Powder to the People

Richmond Ridge, Aspen, Colorado - A land ownership summary history

The area commonly referred to as Richmond Ridge/Little Annie is located within Pitkin County, Colorado, approximately 2 miles south of the top of the Aspen Mountain ski area. It encompasses elevations from approximately 9,600 feet to 11,500 feet.

The area evenly blankets both sides of a north/south running ridge, and comprises approximately 1,300 acres of both public and private land. Approximately one-third (400 acres) of this area are the east-facing US Forest Service-administered lands at the southern end that are the subject of the USFS ìSpecial Closureî designation and ensuing debate.
The rest of the area is a mosaic of public and private land ownership on both the east and west sides of the ridge. The area has historically (since the late 1960s) been utilized as a multiple use winter recreation area by downhill, cross-country, alpine touring and snowboard skiers, snowmobilers, commercial and non-commercial private snowcat powder tour operators, and of late, snowmobile skiers/snowboarders.
Access to and travel within the area is derived from a network of public (USFS and Pitkin County) roadways. Winter users typically ski/ride the open, gladed and forested terrain using the snowcat and snowmobile-packed winter roadways to climb or ride back up to the ridgeline.

NOTE:

Private property boundary (Urshel/Loushin/CCI) on the E (Difficult) side runs roughly N (towards Sundeck) from the ìLunch Cabinî across the big open flat bench (Poverty Flats) to a point about 1,500 yards (about three-quarters of the way across Poverty Flats from the Lunch Cabin) to a 4x4 wooden post, where it turns NE (down) and drops down towards Loushins Lake. The lands below (to the E/NE) this line†are public lands, the lands above this line going towards the ridge are private. Basically, everything S of the skierís left rim of McFarland Bowl, all the way to ìThe Holeî and beyond and everything below (E) of the summer road on the ridge on the Difficult side is USFS/public lands, subject to the ìSpecial Closure.î

HISTORY
The original commercial powder tour permit for the USFS-administered portion of the area was issued by the USFS, sometime in the late í60s or early í70s, to Deep Powder Inc.

In the mid í70s, the USFS conducted a capacity analysis and determined that the whole area could support two commercial snowcat powder tour operations and a second permit was issued to a separate operator, Little Annie Powder Tours, Inc.

Over time, the Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) eventually purchased both of the commercial snowcat powder tour operations and acquired both the USFS permits. It should be noted that none of the disputed area is contiguous to or lies within any of the ASC ski area special use permit areas.

Over the ensuing years, the commercial powder tour operators, including the ASC, have registered complaints with the USFS over lack of enforcement of the existing travel management plan stipulating mechanized use by permit only. Historically, no action was taken on the part of the USFS and the various users resolved their problems without USFS intervention.

Then, during the winter of 2004/2005, responding to complaints from the ASC, the USFS arbitrarily, without public comment, process or notification started to enforce the existing travel management plan, which effectively regulated the public lands in such a way as to ensure exclusive mechanized use to a private sector commercial powder tour operator. This resulted in†an ASC (mechanized) monopoly of public lands.

Land ownership/pick up spots: (E side/Difficult)

McFarland's Bowl Road pick up: (Just S of Iron Silver Placer claim boundary) E side (Difficult)†located on USFS/public lands within "Special Closure Area" ï Serves all terrain S of Difficult (aka Poverty Flats/Loushins) ï McFarland's Bowl
Difficult
Loushins
Note: The winter road that goes down the skier's L of McF bowl skirts some private property owned by the Urshel family as well as the Iron Silver Placer claim owned by the Loushin Family. The Loushins may have, but I doubt it, included the Iron Silver Placer Claim (which is where Loushins Lake, cabins etc. are located) in a sale/trade/water rights agreement w/ASC. In any case if you travel down the winter road that holds to the L side/edge of Mc F bowl & pick skiers up @ the bottom of the steep grade you are on USFS administered/public lands.
Black Diamond pick up (aka "Flagpole), E side (Difficult) located on†USFS/public lands within "Special Closure Area" ï Serves all terrain S of McFarland's Bowl: ï First Run (aka Tillie/Prudence)
Wine Tree
Postcard Gully
Figure 8 (aka The Far Ridge)
The Hole pick up, E side (Difficult) located on†USFS/public lands within "Special Closure Area" ï Serves all terrain S of†Figure 8 (aka The Far Ridge)

Land ownership/pick up spots: (W side/Little Annie)

As long as you stay on the road you are on public lands, either Pitkin County or USFS outside "Special Closure Area"

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