Maroon Bells

Maroon Lake and Maroon Bells, pre-dawn photo, 19 September 2012.

Unlike other mountains in the Rockies that are composed of granite and limestone, the Bells are composed of metamorphic sedimentary mudstone that has hardened into rock over millions of years. Mudstone is weak and fractures readily, giving rise to dangerously loose rock along almost any route. A US Forest Service sign on the access trail warns would-be climbers of "downsloping, loose, rotten and unstable" rock that "kills without warning". The mudstone is also responsible for the Bells' distinctive maroon color. The Bells got their "deadly" reputation in 1965 when eight people died in five separate accidents.

Maroon Lake elevation 9,580 ft (2,920 m) occupies a basin that was sculpted by Ice-Age glaciers and later dammed by a landslide and rockfall debris from the steep slopes above the valley floor.

The Maroon Bells are an increasingly popular destination for the day and overnight visitors; around 300,000 people visit the Bells every season.[9] Due to the large volume of visitors, a bus service runs every day from 8am-5pm from mid-June through the first weekend in October. During these times, and with just a few exceptions, personal vehicle access is limited to those with handicap placards or disability license plates. The bus runs from Aspen Highlands to Maroon Lake every 20 minutes. The Maroon Bells scenic area features several hiking trails ranging from short hikes near Maroon Lake to longer overnight backpacking trips into the Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness.[10][11] Not only is the use of trails and other outdoor recreational space growing, the overall population of Colorado is growing as well. It is expected that 100,000 people will move to Colorado each year for the next two decades.[12] By 2050, the population of Colorado is expected to increase from 5.5 million to 8.5 million,[13] and with this population growth recreational tourism will continue to grow. In 2017, 1 in 4 of Colorado's 86 million visitors spent most of their trip in mountain towns and resorts.[14] This rapid growth poses challenges for Forest Services to properly maintain natural areas, and if changes are not made to how the recreational space is utilized, wilderness areas like the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness trails will feel the impacts of human traffic.

Because the Maroon Bells area receives such high levels of visitor use, the USFS has established a long-term plan to protect and preserve the scenic area and larger wilderness areas. Solutions include the required use of bear canisters for backcountry campers, management of day and overnight use, leashed dog education and ticketing, reduction of heavy horse use in high use areas, and prohibiting overnight camping and excessive day use at particular sites.[15] Recently, the US Forest Service (USFS) has come up with a paid permit plan to aid preservation efforts. The permit system was created to allow visitors to stay overnight while mitigating environmental damage and preserving the highly visited area. A permit is required year-round, and limits campers to stay in the Conundrum Creek Valley area from Silver Dollar Pond to Triangle Pass.[16] Campsite limits range from 2 to 6 people, depending on the campsite location. The USFS limits the number of permits to 2 permits per person per calendar year and the maximum stay from June 1- September 1 is 3 nights; the maximum stay for the rest of the year is 7 nights.[17] The Conundrum Hot Springs alone can attract up to 300 people a night.[18]

Conundrum Hot Springs

Specific environmental impacts can occur due to the high number of visitors the Maroon Bells experiences each year. See below for more information.

Maroon Bells, two peaks in the Elk Mountains that are less than half-mile apart, are reflected on Maroon Lake

Water pollution

The Maroon Bells Recreation area is surrounded by Maroon Creek, which feeds into Crater Lake and Maroon Lake. These natural freshwater ecosystems fill from snowmelt from the surrounding peaks and precipitation, and are major sources of water for the city of Aspen,CO.[19] According to the study Environmental Impacts of Tourism on Lakes,[20] water pollution can occur through indirect and direct methods. Direct pollution to these natural bodies of water occurs when visitors choose to wade or throw items into these bodies of water, disrupting the fragile biodiversity. An increase in human-traffic,such as the increase in the number of visitors who drive up Maroon Creek Road, is an example of indirect pollution. This constant vehicular traffic releases pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur dioxide into the water and air.

Body of water along West Maroon Creek, facing east-northeast.

U.S. Forest Service officials were concerned about the high nitrogen compound levels in the waters at the Maroon Bells in 2003.[21] Officials mentioned that the increase in population and recreation in Colorado as well as an increase in the number of vehicles could be a cause of the elevated nitrogen compound levels, as these sources emit pollutants. When precipitation forms over peaks like the Maroon Bells, these pollutants fall back to the Earth's surface and can travel into the river and lakes, harming fish, insects, and plants, particularly because of high levels of nitrogen. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency further supports the relationship between pollutants and their negative impacts on lakes, streams, and rivers.[22]

Trail erosion

Another impact of overcrowding in the Maroon Bells trail erosion due to the overwhelming number of visitors. High-traffic hiking can lead to negative environmental outcomes such as “soil disruption, loss of native plant species, vegetation, introduction of weeds and pathogens.”[23] Maroon Bells offers several trails for day-use as well as overnight use; however, many visitors that see the Maroon Bells will make the trek on popular trails surrounding Maroon and Crater Lake. When hikers stray from these highly trafficked trails, they end up establishing “social trails.” These hiker-created trails are not designed to be sensitive to the fragile ecosystem, and often further hurt the natural beauty of the area by damaging vegetation. A recent project to "rope off" sensitive areas to prohibit social trails was implemented in 2018 well.[24]

Pictograms-nps-misc-stay on trail

Human waste

With an increase in human traffic on trails and in wilderness areas, human waste has become a serious issue.[25] Areas surrounding Condunrum Hot Springs, the Maroon Bells, and the Maroon-Bells Wilderness area has dealt with visitors not practicing proper human waste disposal. Besides the foul smell, human waste can contaminate local water systems and spread disease.[26] It is necessary to use facilities when available as human waste can contain harmful bacteria that can put populations at risk if exposed to it. For those visitors who go further into the backcountry, taking necessary steps to reduce this contamination is critical. In addition to this report, the book Colorado Recreation Guide, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests mentions the importance of if an individual must “go in the woods” to make sure to stay away from vegetation as the acidity in urine can impair plant growth.[27]

In an attempt to mitigate some of the human waste concerns, the Forest Service recently implemented a human waste awareness campaign (launched around the same time as the paid permit plan). The awareness campaign included educational information on responsible waste disposal (including how to dig cat holes to dispose human feces) as well as the allocation of free portable toilets, called “wag bags,” for all visitors. The Forest Service announced a decline in improperly disposed human waste since the campaign began; however, it is important to continue these efforts.[28]

LeaveNoTrace

Studies have shown increased levels of pharmaceutical elements (for example, insect repellant), hormones, and related chemicals in waterways downstream from areas of high backpacker use. Additionally, a 2016 study of water and sediment samples from wilderness areas in Colorado found notable levels of anthropogenic bioactive chemicals, which indicates human sources of contamination. This contamination can become a danger to human health, especially during summer storm season, as water flows into sources that are used for human consumption – both within the wilderness area and in downstream communities such as Aspen, CO – and agriculture.[31]

MAROON LAKE CAMPSITE, 12 MILES NORTH OF ASPEN. SNOW COVERED PEAKS IN BACKGROUND ARE THE 14,000 FOOT MAROON BELLS - NARA - 545714

Campsites set up by backcountry backpackers can also lead to soil compaction and reduced vegetative cover, especially in wilderness areas. Higher erosion levels can occur in the backcountry if backpacker campsites are not properly set-up and taken down. This can cause an increase in water turbidity and some water quality indicators including a strain of E.Coli; further supporting higher erosion level from degraded soils.[32]

Time spent in the outdoors, including engaging in activities such as hiking, has been shown to have a positive impact on human health. By being active in the outdoors, people can experience health benefits ranging from increased Vitamin D levels to lower rates of obesity; improvements in mental health, such as reduced levels of depression have also been observed.[33] However, trail overuse and overcrowding can affect these benefits. Indeed, experiential sentiments such as solitude, remoteness, naturalness, and artifactualism are often cited key benefits of time spent in the outdoors. However,overcrowding threatens this positive experience.[34] Some have noted that environmental health and human health are deeply intertwined, and, as such, should be duly protected and sustained.[35]

Trail education and much needed enforcement of regulations established to protect this popular destination can help address these human and environmental impacts. Below are a few key ways that we can protect Maroon Bells going forward.

• Camp in designated campgrounds: While camping is prohibited at many of the high-mountain lakes in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass area, the United States Forestry Service (USFS) has inventoried 700 campsites for recreational use.
• Keep out of water: Drinking or going in the lake water is not recommended for the protection of the ecosystem, as well as health reasons.
• Clean up Trash: “No trace left behind” was an impactful awareness campaign that created a buzz about the importance of cleaning up all trash (varying from human/dog waste to leftover foods or paper goods).
• Stay on designated trail:Remaining on the trail keep hikes and backpackers safe from wildlife, and also protects off-trail vegetation.
• Reduce Carbon Footprint:Opt to take alternative transportation such as the shuttles provided by the City of Aspen when you visit the Maroon Bells.
  

  Maroon Bells Bus - Aspen, Colorado (45114811752)

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maroon Bells.

• Guide to Maroon Bells Colorado
• Maroon Bells on 14ers.com
• Maroon Bells on Distantpeak.com
• Maroon Bells Scenic Area on USFS