Pole Mountain

Seasonal road closures are scheduled to take effect this Thursday, Feb. 1 on Pole Mountain in order to preserve road conditions and protect resources in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, Brice Page, 27, fatally shot Matthew Butrick in what the Sheriff’s Department is investigating as a case of self-defense. Both men are from Laramie County.

The burns originally planned for this week are part of the ongoing ten-year Pole Mountain Vegetation Project on the Medicine Bow National Forest in eastern Albany County. The forest service uses the burns to mimic historically natural fire disturbances in order to reduce hazardous fuels buildup and improve habitat for native wildlife.

The draft decision notice, announced Wednesday, April 19th, will add nine parking areas including three major parking areas along Highway 210 and new connectors between roads to create an additional driving loop.

The project aims to identify a sustainable system of motorized transportation on the Pole Mountain unit in order to provide diverse recreation opportunities for everyone, regardless of transportation.

Steve Smutko of the UW Ruckelshaus Institute says given the Forest Service's budget situation, the meeting will likely result in community members forming partnerships to maintain trails in coordination with the Forest Service.

Forest Road 707A also reopened in the last couple weeks. Repairs had to be made after a beaver dam burst, washing out the road and leaving it impassable.

Prescribed burning can mimic natural fires, reducing hazardous fuels buildup and improving habitat for wildlife.