Plane parts rusting in Colorado wilderness after decades of neglect

In the high Colorado mountains, metal scraps from a 1968 plane crash are still scattered across the wilderness near an old mining town. The plane went down in winter, killing everyone on board, but the wreckage wasn't noticed until an unusually big avalanche uncovered it decades later. Now, after years of sitting exposed, the plane has broken into countless sharp pieces that would be difficult and expensive to remove safely.Officials say cleanup would need special crews, possibly even helicopters, because the location is in a protected wilderness area where machines aren’t supposed to be used. Budget cuts and staff shortages at the forest service mean this project keeps getting pushed aside, even though similar crashes in the same area have been cleaned up before. Some argue the delay isn’t just about money—it’s also because the wreck doesn’t seem to be hurting the environment or putting anyone in danger. The crash happened during a time when small planes were common for travel in remote areas. Back then, safety rules weren’t as strict, and accidents like this were often seen as unfortunate but unavoidable risks of flying in rugged places. Today, the question isn’t just about cleaning up old wreckage—it’s whether resources should go toward fixing up historic sites or dealing with more urgent modern problems.