This is from the Telluride Daily Planet, July 27. Just thought I'd post this in case Josh or other 14-er hikers didn't know this was going on.
TPL bargains for Wilson access
Published: Thursday, July 26, 2007 9:34 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page
New grant gives Trust for Public Land more money to negotiate
By Elizabeth Guest
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is negotiating with Silver Pick Basin landowner Rusty Nichols to buy his property and renew access to Wilson Peak.
A recent Special Initiative Grant from the Telluride Foundation contributed $150,000 to the effort, which could speed up a deal.
“It’s a key gift in allowing us to move forward,” said Jason Corzine, TPL’s project manager, who expects to close on the property in late October.
A private conservation group, TPL will put the grant money toward the purchase of Nichols’ 220-acre parcel by Wilson Peak, including land near the summit. The purchase will also ensure an end to any potential mining on the land.
“It is certainly good for us to have the Foundation’s support on the project. “Corzine said. “We want that broad-based community support as we move toward our final negotiation.”
Before they can close on the land, TPL must pursue due diligence — environmental tests, surveys and appraisals — which are taking place this summer.
“It’s basically so we know that we’re not taking ownership of anything too nasty — that’s what we call due diligence,” Corzine said. “Our board requires it on every transaction. We have a short time frame to get it done — July, August and a little of September — before the snow starts to fly, so we really have to buckle down and focus.”
Negotiating since the beginning of the year, TPL has established an option agreement with this limited window of time to complete the purchase
“As it stands right now we’re still under option with the landowner,” Corzine said. “He’s been very willing to work with us.”
The Silver Pick Basin route is the safest and most common way to summit the 14,017-foot peak, as well as access the other two 14,000-foot peaks nearby. Only problem is, it crosses private land.
The closure — in effect for more than three years — has created significant public outcry, one of the reasons for the Foundation’s grant.
According to a Telluride Foundation press release:
“Over 500,000 people climb on Colorado’s 54 “14ers” annually. Restoring safe and easy access to three of the most popular 14,000-foot peaks in the nation will meet a need to protect a much-loved recreational resource that draws thousands of people to the area.”
In addition to the Telluride Foundation grant, TPL receives financial backing from fundraising in the community, private donations and internal funds.
The Telluride Foundation valued the property at $3 million. But Corzine couldn’t comment on the price until a final closure on the property when it becomes public record.
“We have to honor the confidentiality of the landowner,” he said.
Nichols, who resides permanently in Texas, lives part time in a cabin along Silver Pick Road. Last summer, Nichols charged a $100 access fee for hikers walking through his property. This summer, with negotiations underway, he has completely shut off access from Silver Pick.
“Due to the fact that we are actively trying to purchase the property and going through with due diligence the landowner has pulled paid access as well,” Corzine said. “[Nichols] very much wants to see this happen, and he’s given TPL the right to really move forward with the transaction from a conservation standpoint.”
The other routes for Wilson Peak are longer and more difficult.
“People have been going up from Bilk Creek and Navaho Basin,” said Tor Anderson of the Telluride Mountain Club. “And some people ignore the closure, although [Nichols] has been there and will hassle people.”
Anderson’s been involved in the access issue since it started. The Mountain Club tries to keep lands that were public, then turned private, open to mountain adventurers.
“It’s been good since the Trust for Public Land got involved since they’re a bigger group and they have the money to buy the land,” said Anderson.
Another reason for the purchase is to restrict future mining on the land, an added purpose for the Foundation’s grant. Prior to TPL’s involvement, Nichols had been seeking permits from the U.S. Forest Service to mine the land, already obtaining the necessary state permits.
“We appreciate mining history, but we feel this is one of those iconic properties that cannot be mined,” Corzine said. “This project is about restoring the natural beauty of Silver Pick Basin and restoring access to the fourteener.”
Corzine couldn’t comment on logistics like Nichols’ cabin or subsurface mining rights.
“All those issues we still have to dial in on,” he said.
TPL buys environmentally sensitive land and typically hands it over to local governments or agencies for safekeeping. It bought the Kentucky Placer next to Town Park, just closed on a piece of the Galloping Goose Trail near Ophir and is working on the federal appropriation of Ophir Valley.
If and when TPL purchases the Mt. Wilson-Silver Pick property, they plan to hand it over to the U.S. Forest Service for permanent conservation and public access, preventing mineral development and restoring access to Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak, and El Diente.
____________________________________
Lisa formerly of OK, now Lisa in Telly
MountainsRule.com
Myspace page
