The Monarch Crest Trail is now open a little earlier thanks to Yon Iaccio’s efforts with an organized shovel party. Yon, owner of Tomichi Creek Trading Post and founding member of the Tomichi Trail Riders (TTR) in Sargents, CO. rounded up 4 of his guests and a fellow TTR member, who were all in Sargents on riding vacations, to begin the effort. They were relieved by a couple of the Salida, CO. based Central Colorado Mountain Riders (CCMR) members to help get to the finish line on this monster cornice.
The Monarch Crest Trail is part of the Continental Divide Trail, Colorado Trail, and arguably one of the busiest Mountain Bike trails in the state. Mt. Bikers are the heaviest users of this trail and despite the resource damage caused by riding and walking around this cornice, little is done to mitigate the problem. While some abide and walk over the snow, many do not and it has been the local motorcycle clubs that have been clearing the snow to keep users from riding around the drift and causing more damage to the sensitive high alpine vegetation.
This is a historic event as the trail is scheduled for a reroute around the cornice later this summer. Thank you to Yon, TTR and CCMR for doing their part to protect this valuable heavily used resource especially before a busy 4th of July weekend.
