09/15/2008
Date: 9/16/2008
The Castleton Tower access trail suffered severe damage on Thursday, August 7, 2008, due to an exceptional, localized thunderstorm and the resulting flash flood. The Grand County Utah Road Department estimates two inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. Several large sections of the trail were washed away. The upper traverse below Castleton Tower and over to the Rectory is basically gone and is more exposed in a number of places.
The route has been flagged so that climbers can identify it. This was done to prevent the development of redundant trails and to protect the threatened plant species that exist in the area that, by law, the BLM is required to protect. The flagging is temporary and will be removed after the trail is repaired. Climber cooperation in staying on the flagged route and leaving the flagging in place is greatly appreciated.
Trail work will occur during an Adopt-a-Crag event sponsored and jointly funded by the Access Fund, American Alpine Club, and Utah Open Lands. The Adopt-a-Crag event will take place on October 24, 25, and 26. Builders of the trail, The Rocky Mountain Field Institute, will lead the work parties. Volunteers are needed for this event so please feel free to contact the event coordinator Dave Erley of Utah Open Lands at 435-259-4859 or [email protected] for more information or to sign up. Volunteers are welcome to work as many days as their schedules will allow but should coordinate with Dave in order to make sure tools and other resources are available.
The Adopt-a-Crag event was scheduled in May and was not funded to do the scale of work necessitated by the storm. Thus, additional funding is needed to repair the trail. If you would like to contribute to this cause, please send your tax-deductible donation to:
Utah Open Lands
2188 S. Highland Drive, Suite 203
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
Please specify in the memo section of your check dedicated funds for CT trail work.