Crater Trail On West Side Of Rocky Mountain National Park Will Remain Closed

落基山脉国家公园西侧的火山口步道将继续关闭

Date: August 12, 2014

日期：2014年8月12日

Contact: Kyle Patterson, (970) 586-1363

联系人：Kyle Patterson，（970）586-1363

Due to excessive erosion and damage to sensitive natural and cultural resources, the Crater Trail, a short trail located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, will remain closed to use for the remainder of this year. The Crater Trail is a one-mile long, dead end trail that is normally open to visitor use after mid-August each year following the bighorn sheep lambing season. The trail leads to the top of the Continental Divide and provides an overview of "The Crater" located on the west side of Specimen Mountain.

由于过度侵蚀和对敏感自然和文化资源的破坏，位于落基山国家公园西侧的短径火山口步道将在今年剩余时间内关闭使用。火山口步道是一条一英里长的死胡同，通常在每年8月中旬大角羊产羔季节后向游客开放。这条小径通往大陆分水岭的顶部，并概述了位于标本山西侧的“火山口”。

Park staff are considering closing the Crater Trail permanently. The trail was never designed and constructed.Instead, it evolved from an informal footpath. Unfortunately, the trail is not sustainable in its current location and is subject to significant erosion which is damaging sensitive cultural and natural resources, including alpine tundra.Improving the trail in its current location is not desirable because the cost of long term maintenance would be excessive. The trail leads directly to the Specimen Mountain Research Natural Area (RNA). There are three RNAs in the park. These specially designated areas are an integral part of the park's designation as an International Biosphere Reserve.RNAs contain prime examples of natural resources and processes that have value for baseline and long-term studies for scientific and educational purposes. Providing direct access runs counter to the purposes for which the Specimen Mountain RNA was established.

公园工作人员正在考虑永久关闭火山口步道。这条小径从未被设计和建造过。相反，它是从一条非正式的小径演变而来的。不幸的是，这条小径在目前的位置是不可持续的，并且受到严重侵蚀，破坏了敏感的文化和自然资源，包括高山苔原。改善当前位置的步道是不可取的，因为长期维护的成本过高。这条小径直接通往标本山研究自然区（RNA）。公园内有三个RNAs。这些特别指定的区域是公园被指定为国际生物圈保护区不可或缺的一部分。RNA包含自然资源和过程的主要例子，对科学和教育目的的基线和长期研究具有价值。提供直接访问与建立样本山RNA的目的背道而驰。

While park staff considered relocating the Crater Trail to a more sustainable location, doing so would adversely impact natural and cultural resources, and would have run counter to the purposes for the Specimen Mountain RNA. The Mount Ida Trail, located across the valley from the Crater Trail, offers a similar visitor experience without the impacts and encumbrances of the Crater Trail.

虽然公园工作人员考虑将火山口步道搬迁到更可持续的地方，但这样做会对自然和文化资源产生不利影响，并与标本山RNA的目的背道而驰。位于火山口步道对面山谷的伊达山步道提供了类似的游客体验，没有火山口步道的影响和障碍。

Park staff welcome comments on the proposal to permanently close the Crater Trail. Please provide your written comments no later than September 30, 2014. The preferred method for providing comments is to use the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO - from the home page click on the "Crater Trail Project."

公园工作人员欢迎对永久关闭火山口步道的提议发表意见。请在2014年9月30日之前提供您的书面意见。提供意见的首选方法是使用国家公园管理局规划、环境和公众意见（PEPC）网站：https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO-在主页上单击“火山口步道项目”

For further information on Rocky Mountain National Park please contact the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

有关落基山国家公园的更多信息，请拨打（970）586-1206与公园信息办公室联系。