| Contacts: | Shannon Borders, 970-240-5399 |
New Trails Proposed for Handcycling at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area (07-13-12)
GUNNISON, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management received funding to create trails suitable for beginner level handcycling. Most handcycles are built in a tricycle configuration and are powered by the riders’ arms verses legs; therefore, these recreationalists need newly adapted trail systems.
“Through discussions with the Hartman Rocks Users Group, the Adaptive Sports Center and ReActive Adaptations in Crested Butte, experienced hand cyclists, Gunnison Trails and others, it was determined the Sea of Sage and Broken Shovel trails would fit terrain criteria for this type of project,” said Kristi Murphy, BLM outdoor recreation planner. “These trails are within the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, and the newly created trails known as "Wide Trails" and are also user friendly for beginner level mountain biking/motorcycling and family style hiking.”
Both trails were originally livestock trails that followed drainages and were adopted by trail users during the 1990s. The gentle terrain and the potential for the Cottonwoods camping area to become a trailhead complete with restrooms and possibly camping facilities are also key elements of the location.
The BLM encourages the public to check out the proposed alignments for Sea of Sage and Broken Shovel trails by going to the Hartman Rocks Recreational Area and looking for the pink flag lines.
“Please walk the flag line since mountain bikes and motorcycles must stay on trails. The Sea of Sage trail is a complete reroute while the Broken Shovel trail is a combination of reroute and retrofit,” said Murphy. “For this project to proceed, we will need public input now and volunteers during the construction phase.
The Wide Trails are slated for construction in October 2012, and will be built with a combination of machine and hand tools. Once completed, these trails will be open to foot travel, mountain bikes, hand cycles and single track motorized users.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on the trail system, contact Kristi Murphy, at kmurphy@blm.gov or 970-642-4955.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
650 S. 11th Street Gunnison, CO 81230