Welcome To Alison’s Blog

Bull Mountain Drilling of 146 new wells brings pipeline closer

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:06:09 -0600

A most powerful letter by the Gunnison County Commissioners to the BLM. Use this letter to help write your own letter: Click Here for the PDF

Map of pipelines and drill pads. Each drill pad will most likely be large - 3-7 acres with multiple drillings, and each rig fracked multiple times. Addresses to send letters by April 20th below:

BLM Uncompahgre Field Office ATTN: Oil and Gas Bull Mountain
2465 S Townsend Ave Montrose CO 81401
Dear Bureau of Land Management,
(“I am a resident of…”, or “I live adjacent to parcel #”, or “My family has farmed/ranched in this area for XXX years”, or “I work in the XXX business.”)
Insert here the parts of the Gunnison County Commissioners letter or your own points here.

Thank you for taking my comments into consideration,
(Your Name & Address)
Mail or email your written comments to the BLM today! Also, please send a copy to the contacts listed below.
Mail your letter to the BLM:
BLM Uncompahgre Field Office ATTN: Oil and Gas Bull Mtn
2465 S Townsend Ave Montrose CO 81401
Click here to email comments to the BLM  
Provide copies of your letter to:
President Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington DC 20500 email
Marcilynn Burke, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management US Dept of Interior 1849 C Street NW Mail Stop 6628 Washington DC 20240
Sean Babbington c/o US Sentator Michael Bennet 458 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington DC 20510 email - choose Energy for the “Message Topic” and enter North Fork Leasing in subject line
Jill Ozarski c/o US Senator Mark Udall Hart Office Bldg. Suite SH-328 Washington DC 20510 email - choose Energy for the “Topic” and enter North Fork Leasing in subject line
State Senator Gail Schwartz State Capitol Bldg. 200 E Colfax Ave. Denver CO 80203 email

Paonia area Trail users oppose Land Swap

Mon, 9 Apr 2012 19:01:51 -0600

On March 26th, trail user groups in the North Fork Valley put their differences aside in an effort to reach some type of agreement concerning the Central Rockies Land Exchange. The following is a list of points that were mutually important from the differing user groups. Present were North Fork Trails, Paonia Singletrack Society, Keen Rippin Chix, Hawks Haven and various members of the public that hike, bike, fish, hunt, and camp in the area.

1. Access, Access, Access. Bottom line is that we have ALMOST ZERO LEGAL ACCESS to any roads or trails around the North Fork Valley for hiking, biking, fishing, skiing, camping or hunting. We almost now have Jumbo with the new Hawks Haven/Town of Paonia agreement being drafted, but the BLM has proposed to keep Jumbo for oil and gas drilling in the Environmental Assessment, despite a huge public outcry. While we will gain access, who would want to ride with the noise, dust, traffic (1000 semi's per well), visual impacts, not to mention toxic holding and evaporation ponds, and guaranteed air pollution with known health effects including things like benzene, toluene, propane, etc (See Garfield County Health Impact Assessment by the Colorado School Board of Health and Tedx.org).

Speaking of drilling, the proponents of the Bear Ranch Land Exchange, tell us that we will have “improved access” via Buck Ranch. What they don’t tell us is that Buck Ranch is their private land, and is proposed for oil and gas drilling and pipelines, with no resistance from the BLM. We lose 1800 acres of public land that is not listed for drilling and gain access through a ranch that could become a mecca for an industrial drilling zone. In fact 150 wells are proposed all around and next to the Raggeds Trail and even on Bear Ranch. Maps HERE

Back to the real issue of access, see the list of trails that we are losing or have lost in the past few years - it is virtually the whole valley, due to wildlife issues (which is a good thing) private land, coal mining and now oil and gas drilling. Wilderness is the only savior we have to escape what is going on over here. While County Road 2 might seem like one trail to those in Gunnison County, it is now almost our ONLY trail option left over here.
Not only does it provide an access point to recovering some great existing trails and roads for mtn bikers, it may provide our only alpine hot weather riding close to town in the future. For skiers, it is the only access to the Raggeds to escape coal mine vent noise and oil and gas rigs. For hunters, County road 2 is the only access that is close to town, only mellow way into the Raggeds, and Buck Creek Ranch is not near the wildlife herds. For families that wish to drive and car camp, the elderly and disabled - County Road 2 is the only way to get to the aspens and alpine areas. Fisherman - county Road 2 is the only access to Deep Creek and the endangered Cutthroat Trout, protected by pristine Wilderness waters from the Raggeds. For hikers, this access is beyond critical - from Buck Ranch there is no way to penetrate the cliffs of the Raggeds. Only County Road 2 provides this.
Finally, for the CB to Carbondale trail, the Colorado Scenic Byway's Feasibility Study recommends using County Road 2 to Erikson Springs. THIS IS NOT A PARALLEL trail. This would clear a series of existing trails, with 300 feet of elevation gain/loss, that is suitable for this CB-CARBONDALE TRAIL, as recommended, studied and paid for by the State of Colorado, with Gunnison County on the study. We taxpayers have paid a fortune for this impressive study, and now we stand to loose a critical section of this trail by loosing Erikson Springs to County Road 2 proposed trail, which happens to have old trails, old roads and PUBLIC ACCESS on PUBLIC LANDS. If we use CR12 for the CB-Carbondale trail, the trail MUST be located almost on CR12 and MUST be on a dangerous section of HWY 133 due to cliffs and rockfall. Is this really the vision the experience for this section? It is certainly not the recommended one in the state study. And while Deep Creek might not be on the Forest Management Plan, we are hoping in the light of the new oil and gas drilling and fracking that the we may petition for a reconsideration.

2. Paonia Town Council Special public meeting on the Land Swap - of those who spoke either positively or negatively - 80% of public at the meeting spoke out against the land swap, 20% spoke for the swap (most in favor were directly employed by Bill Koch) (numbers source, Paonia Town Council Special Meeting, Record of Proceedings, Town Clerk Barbara J Peterson). Main points listed in the minutes by speakers - access to County Road 2 for the elderly and disabled (can drive up to the aspens and alpine area, directly to the Raggeds Cliffs and almost to the Wilderness Boundary), prime hunting, prime fishing in Deep Creek, only access to Wilderness that is not a vertical cifff – like Buck Ranch, potential mtn bike loops, not an equal exchange, land was purchased knowing it was divided by public access (county road 2), Mr. Koch did not even come to the community, nor to the meeting, should be a local not national decision, no public access provided in trade, personal playground). Does the American Disabilities Act come into play here – CR2 provides access to the base of the Raggeds for the Elderly, the disabled, families with young children, etc. Buck Ranch will be private property, and even if a small section is given to those with diabilities ,such as the first mile of the motorized section as mentioned by Tom Glass, this is NOT the same experience as driving to the base of Deep Creek – with its immense Elk Herds, pristine fishing, car camping away from any oil and gas development, not to mention the skiing access at CR2 which is completely unavailable at Buck Ranch area. Buck Ranch is an easement, while CR2 is a large swath of public land.

3. Hawks Haven permanent access to JUMBO- Hawk's Haven is currently rewriting agreement with Town of Paonia, town would safeguard and be responsible for permenent access, move gate permenent parking area via vista drive. Town attorney is drafting lease aggreement right now, hopefull completion spring. (Hall Brill, Town of Paonia - Neil Schwieterman Town Council). The access that the land swap is presented is NOT needed or wanted. See below.

4. Whistling Acres (Access to Jumbo that Koch's team has bought) - There is a current or pending lawsuit that this is not a legal subdivision - a local resident sued County Commissioners. We are investigating the current status of this issue. If it is not a legal subdivision, then it cannot be used as a trailhead. There is concern with the user groups that this is the only legal access point where the oil and gas drilling and fracking could be enabled, and that this would also provide heavily motorized access to Jumbo. None of the groups supported this access. In addition, the lot purchased is between two residents, Jim Graff and Norma Jessen, both of which strongly oppose motorized access at this residential neighborhood. Both support access from Hawks Haven, which the Town of Paonia also supports due to the fact it is close to town and maintained by local biking groups and residents.

5. We lose the CB to Carbondale “trail” – it becomes a road ride for this side of the valley. Riding the Raggeds backwards is not a viable route for this trail, nor the preferred option according to the Colorado Scenic Byways Trail Feasibility Study, approved in 2004, supported by Gunnison County. This study was incredibly expensive and considered every part of the trail - it did not recommend using the Raggeds trail. The Raggeds trail is way too difficult for this CB/Carbondale trail - even ridden one way downhill (McClure to Erikson) this is an epic 7 hour adventure for the most hard core riders. Not one of us has ever ridden it backwards and uphill, nor would we ever want to. We are not proposing a parellel trail, we support the Trail Study listed above, which lists the best option from Erikson Springs up Munsey over to County Road 2 to Hwy 133. The land exchange also appears to remove one campground and one picnic area - important assets for those traveling the CB-Carbondale Trail, and at important points that camping and stopping is needed.
In Summary, the State has already done huge study, supported by the County. Taking $350,000 for trails on one side and removing trails from a community that has no trails is unfair to the public.
Link to Study: http://www.coloradodot.info/travel/scenic-byways/southwest/west-elk-loop/WestElkLoopBywayTrailStudy
Key pages are 25-27.

7. Appraisal - this is not a fair trade for the North Fork Valley, or the public. We have already lost all our trails and dirt road access (see list below). How do you place a value on one of our ONLY remaining trailheads? How much more valuable is Bear Ranch with the new land, and by the 1800 acres, and now a contiguous parcel – the “Yellow Book” valuation for this process does NOT have to value this for the public. Local governments can ask for this to be appraised by a third party of their choice – which is the only way to make sure the public gets a fair deal. . With our new losses to oil and gas proposed leasing, shouldn't we have a Wilderness to escape this madness? It is our only after work, close to town access point – the driving times provided by Tom Glass are missleading and do not represent the reality.

Regarding this appraisal, before a decision is made for future generations, more info must be obtained. We plan to contact Mark Weston, Annie Richenbach, and Dale Will from Pitkin County Trails.
Preliminary research has brought up the following points from Pitkin County:
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100519/NEWS/100519793&parentprofile=search
The county asked that language be included in the congressional bill proposing the exchange that would require appraising the value of Two Shoes Ranch without the BLM land, and then determining the ranch's value with the BLM acreage included. The approach would get at what Will called the “trophy ranch valuation” of the consolidated lands — about 5, 600 acres in all. This type of appraisal is NOT required by the Bear Ranch land exchange, in fact the public get shortchanged in the appraisal process many times, as shown here:
Problem with the Yellow Book appraisal process for land exchanges:
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/2010100809838

8. Trail user groups wanted to partially give you an idea of the access that has been lost here:
AGAIN ALMOST ZERO Legal trail access in the valley.

The following access points are in a circle around the town of Paonia, and go down to Hotchkiss and up to County Road 2 area:
• Stevens Gulch -
• Roatcap Creek - losing access due to new oak creek coal mine
• Westmorland Mine closed access on the right side of Gulch
• Trails by snowmobile area - not legal access - private land
• Stucker Mesa - Lost access due to private land
• Oak Creek - Lost due access to private land, and now and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Sunshine Mesa - Lost due to private land, and now and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Powell Mesa - lost due to private land, and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Wolf Park - lost seasonal access due wildlife restriction and now also private land
• Leroux Creek - will loose most access due to new Oak Mesa Coal Mine - already lost access to public road due to existing oil and gas drilling in 2011
• McDonald - gnarly so limited access
• McClusky State Wildlife - lost partially due to season closures
• Roeber State Wildlife Area - lost partially due to seasonal closures
• Lone Cabin - lost partially by seasonal closure
• Minnesota Creek - will lose most due to oil and gas drilling near town, already lost further stuff due to Elk Creek Coal mine vents/roads/noise/subsidence
• Jumbo - while proposed for Mtn Biking - the entire riding area is proposed for the current oil and gas leasing/fracking
• Elephant Hill - turns to drill blm on either side, but lost due to private land
• Redtop Peak and powerline road to Jumbo - lost due to private land and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Grange Rd - road and access to trails on either side lost due to private land and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Lennox Mesa - from Jumbo, lost due to private land and now oil and gas drilling/fracking
• Elk Creek -= closed due to coal mining - Oxbow Mine
• Bear Creek - mine locks gate - not being mined but closed due to Oxbow Mine
• Hubbard - mostly closed due to coal mining danger - rockfall, subsidence
• Freeman gulch - closed due to rockfall danger from coal mining
• sheep corral gulch - closed due to rockfall danger from coal mining
• Terror creek BLM road - lost to coal mining vent and truck traffic from Bowie Coal Mine and private property
• Farmers mine road/trail - closed due to Bowie Coal mine, and now losing due to oil and gas drilling/fracking

Best,
Alison Gannett, Holy Terror Farm 42485 Highway 133, Paonia, Colorado

KEEN Rippin Chix Steeps Camp Silverton 2012

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:37:33 -0700

Silverton brings me back to what skiing was like as a kid - no frills, no heat, no fancy food, crappy toilets, but GREAT SKIING. Again this year, we had several feet of powder - last year 3.5 feet, this year, this year 61”. I’m knocking on wood as we speak!

This year, champion skier/steeps instructor Karen Reader an myself had two groups - one for intro level double black diamond skiers, what I call “B Level” for my Rippin Chix Camps, and one upper level double black diamond skiers, what I call my “C/D level” We were accompanied by two of Silverton’s best guides - Kim Grant and Sheldon Kerr, two rippin chickas that know their stuff regarding the terrain, avalanches, and most importantly, where to find the fresh powder each run. We went over basic beacon use, how to assemble a probe quickly, and what to do in the unlikely event of an avalanche. It is all standard procedure at Silverton, there is lots of avy control, but only one double chairlift that accesses only double black diamond ungroomed terrain, miles from the nearest definitive hospital care. This is the real deal, and some of the best skiing in the world.

The first day, Sheldon and I took the B group and started off on a hike to find some great more mellow powder to warm up. Many gals had eyes like saucers, as they had never hiked at 12,000 plus feet in such spectacular and exposed terrain! The practice session on how to put skis on our Osprey Karve demo packs that morning in The Grand Imperial Hotel paid off, as gals slapped those skis in the vertical carry position like they had done it their whole life, and charged past the boyz. I’m going to put a shameless plug in, because the this ski carry system not only converts to carrying snowboards in 2 seconds, but also cinches the whole pack load down when you tighten your skis on the upper strap, which is BRILLIANT.

Back to the skiing, we were so blessed with powder! Video from Day One, showing the easy way to learn flag air (eventually for entering a cornice or jumping a rock or log), practicing high-speed sideslip for super tight couloirs, then into the many tricks for powder:
Speaking of demo gear, we had tons of fun gear to demo from Patagonia for the gals to test, now all recyclable into new gear starting in 2012! We were also demoing the non-toxic sunscreen and All Good Lips from Elemental Herbs - typical sunscreens contain carcinogens and endocrine disruptors that can cause several different types of cancer. Check out your sunscreen’s rating - http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Karen and I then flip-flopped groups, and Kim and Sheldon kept showing us the goods, run after run. We worked on airplane air, flag air, high-speed sideslip, looking ahead, serving martinis (hands down the hill), using the mountain to our advantage, how to ski with less effort, tricks to keep our hands from dropping, and what to do when you are scared or nervous.

Here is the video from Day 2, starting off with Kim Grant showin us how it is done:

Want to join us? My next camp at Red Mtn BC Canada is sold out, but I’m teaching several camps at http://www.coldsmokepowderfest.com in Whitewater BC Canada and http://www.FreeRideFlowFestival in Kirkwood, California.

Camps for 2013 are starting to go online. Book now for KEEN Rippin Chix at Crystal Mtn Washington Feb 9-10th at http://www.AlisonGannett.com. More camps for 2013 go online any minute now, and should include Alta Utah, Red Mtn Canada, Silverton, and Whitewater. Book early as they sell out fast!

Coming this summer are KEEN Rippin Chix Mtn Bike Camps with Osprey Talon and Verve hydration demos (Fruita, Moab, Crested Butte, Paonia, Gunnison) , and a beginner/never ever and intermediate surf camps in El Salvador just after Thanksgiving 2012. Get updates on Rippin Chix Steeps camp with Alison Gannett on Facebook or my website above.

The second best thing about Silverton Mountain is the unheated rustic yurt and drinking beer with the team. This year I provided all the food from our Holy Terror Farm, and hosted my infamous “Green Trivia Contest” - with big prizes from Osprey, Patagonia, NEMO, Elemental Herbs, and KEEN Footwear.

Proposed North Fork Valley Oil and Gas Leases

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:07:46 -0700

Holy Terror Farm’s 75 page letter to the BLM - Click Here

YouTube Video of Rifle Man - Colorado rancher Rick Roles detailing his personal sickness and his livestock problems:

YouTube Video of Jamie Frederick from Coitsville, Ohio detailing her personal sickness and drilling experiences

The Conservation Center: Paonia enviro group Google Earth arial tour, showing how the drilling is next to and encircling our schools, public pools, businesses, homes and farms.

Citizens for a Healthy Community - Paonia enviro group using the Western Environmental Law Center to sue the BLM

NORTH FORK FRACKING Facebook Page

Todd Sheets google earth video showing the massiveness of the BLM leasing (no need to download or install anything, just play).
New video: Todd Sheet's new video showing how the leasing is right in our communities, farms, and schools

Caroline Metzler has compiled a great fact/link list:

Lazaros Bountour latest post showing how Colorado allows dumping of radioactive fracking wastewater in the Denver Post

Alison Gannett's fact/link List Alison's farm/fracking video with Todd Sheets - The Dreaded Red Line .

Photo Tour of Holy Terror Farm - Frack our foodshed?

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:41:49 -0700

Pro Mountain Biker Alison Gannett riding on Jumbo- parcel 6190
She teaches mountain bikes camps with a commercial guiding permit from the BLM on this parcel. Mountain Bike guests camp at Holy Terror farm, bordering parcel 6207, and surrounded by proposed parcels on all sides.

Holy Terror Farm- Alison walks the dogs on this parcel 6207 every day. Kids farm camps camp here Bwith tents and campfires.

Families come visit the farm, and get to meet all the animals, including Hank, an Akbash who guards the orchard and chickens.
All the farm water for Holy Terror Farm comes from parcel 6207

Hank and his sister Blue guard the chickens from mountain lions, bears, skunks and racoons. All the wildlife and animals drink water from parcel 6207.

Holy Terror Farm's Hay is all chemical-free and irrigated with water from Parcel 6207, shown behind the tractor.

U-pick fruit is a popular pastime at Holy Terror Farm. All the water for the fruit comes from parcel 6207. Agri-tourism is a $1.26 Billion dollar industry in Colorado, and growing!

Our pristine irrigation water all comes from inside parcel 6207, directly from Terror Creek. Kids love to play and swim in the irrigation ditches. All our animals drink this water from parcel 6207.

At Holy Terror Farm, we are almost 100% self-sustainable - growing and raising all our own food and fuel with water from parcel 6207.

Holy Terror Farm Vacationers Asher Mathews, age 5 Boulder, CO
His favorite things about the farm are: the pigs, especially Porkchop, playing in the river, picking vegetables, getting the eggs from the chickens, moving the cows, playing with the dogs that protect the vegetables.

Meara came all the way from Japan to do an apprenticeship on our Holy Terror Farm, here pitting cherries. The North Fork Valley is a hub for those wanting to grow without chemicals. It is the largest concentration or Organic farmers in the state of Colorado, and one of the largest in the Country. The county produces 77% of the states apples, almost all the cherries, is second largest in fruits, berries and nuts, and number 3 for bee colonies. Holy Terror Farm once produced 2% of the States cherries!

Benjie came all the way from Australia to apprentice on Holy Terror Farm. All our chickens are chemical-free, watered from parcel 6207. Here she learns how to process chickens.

Bacon, the pig, loves to bathe in the water from parcel 6207.
Our rare-breed Scottish Highland cows enjoy chemical -free grass watered by parcel 6207.

Holy Terror Farm owner Alison Gannett hosts an dinner at the farm, with 100% of the food grown in the gardens, fields and orchards.
All watered with irrigation from parcel 6207.

Film crews come from all over the world to Holy Terror Farm and The North Fork Valley for its agricultural self-sustainability, recreational tourism, and scenic beauty. Alison was dubbed “The queen of Green” by the Denver Post. State Senator Gail Schwartz brought The Colorado Food System Advisory Council to Holy Terror farm for agri-educational tour in 2011.

Parcel 6207 and 6205 are in the background for this photo shoot for KEEN FOOTWEAR. Other shoots include Patagonia, Outside Magazine and Outside Television, New Zealand documentary, Osprey backpacks, and a documentary for Telluride Mountain Film Festival and Banff Film Festival. Alison was names a Green all-Star next to Leaonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Alison’s family first came to Paonia in 1874.

Holy Terror Farm owner Jason Trimm eats a chemical-free peach right off the tree. U-pick fruit is a popular activity for school groups and farm-stays.
All water for the fruit comes from parcel 6207.

Visitors to our Holy Terror Farm hike up this BLM trail on parcel 6207 almost every day. Hunters and fishermen also use this trail.

Holy Terror Farm over looks parcels 6205, 6207, and 6190. Weddings are held in the gardens, overlooking the parcels.

Our pigs have a view of parcel 6207 on Holy Terror Farm. They are chemical-free and raised on pasture grasses irrigated with water drawn from parcel 6207

Our cows drinking water from parcel 6207, which contains Terror Creek, and the source of all of Holy Terror Farm's 1889 Homestead water.

Holy Terror Farms gardens are all chemical-free. We grow and raise all our own food, as well as sell direct to customers wanting chemical-free food.
The gardens get all their water from parcel 6207, on Terror Creek, shown behind the farm.

Farm owner Alison Gannett mountain biking with her dogs on Parcel 6207

Holy Terror Farm hosts weddings, reunions, farm-stays, and farm-to-table dinners, overlooking parcels 6207, 6205, and 6190.

Families come to Holy Terror Farm with their kids to hike, bike, swim and learn where their fruit, veggies and meat comes from.
Parcel 6207 in the background.

Holy Terror Farm Owner Alison Gannett shows the days chemical-free grape harvest, irrigated with water from parcel 6207

Holy Terror Farm owner Jason Trimm - chickens, dogs, cows, pigs, and humans all get their water from parcel 6207.
The Akbash livestock guardian dogs protect the orchard from deer and elk, and guard the pigs and chickens from mountain lions, bears, skunks and racoons.

Holy Terror Farm has over 200 varieties of fruits, nuts and berries - these chemical-free orchards all get water directly from parcel 6207

Everyone loves to hike on parcel 6207, shown here, overlooking Holy Terror Farm.

Hiking from Holy Terror Farm up on parcel 6207. From here we can see the town of Paonia and at least 15 proposed parcels for oil and gas drilling.
We have great jobs from agriculture and tourism - why ruin those jobs?

Hiking on Holy Terror Farm up the trail - photographer is standing on parcel 6207. The Fire Mountain Canal, water for 488 farmers and residents of Paonia, behind farm owner jason trimm. In 2010, the landslide area blew out the ditch and almost washed away our farm. Any additional seismic activity from oil and gas drilling on parcel 6207 would be a hazard to health and human safety. This ditch could wash away the Hotchkiss school.

For our farm tourists, they love to swim in our pond at Holy Terror Creek, all fed directly from Parcel 6207.

Kids love to swim and fish in Terror Creek - one of our swimming holes on parcel 6207.

Holy Terror Farm's lush chemical-free orchard, just below parcel 6207 in background.

Prepping our chemical-free gardens on Holy Terror Farm. Water from within parcel 6207, with views onto parcel 6205, 6207 and 6190

We grow our own grains and beans at Holy Terror Farm. These chemical-free foods rely on clean water from parcel 6207.

Mountain Bike Camp at Holy Terror Farm getting ready to ride on Jumbo Mountain (parcel 6190)

Families come to camp with their kids at Holy Terror Farm, and hike, bike and swim in parcel 6207.

Mountain Bike Camp at Holy Terror Farm, bordering parcel 6207, and surrounded 360 degrees by proposed parcels. Campers come from all over the world and the USA.

Giant herds of Elk , deer and turkeys live at the and parcel. 6207 in the winter. Bike Camp participants relish the pristine views at the trails and farm.