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| Conundrum Hot Springs near Aspen poses conundrum for rangers | |||
| Friday, October 28, 2011 08:54 |
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Photo by Paul Andersen via The Aspen Times
By JANET URQUHART, THE ASPEN TIMES The crowds at the popular Conundrum Hot Springs, south of Aspen, continued to prove the biggest wilderness challenge for local U.S. Forest Service rangers this summer, but compliance with the recently imposed no-dogs rule was promising, according to one official. “Conundrum is a conundrum, and it has been one for many, many years,” said Martha Moran, recreation staff supervisor with the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District. The Forest Service closed the hot springs to dogs in 2010 and stepped up enforcement of the regulation this year. From late June through the end of summer, rangers issued 108 written warnings, wrote five citations and issued six verbal warnings at Conundrum, according to a summary the agency compiled. Dogs are permitted as far up the Conundrum trail as Silver Dollar Pond from the Aspen side and Triangle Pass from the Crested Butte side. This year, a number of backpackers set up camp at Silver Dollar Pond, 5.5 miles from the Aspen trailhead. Leaving their dogs there, hikers could finish the 2.5-mile trek to soak in the springs, Larson said. More on the challenges facing rangers Not every incident that led to a warning at Conundrum involved a dog, though. There are 18 designated campsites near the hot springs, but the area gets such heavy use, illegal camping is an issue. So are campfires, which are not permitted. |
