Several dead cows at Conundrum Hot Springs have U.S. Forest Service officials scratching their heads in an attempt to hatch a scheme to remove them before the spring thaw and hikers descend upon the popular backcountry destination at 11,200 feet. The cows were discovered by two Air Force Academy cadets when they snowshoed up in late March. They had planned to sleep in a Forest Service cabin but couldn’t because the animals were piled up in it, frozen solid. Upon their return to Aspen, they informed the Aspen ranger district for the White River National Forest. Initially Forest Service officials said they planned to blow the cows up with explosives — and they still might — but with high fire danger and a current ban on prescribed burns, it could be an issue. Hauling them out via horses is not feasible since there’s still a lot of snow on the 8.5-mile trail down to the Castle Creek Valley floor. And employing a helicopter is too expensive, Forest Service officials said. Motorized vehicles are barred from wilderness-designated areas, creating another limitation. Burning the cows and the cabin, which is not historic and was going to be razed at some point, is an option. There is enough snow there now that lifting the fire ban for this particular instance also could be considered. And an effort to locate the rancher who owned — and apparently lost the cows — is underway...
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The are sure producing some wimpy cadets at The Air Force Academy.
Instead of blowing up the cows and burning the cabin, give them Academy boys some practice and let them bomb the hell out of it.
Oh, but its in a wilderness area. Add that to my list against wilderness areas: you can't drag out dead cattle. That's really not a problem, as livestock grazing is slowly phased out in wilderness anyway. I do find it hilarious that you can set off explosives in a wilderness but you can't use a motorized vehicle. I guess dynamite doesn't disturb your wilderness experience??
Their concern about water quality is also interesting. I guess the dead carcasses of elk, deer, bear, etc. produce no bacteria, whereas those evil cows...
The Forest Service folks should meet up with the GSA folks in Las Vegas and figure out a solution. I'm sure it will be a dandy.
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I guess what with all the EPA and other guvern-mental restrictions all the buzzards (vultures to you Aspen folks), coyotes, mountain lions and others have left the area. I wouldn't blame them.
I could throw a dead cow or ferral hawg I've shot out here and all trace but a little hair and a few bones would be gone in less than a week.
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