Posted by Guy Harrison on February 12, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Hi,
I subscribe to the Ouray Plaindealer newspaper. A recent issue (that I just received)had an article that the mining company that has the claim in Yankee Boy Basin has submitted plans for severe road widening, increased mining activity at the upper end of the basin, large structures, and, worst of all, large, heavy diesel equipment operation and traffic throughout the basis 24/7.
This location is as close to a sacred icon as you can find in this wonderful state. I respect the rights of property owners, but this is to alert all who love nature and photography about this awful plan.
How can we as photographers work to preserve this precious site and at the same time provide a just resolution for the company? Mining can happen anywhere but there is ONLY ONE YANKEE BOY BASIN.
I have not seen this posted previously so I assume it is news to most of you.
Guy Harrison
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 12, 2010 at 5:51 PM
I respect the rights of property owners, but...
There's always a but, isn't there. Hey, I love the place, too, but it's already so overrun with rental Jeeps and tourists that it hardly qualifies as a wilderness experience. Furthermore, I wonder if this is a classic case of a land owner vying for some kind of land swap, and holding such a well-known place hostage as part of the negotiating process. Only time will tell. If the worst happens and the character of the basin is changed (which would likely be many years away), there are plenty of other places that rival or surpass its beauty in Colorado, and if you haven't already gotten enough photos from YBB, you'll have the next few years to do so. Yes, there is ONLY ONE YBB, just like there's ONLY ONE Porphyry Basin, American Basin, Savage Basin, Governor Basin, Silver Basin, Ingram Basin, etc., etc.
Posted by Fred Stearns on February 12, 2010 at 6:20 PM
The mining company has the claim. He does not necessarily own the land. With the patchwork that exists in the National Forests, this may well belong to the American People and the USDA has approved the claim-holder's plans to tear up the countryside for a few dollars. So, you can research this to find out who the ultimate owner is and try to work with them. I believe that tearing up the road requires permission of the National Forest governing body, the USDA, as the road runs through the Umcompaghre National Forest. At least I am judging by the number of National Forest Rangers that I saw along that road.
Posted by Guy Harrison on February 12, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Hi Todd,
I hope you didn't mean to suggest from the partial quote that I do not respect property rights, because I immediately state that any solution has to be just for the owner as well. That does not mean that preserving such an exceptional place for the universal enjoyment of the people is not worth an effort. If that is the owner's strategy, nothing to be done except deal with it or lose it--that has been part of the history of creating parks and preserves all through the history of this country.
Personally, I find the extremely rugged and scenic peaks surrounding this basin to be uniquely photogenic over what most other basins (except maybe American) have to offer, and every year is different depending on the blooms. I cannot agree that the presence of jeeps detracts from this area, as jeeps and people are in almost all of the other areas you mentioned as well.
Protect or lose it! Just ask John Miur--he understood the price of complacency. Modern mining techniques will not leave behind quaint wooden buildings that make nostalgic ghost towns, but industrial-scale operations that will scar the land forever.
If you feel that "true" wilderness accessible only to hikers is all that is worth anything, then I guess it's no great loss if just another "tourist" spot is gone. If that is your feeling, so be it, but I believe that dazzling, majestic, spiritual places that, yes, even a family with kids can drive to with a little skill and effort, are essential, especially when children are obsessed with the internet and virtual reality and are losing touch with nature.
I hope more people care about the potential loss of this place.
Guy
Posted by Stan Rose on February 12, 2010 at 7:46 PM
When any form of 'wilderness' is lost, the loss is usually permanent or extremely long-lasting. Yes, my beliefs may be in the "extreme", but personally while i find the old mining artifacts that litter the San Juans etc "interesting" (and even photogrenic at times), I dont think theyre a symbol we as a species should be proud of. That's just crazy me. I even get nauseous at the thought of private ownership of 14ers. And i hate the massive influx of dust-kicking Jeeps at Yankee Boy--but at least i get a few hours of peace in the morning. I care, Guy, ill do what i can.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 12, 2010 at 7:54 PM
A similar story appears in detail in the recent edition of the 'Telluride Watch'.
“You pretty much won’t even know it’s there,” he (Charles Ponchak, a consulting geologist for the Mt. Sneffels Mining Co.) said. “The operation will never be that big and is pretty much non-intrusive the way it is designed."
Posted by Bryan Maltais on February 13, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Sorry I haven't been leaving many comments lately; I'm at the mercy of another project right now, but a simple question caught my eye.
"What can we do?"
While some people build, some plan, and others organize, as photographers it seems our destiny to spread the word and expose. With many of us having established websites with significant traffic, we're perfectly postured to make people aware of things. If you're really looking to do something, it could be as simple as including a link to the proposed plight of YBB on your image pages of YBB. You never know who it may reach.
Posted by Guy Harrison on February 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Hi Everyone
John's comment on the Telluride article was very different from the impression left in the Ouray article, and was more encouraging. Still, would be good to know what exactly they plan.
"What can I do?" That's why I posted this. I like the idea of a web link, but my web savvy is woefully poor. If there are photographers who can do it, maybe we can create a "Preserve Yankee Boy" web page somewhere and upload images? This way we can at least show what stands to be lost and maybe start a move towards (or at least assist others with our images) seeking some sort of protection for the basin. It doesn't have to be an "attacK" site against anyone, just a demonstration of the wild value of the place.
I will help any way I can as this is important to me.
I don't live in Colo but have owned land there for many years hoping to retire there (years from now the way things are going). I have a special love for all the different basins in the San Juans, and I truly believe that the scenic value of Yankee Boy in particular is without peer in that area. I get a spiritual connection to nature equal to other great landmarks in this country that have been preserved. The presence of people or jeeps does not detract (or else I would never visit Yosemite, Zion or other places).
Although I agree that the legacy of mining had some very negative aspects (toxic polllution, erosion, etc), I try not to judge what happened over a century ago. Those people also showed tremendous endurance, hard work, and courage to open those mountains.
What happens today, though is different. The value of wild places is well established in our culture and so modern attempts at mining should not be given the same deference just because of historical legacy.
Todd may be right about the land swap scheme, there have been plenty of those in Colorado, esp. in recent years. What to do? Find out who is opposing/litigating the mining plan and support those folks with images for free. Every conservation group needs quality images; and regardless of the jeep safari nightmare that YBB has become, it's too much of a gem to be a sacrificial basin. What valuable mineral is the mine going after anyway?
Incidently, we're still operating under 1872 law here.........
Posted by Guy Harrison on February 13, 2010 at 4:12 PM
Hi Dave,
I looked on the Rocky Mtn. Sierra Club site and there are no alerts on this. I don't think it is on anyone's radar screen. I am trying to post an alert on the Sierra Club site but my registration does not seem to be working. If anyone else here is a member maybe they can have more luck.
Guy
Posted by Jack Brauer on February 14, 2010 at 12:38 PM
I'm not going to attempt to give a comprehensive answer here, but here's a few thoughts:
Having lived in Ouray County for the last ~4 years, I've learned that a constant economic theme is the question of mining vs. tourism. The town (well pretty much all the mountain towns around there) were founded upon mining and were actually much larger towns back in the mining days (Ouray had ~4,000 people, compared to ~1000 now). However, nowadays it seems that tourism is the main industry, whether it's the draw of the hot springs, jeep tours, ice climbing, hiking, etc.
Some people who have lived there their whole lives (even younger people there) have a much stronger relation to the mining roots of the area, and they may perceive the tourism-based economy as being fragile and transitory. They tend to say that any and all means of economic development is a good thing to keep the community going, including increased mining activity.
I am definitely in the tourism-based camp. I think that Ouray is unique in the country - I don't know of any other town in the country that is so surrounded by such towering mountains (with the exception of Telluride, but even Telluride seems spacious compared to the box canyon that Ouray is in). Not to mention all the easily accessible spectacular alpine basins, including YBB. I think Ouray should be doing anything and everything they can to build it up as a must-see destination. The ice park has been a great success for the town, and I would love to see even more development of activities, including "via ferrata" wired climbing routes on the mountains, and possibly even a gondola that takes passengers up to one of the high ridges (though that would probably never happen). The town's motto is "The Switzerland of America", and I think they really have an opportunity to make it that way (minus the Swiss chalet architecture, please).
In that regard, I think the real issue that should be considered carefully by the locals is whether the mining operations (this one, and future ones) will be a detriment to the tourism industry. YBB is the main destination for the jeep tours, and the reputation of that tour could decline if there's significant active mining operations happening in the scenic areas up there.
I'd rather Ouray be known for it's spectacular scenery, relatively pristine alpine basins, and variety of mountain activities, rather than for its gold extraction rates and junky mining debris. To me the tourism aspect seems like a long term industry for Ouray, while the mining industry seems like the short-term-plan with long term negative effects.
Discussion
10 repliesI subscribe to the Ouray Plaindealer newspaper. A recent issue (that I just received)had an article that the mining company that has the claim in Yankee Boy Basin has submitted plans for severe road widening, increased mining activity at the upper end of the basin, large structures, and, worst of all, large, heavy diesel equipment operation and traffic throughout the basis 24/7.
This location is as close to a sacred icon as you can find in this wonderful state. I respect the rights of property owners, but this is to alert all who love nature and photography about this awful plan.
How can we as photographers work to preserve this precious site and at the same time provide a just resolution for the company? Mining can happen anywhere but there is ONLY ONE YANKEE BOY BASIN.
I have not seen this posted previously so I assume it is news to most of you.
Guy Harrison
There's always a but, isn't there. Hey, I love the place, too, but it's already so overrun with rental Jeeps and tourists that it hardly qualifies as a wilderness experience. Furthermore, I wonder if this is a classic case of a land owner vying for some kind of land swap, and holding such a well-known place hostage as part of the negotiating process. Only time will tell. If the worst happens and the character of the basin is changed (which would likely be many years away), there are plenty of other places that rival or surpass its beauty in Colorado, and if you haven't already gotten enough photos from YBB, you'll have the next few years to do so. Yes, there is ONLY ONE YBB, just like there's ONLY ONE Porphyry Basin, American Basin, Savage Basin, Governor Basin, Silver Basin, Ingram Basin, etc., etc.
I hope you didn't mean to suggest from the partial quote that I do not respect property rights, because I immediately state that any solution has to be just for the owner as well. That does not mean that preserving such an exceptional place for the universal enjoyment of the people is not worth an effort. If that is the owner's strategy, nothing to be done except deal with it or lose it--that has been part of the history of creating parks and preserves all through the history of this country.
Personally, I find the extremely rugged and scenic peaks surrounding this basin to be uniquely photogenic over what most other basins (except maybe American) have to offer, and every year is different depending on the blooms. I cannot agree that the presence of jeeps detracts from this area, as jeeps and people are in almost all of the other areas you mentioned as well.
Protect or lose it! Just ask John Miur--he understood the price of complacency. Modern mining techniques will not leave behind quaint wooden buildings that make nostalgic ghost towns, but industrial-scale operations that will scar the land forever.
If you feel that "true" wilderness accessible only to hikers is all that is worth anything, then I guess it's no great loss if just another "tourist" spot is gone. If that is your feeling, so be it, but I believe that dazzling, majestic, spiritual places that, yes, even a family with kids can drive to with a little skill and effort, are essential, especially when children are obsessed with the internet and virtual reality and are losing touch with nature.
I hope more people care about the potential loss of this place.
Guy
“You pretty much won’t even know it’s there,” he (Charles Ponchak, a consulting geologist for the Mt. Sneffels Mining Co.) said. “The operation will never be that big and is pretty much non-intrusive the way it is designed."
"What can we do?"
While some people build, some plan, and others organize, as photographers it seems our destiny to spread the word and expose. With many of us having established websites with significant traffic, we're perfectly postured to make people aware of things. If you're really looking to do something, it could be as simple as including a link to the proposed plight of YBB on your image pages of YBB. You never know who it may reach.
John's comment on the Telluride article was very different from the impression left in the Ouray article, and was more encouraging. Still, would be good to know what exactly they plan.
"What can I do?" That's why I posted this. I like the idea of a web link, but my web savvy is woefully poor. If there are photographers who can do it, maybe we can create a "Preserve Yankee Boy" web page somewhere and upload images? This way we can at least show what stands to be lost and maybe start a move towards (or at least assist others with our images) seeking some sort of protection for the basin. It doesn't have to be an "attacK" site against anyone, just a demonstration of the wild value of the place.
I will help any way I can as this is important to me.
I don't live in Colo but have owned land there for many years hoping to retire there (years from now the way things are going). I have a special love for all the different basins in the San Juans, and I truly believe that the scenic value of Yankee Boy in particular is without peer in that area. I get a spiritual connection to nature equal to other great landmarks in this country that have been preserved. The presence of people or jeeps does not detract (or else I would never visit Yosemite, Zion or other places).
Although I agree that the legacy of mining had some very negative aspects (toxic polllution, erosion, etc), I try not to judge what happened over a century ago. Those people also showed tremendous endurance, hard work, and courage to open those mountains.
What happens today, though is different. The value of wild places is well established in our culture and so modern attempts at mining should not be given the same deference just because of historical legacy.
Guy
I
Incidently, we're still operating under 1872 law here.........
I looked on the Rocky Mtn. Sierra Club site and there are no alerts on this. I don't think it is on anyone's radar screen. I am trying to post an alert on the Sierra Club site but my registration does not seem to be working. If anyone else here is a member maybe they can have more luck.
Guy
Having lived in Ouray County for the last ~4 years, I've learned that a constant economic theme is the question of mining vs. tourism. The town (well pretty much all the mountain towns around there) were founded upon mining and were actually much larger towns back in the mining days (Ouray had ~4,000 people, compared to ~1000 now). However, nowadays it seems that tourism is the main industry, whether it's the draw of the hot springs, jeep tours, ice climbing, hiking, etc.
Some people who have lived there their whole lives (even younger people there) have a much stronger relation to the mining roots of the area, and they may perceive the tourism-based economy as being fragile and transitory. They tend to say that any and all means of economic development is a good thing to keep the community going, including increased mining activity.
I am definitely in the tourism-based camp. I think that Ouray is unique in the country - I don't know of any other town in the country that is so surrounded by such towering mountains (with the exception of Telluride, but even Telluride seems spacious compared to the box canyon that Ouray is in). Not to mention all the easily accessible spectacular alpine basins, including YBB. I think Ouray should be doing anything and everything they can to build it up as a must-see destination. The ice park has been a great success for the town, and I would love to see even more development of activities, including "via ferrata" wired climbing routes on the mountains, and possibly even a gondola that takes passengers up to one of the high ridges (though that would probably never happen). The town's motto is "The Switzerland of America", and I think they really have an opportunity to make it that way (minus the Swiss chalet architecture, please).
In that regard, I think the real issue that should be considered carefully by the locals is whether the mining operations (this one, and future ones) will be a detriment to the tourism industry. YBB is the main destination for the jeep tours, and the reputation of that tour could decline if there's significant active mining operations happening in the scenic areas up there.
I'd rather Ouray be known for it's spectacular scenery, relatively pristine alpine basins, and variety of mountain activities, rather than for its gold extraction rates and junky mining debris. To me the tourism aspect seems like a long term industry for Ouray, while the mining industry seems like the short-term-plan with long term negative effects.