Access Fund: Bridal Veil Falls To Re-Open To Climbers After Decades Old Ban

November 27, 2008

The Access Fund has released the news that Telluride’s famed Bridal Veil Falls will re-open to climbers on December 5th. Bridal Veil Falls is Colorado’s tallest free-flowing waterfall and has garnered a reputation as being one of the country’s hardest and most difficult ice climbs. The Idarado Mining Company, who currently owns the land that Bridal Veil Falls runs on, has had the area closed for a few decades except for a few brief and intermittant openings that allowed climber access.

The Trust For Public Lands, Idarado Mining Company, The Telluride Mountain Club, The Access Fund, and Colorado’s San Miguel County were able to negotiate for the new measure to re-open the famed area for climbers. The Idarado Mining Company will still hold a revocable public access license allowing climbers into the area. No time-table on a future closing has been given.

The opening of the key access point to Bridal Veil Falls was managed by The Trust for Public Land, a non-profit land conservation organization dedicated to helping communities all around the country save special places for everyone to enjoy. Their work has made a real difference around Telluride, Ouray and Silverton, where they have protected over 10,000 acres for the public, including other outstanding climbing resources such as Wilson Peak and the Ouray Ice Park.

A climber’s general information meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the county meeting room, Miramonte Building, 333 West Colorado Ave (2nd floor) Telluride, CO. All interested climbers are invited to attend.

This is coming from The Access Fund’s main website.

The revocable public access license has been granted as long as certain rules are adhered to. These include signing in at a climbing kiosk, staying away from the Powerhouse area at the top of the falls, and ensuring that all climbers rappel down, rather than taking another method. To learn more about the rules and regulations associated with the opening of Bridal Veil Falls, or to se an area Topo map, head over to San Juan Ice Climbs.

The Access Fund is hoping that members and climbers will respect the area, follow safety measures, and practice good ethics while in the area. They also request that climbers educate others on the proper practices and procedures to ensure that Bridal Veil Falls remains open to those wishing to atempt one of the hardest ice climbs in the country. To read more information on the Bridal Veil Falls opening, I highly suggest checking out the informative article over at The Access Fund’s website.

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