June 20, 2022 |
The U.S. Forest Service will host a virtual public meeting to provide information and address concerns about the upcoming Rainbow Family Gathering outside Craig, Colorado.
The online meeting with Forest Service officials will take place Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
For its 50th anniversary gathering, the Rainbow Family of Living Light chose the Adams Park area of the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District on the Routt National Forest. The controversial event is scheduled for July 1st through July 7th. The history of the gatherings suggests that as many as 10,000 followers of the counter-culture group may attend. Some are already on scene. Rainbow media directs attendees through Baggs in Carbon County, Wyoming.
Rainbow gatherings bring with them the potential for impacts on the forest and conflicts among attendees and local residents. Complaints and photos about Rainbows are already being posted to social media. The USFS has activated a national incident team to deal with the event.
USFS Public Information Specialist Hillary Markin said the Forest Service will have more boots on the ground this year.
The national incident team has experience with the gatherings. Forest Service officials say the team will work with local law enforcement agencies, throughout the incident to help maintain order and safety.
Russ Bacon, Forest Supervisor for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland said in a news release, “We share your concerns regarding the incident affecting the surrounding communities and invite you to the public meeting to learn more about the gathering and how the Forest Service will be managing it.”
The last large National Rainbow Family Gathering on the Routt National Forest was in 2006 in the Big Red Park area north of Steamboat Springs.
To join the on-line public meeting please visit: https://bit.ly/3zKFn3i
Pictured above: File photo of a Rainbow Gathering.
