation, so not allowing access is not only a property issue — it’s spiritual. As a part of their spirituality, it is believed that to step foot on the massif will result in injury and/or death. They believe that “trespassing” on the mountain is very unholy, and this is the reason why so many hikers and climbers die on it.

I would like to see some kind of happy medium reached between hikers/climbers and property owners in that area, but when dealing with religious and spiritual beliefs, sometimes people only see in black and white. This may not be true of all of the property owners in the area, though. I’d like to think that as hikers and climbers, we are all respectful of the land and are careful to leave it as we found it.

Good thoughts!

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