Laserfiche WebLink
<br />008024 <br /> <br />Construction of ski lifts, lodges or permanent backcountry facilities <br />would be prohibited. No overnight pillow facilities are currently <br />within the park, and the master plan recommends that Rocky Mountain <br />National Park remain predominantly a day use park. Further exclusion <br />on overnight facilities from the p.ark will encourage the local business <br />communities to provide the service. Although an economic benefit, <br />impacts of visitor use and construction would also result. Considera- <br />tion would have to be given for the requirements of landspace, utili- <br />ties, and protection services in the communities surrounding the park. <br />Estes Park, near the east entrances to the park, has a thriving complex <br />of motels scattered throughout this area now. Wilderness designation <br />therefore is not expected to result in any significant changes in <br />visitor use. <br /> <br />Hidden Valley, excluded from wilderness consideration, provided winter <br />recreation for 40,394 skiers in the winter of 1972-1973. Additional <br />ski areas within the park have not been proposed, thus wilderness <br />designation would not result in a significant impact as a result of <br />precluding more ski facilities. Since many ski areas exist in the <br />region, impact to the regional economy would also be minimal. <br /> <br />Within the wilderness area are 59 existing primitive campsite areas <br />and sanitary control points and two stone shelters near Longs Peak. <br />Some of the primitive campsite areas contain vault or pit type toilets <br />and fireplaces. Some are just sites without facilities. Wilderness <br />designation will not affect these existing facilities since a special <br />provision is recommended for the designating legislation to provide <br />for continued use and maintenance. Capacity of these sites is estab- <br />lished at 2,000 campers per night; wilderness designation will not <br />change this capacity. Use will be monitored and the carrying capacity <br />adjusted to minimize visitor use impact on the ecosystem. It is pos- <br />sible that demand may increase with wilderness designation; however, <br />the established carrying capacity will mitigate this anticipated growth <br />of backcountry use. As carrying capacities for particular sites are <br />determined and more data is available, the levels of use will have to <br />be re-evaluated (Willard 1963). <br /> <br />Trail bikes and oversnow vehicles would not be allowed in wilderness. <br />Snowmobile use in Rocky Mountain National Park is currently restricted <br />to unplowed roadways on the western side of the park in areas outside <br />of the wilderness proposal. Exclusion of trail bikes from the trails <br />would be a continuation of present management practices. Wilderness <br />designation would make this a legislative restriction. <br /> <br />Park ManaRement and Operation <br /> <br />Although wilderness designation restricts the use of motorized equipment, <br />their use is allowable under certain circumstances. The maintenance <br /> <br />20 <br />