I was hiking up in the Weld area last weekend and figured I'd drive up toward Byron Notch and Tumbledown Mountain to check out the trouble at the trailhead on Morgan Road.

You'll recall that the landowner recently decided to plow up a berm to prevent vehicle access and ban camping in Tumbledown Field. This was apparently in response to a recent town vote to deny a gate across the road.

Well, it's true.

You can still drive the eight-tenths of a mile up Morgan Road from the Byron Notch Road, but you won't get any further. The birms are there, blocking access to the field at every point. And the "no camping" signs are up too.

The place was deserted on what would normally have been a Saturday afternoon busy with campers and hikers and general mayhem. It was eerie even.

I tried to locate the site of the old log shelter that was burned down recently. It was the landmark I traditionally used to find the trailheads for the Little Jackson and Parker Ridge Trails. But no luck, and no luck finding the blue and white signs for either trailhead, although I admit I didn't spend too much time searching as the mosquitoes were ravenous.

Parking is another issue. With the camping area closed off, there's no more parking. It appears the only way to go now is to pull as far off Morgan Road as possible and call it good.

So the trailhead that was always a bit confusing to locate has become even more so now.

I'll have to check with some of the local folks to see what's up and get back to you. If any of you have better info on the Tumbledown Field trailhead and parking situation, please do share.