How Long Before the City of Billings Closes the Rims for Good?

If you're planning on spending some time on the Rimrocks this weekend, Mark and Paul have some advice for you.  Enjoy it while you still can.  Because it's only a matter of time before Mother Nature forces the city to close off the rims year round.

Of course, you're not allowed to walk on the rims during the 4th of July weekend due to fire danger.  It's all fun and games before someone shoots a bottle rock into a stranger's backyard and ruins the party for everyone.

Sadly, the recent closure of Zimmerman Trail is probably a sign of things to come.  If you study history, you know that sandstone erodes in cycles.  Usually, every 200 to 400 years, rocks start falling and they fall in bunches.  The record snowfall we had this winter only makes those boulders less stable.

The city is already taking a close look at the entire 8.5 face of the rims from the Heights heading out towards the country club.  And these days, whenever anything poses a potential threat, it typically gets shut down.  Folks in New York can't drink a 16 oz. soda, for Pete's sake.  Mark and Paul predict that someday people won't be allowed to leave their houses whenever it's raining.

Enjoy the rims while we're still allowed to walk on them.  And watch out for falling boulders this weekend.