Peak of Mount Shavano, Near Salida, Soon Officially Public

· Nov. 7, 2016, 8:25 am

The peak of another Colorado 14er may soon become public land. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) intends to buy three parcels of land extending over the peak of Mount Shavano near Salida. The move comes after the discovery of mining claims which means the land is currently privately owned.  

Mining claims on Mount ShavanoCredit Lloyd Athearn / Colorado Fourteeners Initiative via Facebook
Mining claims on Mount Shavano

Lloyd Athearn directs CFI and recognizes although folks have been climbing Mount Shavano for decades, they're technically trespassing.

"What CFI is doing is buying the land so that we can make it accessible to the public and put in an appropriate trail and then give it back to the Forest Service so that it is public land in perpetuity," he said.

Athearn says they've raised the necessary $40,000 plus for the purchase.

He says he hopes CFI will officially own the land by the beginning of 2017 so the group can begin a multi-year trail restoration project.

You care!

Southern Colorado is changing a lot these days. We can help you keep up. Sign up for the KRCC Weekly Digest here and get the stories that matter to Southern Colorado, delivered straight to your inbox.