The following are some examples of comments about some of the trails on another list in this blog.  Please feel free to use these to assist you in making YOUR comments... Just don't copy and paste them.  (if you do, the BLM counts them as one comment only)
Read these comments and then put them in YOUR OWN WORDS.  You can say basically the same thing, just not exactly the same.

Specific Trail Comments

BLM GJFO RMP

Coon Hollow Road/Trail (North and West of De Beque, CO)

Area F -- F195; F196; F172; F655; F609; and others

1.      Some history:

a.     The Coon Hollow Road/Trail is an extremely rare kind of experience for Jeep-size vehicles and other OHVs in the entire GJFO jurisdiction and in the entire western U.S.

b.    In the GJFO management area, there are only three roads/trails that meet the following criteria:

                                              i.     Class 7 for difficulty and over 4-miles in length

                                            ii.     Scenic, yet not easily seen from the immediate area

                                          iii.     Challenge the driver’s skills and the capabilities of the vehicle

c.     The Coon Hollow road/trail has been added to the requested road/trail inventory for special use permits for the Grand Mesa Jeep Club’s annual “Rock Junction 2013” event.

d.    The Grand Mesa Jeep Club may formally submit to the BLM for “Adopt-A-Trail” status of the Coon Hollow road/trail.

                                              i.     This would allow the Grand Mesa Jeep Club to maintain this road/trail through volunteerism

                                            ii.     This would keep maintenance costs to a minimum for the BLM.

e.    The Mayor of De Beque (Wayne Klahn) strongly supports keeping the Coon Hollow road/trail open to all motorized use.

f.      The community of De Beque will benefit directly socially and economically from keeping the Coon Hollow road/trail open to all motorized use.

                                              i.     The Coon Hollow road/trail is relatively close to Interstate 70.  Access from the interstate would be easy.

                                            ii.     As the Coon Hollow road/trail gains in notoriety, more traffic can be anticipated as it would have “quick access” from an Interstate Highway.

2.     Expected Experiences

a.      The driving experience of the Coon Hollow Road/Trail going up is totally different than the coming down experience, making it two entirely different experiences.

                                              i.     Going up you see primarily blue sky and the narrow road through the trees and brush off the sides of the ridge.

                                            ii.     Coming down, the view through your windshield opens to a panorama of grand vistas clear to and over the town of De Begue to the Battlement Mesa

                                          iii.     As a “Cherry-stemmed” road/trail into an area with “Wilderness Characteristics”, the Coon Hollow road/trail is extremely unique.  This experience is rarely found anywhere.

1.    Anyone with a vehicle capable of accessing the upper Coon Hollow road/trail or who can ride with those that do, will have the chance to have a true “Wilderness Experience” without the need for all the personal physical exertion normally required.  This access would allow people with disabilities, youth and/or the elderly not up to walking these distances and steep grades the pleasures of a true “Wilderness Experience” in a truly beautiful setting.

3.     We ask that the BLM give serious consideration to changing the 2013 RMP management of the entire length of the Coon Hollow road/trail as an Open, “Primitive” road/trail, with all Motorized vehicular use being the “Primary” recreational use under the designation of SRMA.

The Pace Lake Road/Trail:

 (on the northwest corner of Sinbad Valley) 

Area W, W217; W103; W17; W18; W19; W209;

1.     History:

a.    The Pace Lake Road/Trail is a very rare, difficult, and primitive road/trail.  Depending on where you measure from, it’s length can be nearly 10-miles one-way.

b.   The history, geology, wildlife, and scenic vistas provided by the Sinbad Valley/ Sewemup Mesa area make this road/trail very special to the 4-wheeling community.

c.    After several years of closure by Mother Nature Grand Mesa Jeep Club member Jerry Smith reopened this road/trail in the fall of 2008.  Every year since then, he (and occasionally others) have reopened and performed the required maintenance to keep this primitive road/trail accessible and sustainable by those adventurous enough to try it.

d.  Historically, the first trip into Pace Lake each spring requires removal of large rocks, fallen trees, and brush trimming from the roadway surface.   Much of the fallen rock and brush trimmings end up as new barriers/ diversions for erosion done from spring run-off.  The run-off through the “burned area” can be substantial depending on the snowpack and spring weather circumstances.

e.    The Pace Lake road/trail has had a special use permit for the Grand Mesa Jeep Club annual “Rock Junction” event which has already been applied for in 2013 as well.

f.      Much of the Pace Lake road/trail is a Mesa County “vested interest” county road.

g.    The Grand Mesa Jeep Club may consider applying for “Adopt-A-Road” status for the Pace Lake road/trail.

2.     Expected Experience(s):

a.    The Pace Lake road/trail has many qualities that make it unique and highly desirable to the 4x4 public:

                                              i.     The scenic vistas, both near and far, are spectacular.

                                            ii.     The “Primitive” condition of the road/trail provides users a considerable challenge to both driver skills and vehicle capability.

                                          iii.     The area geology is very interesting and unique.

1.    The salinity of Salt Creek

2.    The collapse of the salt dome on the valley floor

3.    Copper mining (the Copper Rivet mine)

4.    How the elevation changes the geology

                                           iv.     Area history including:

1.    The McCarty Gang and cattle rustling

2.    Sewemup Mesa

3.    The Pace family ranch(es)

                                             v.     Wildlife

1.    Chances of seeing elk, deer, or black bear are very good.

3.     We ask that the BLM seriously consider the follow change to the 2013 RMP regarding the Pace Lake road/trail.

a.    With the cooperation of the Manti La Sal National Forest, a long “Loop Route” could be established.

                                              i.     By connecting the Pace Lake road/trail with an existing route at the southern boundary of the Sky Mesa Ranch (at the southeast corner of the National Forest) that eventually connects with the John Brown road, we would have an estimated 30-mile loop road.

We of the Jeeping community ask the BLM to consider changing the 2013 BLM RMP for managing the Pace Lake Road/Trail as an “Open” “Primitive” road/trail, allowing 4-wheel drive, ATV, and Motorcycle uses to be the “Primary” recreational uses under the designation of SRMA.

The Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail

Area V;  11.5 Rd; V921; V3122; V976; V528; V138; V432

1.      Some history of the Calamity Mesa and trails/roads used by the public:

a.   The Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail basically begins and ends at the 4’ x 8’ yellow Uranium Warning sign along the 11.5 Mesa County road near the Arrowhead Camp and airstrip.  From there it follows the 11.5 County road to a mid-level bench of lower Calamity Mesa overlooking the Blue Creek Ranch property.  From there it goes north around a lower elevation of the west side of Calamity Mesa to the north side and then climbs back up to the warning sign to the east.

b.   This roughly 20-mile loop is an “unequaled gem of wealth” to the 4x4 community.  Primitive Roads/Trails of this length and level of difficulty (Class 7 or 7+) are extremely unique and difficult to find in the entire U.S.

c.   In November of 2008, members of the Grand Mesa Jeep Club first traveled the Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail with extreme difficulty.  The route had been closed to all motorized travel for several years (possibly up to 15-years) by numerous events of Mother Nature.

d.  In the spring of 2009, members of the Grand Mesa Jeep Club and Western Slope 4-wheelers of Montrose worked for two days to make the Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail open to use as a very “primitive” class 7 or 7+ road/trail.

e.   Every year since, the Grand Mesa Jeep Club has reopened the trail after the spring run-off.

f.     The Grand Mesa Jeep Club, for their annual “Rock Junction” event has retained special event permits for the Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail and it is presently under consideration for the same again this year (2013).

g.   The Calamity Mesa Loop Road/Trail is also currently being considered for “Adopt-a-Trail” status by the Grand Mesa Jeep Club.

2.      Experience(s) to be expected:

a.   Many scenic vistas along this road/trail can literally be overwhelming.

                                             i.     The Blue Creek gorge and its confluence with the Delores River by itself is spectacular.  Adding the view of Sewemup Mesa WSA as a back drop enhances this view and the very tops of the La Sal mountains are visible just beyond.

                                           ii.     Looking up Salt Creek canyon from the elevated Calamity Mesa Loop road/trail is another awe inspiring vista.

b.   The history of Calamity Mesa is primarily of the Uranium/Vanadium age.  The Calamity Camp rebuilding is a clear look back on some of that history.

c.   The Calamity Mesa Loop is a very primitive road/trail… so primitive, we have named 12-obstacles.  These obstacles are very close to “extreme” in difficulty and require great driver skills and a vehicle with better than stock capability.  Everyone who has been over this road has come away with a sore face from smiling all day.

d.  There are numerous spur roads to old mine sites along the loop that are full of historical and cultural values. 

e.   Many of the spur roads also provide further opportunities for challenging driving as the roadways are full of obstacles.

1.      We of the “Jeeping community” would ask the BLM to consider changing the 2013 RMP to manage the Calamity Mesa Loop as an “Open” “Primitive” road/trail, allowing 4-wheel drive, ATV, and Motorcycle uses to be the “Primary” recreational uses under the designation of SRMA.

2.      The Calamity Mesa Airstrip road/trail:  V328; V668; V792; V791; V979; V985; V982; V989;

3.      Some history of the Calamity Mesa Airstrip road/trail:

a.   In September of 2009, Grand Mesa Jeep Club member Jerry Smith first explored this road/trail.  The majority of the road/trail runs on the top of Calamity Mesa and is suitable for most SUVs with some high ground clearance.  The only signs of use were some ATV tracks.  The lower end of the road/trail drops down a canyon to the 11.5 Rd. (Calamity Mesa Loop).  In the canyon, the road/trail crosses a wash several times.  In this area, Gambel Oak had completely overgrown the road surface completely closing the route.  The oak brush was cut and removed from the road surface and placed to act as erosion control.  Once the 11.5 Rd is reached, any stock vehicles would be advised to return the way they came from.

b.  The Calamity Mesa Airstrip road/trail was included in the 2012 and again in the 2013 “Rock Junction” event BLM Special Use Permit.

4.      A newly designated SRMA of the Calamity Mesa Loop could also include the road/trail from the airstrip on the top of Calamity Mesa that travels down the mesa top and eventually connects to the Calamity Mesa Loop road/trail on the 11.5 Rd.

a.   This Calamity Mesa Airstrip road/trail has several breath taking vistas including overlooking Flat Top Mesa, Little Maverick Canyon, the top of Sewemup Mesa, the upper La Sal mountain range just to mention a few.

b.  Though the top of Calamity Mesa is not as difficult, once on the Calamity Mesa Loop, the driver must either return the way they came from or be able to negotiate many of the very difficult “Named Obstacles” of the Calamity Mesa Loop.

c.   Because of the ease of access, the top of Calamity Mesa and the road/trail down to the point of entering the canyon would be a highly recommended area for “Quiet Users”, mountain biking, equestrians, and other motorized uses.  The serenity and the scenery together are simply awesome.  Much of the hiking, horse riding, or mountain biking would be easy to moderate on the mesa top making for an excellent experience.

Other Calamity Mesa desirable road segments

These road/trail segments have significant historical values.  Many have mining relics and cabins left over from the Uranium/Vanadium mining period. 

Several of these road/trail(s) also provide challenging sections to the driver’s skills and vehicle capabilities. 

They could be used for primitive day-use or camping, exploration of historical sites, and photographic opportunities of cultural and national heritage values.

For those without vehicles capable of negotiating some of the primitive roads, the opportunity to hike, horseback, or mountain bike is still available and would make for some excellent experiences for “quiet users”.

Ø V428, V427, V426, V423, (go to old mining dump truck and Equipment near New Verde Mine)

Ø V420, V421;   (goes to a Uranium Mine site)

Ø V143, (Provides a loop through several mine sites)

Ø V184, (Provides a loop to great views of Calamity Creek)

Ø V567, V768, V566, V564 (Provides a loop to great views of Calamity Cr and a mine site)

Ø V562, V563,

Ø V138,  (goes out to a great vista point not far from Juanita Arch)

Ø What I believe is V551, (a road that cuts across the southern end of the Arrowhead Airstrip headed westerly and north and loops around headed south to what is marked as V551) – {this part is not shown as open, closed, or administrative on Google Earth}  V551, V770, V138;  This is a fun 4x4 loop.  Mines, cabins, and a difficult hill climb on the south end make this a good loop road for an afternoon or half-day trip.  The cabins provide great opportunities for photography, historical exploration, and a look into the past and how the miners lived.