HIKE ROCKY magazine, November 2021

HIKE ROCKY aga ine l e e ber

a publication of

HIKE ROCKY Snow has graced our peaks and alpine lakes are star ng to freeze over in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. It's me to break out the trail spikes

For some of us at Hike Rocky, it seems like we get out more in the winter months than in the summer, when it's a li le easier to find parking at the trailheads. For November's Trail of the Month, we go low eleva on while we wait for more snow to fill in the higher terrain. We have two stories emana ng from the Cow Creek drainage north of Lumpy Ridge. Managing Editor, Barb Boyer Buck, gives us a late summer account of her trek toward Bridal Veil Falls, including historical details of the McGraw Ranch.

Meanwhile, trail writer Jason Miller takes the back way to Gem Lake, climbing out of the Cow Creek drainage back to the Lumpy Ridge trailhead.

We are celebra ng Na ve American Heritage Month here at HIKE ROCKY with Barb's interview with Nico Strange Owl and the story behind Charles Eagle Plume and Cindy Elkins contemplates the early foot travelers and takes a deep dive look at Na ve Americans in the Park.

Cindy also paints a lovely portrait of Dave and Annie Larson, two PARK PEOPLE bleeding green. Sco Rashid tells of his discovery of the Boreal Owl nes ng in the Park. We hear about Simon Vogt s journey conquering peaks of life and what being in the outdoors has meant for him. Our gear guy, Murray Selleck, gets us up close and personal with a look at next-to-skin layers that will keep you dry and warm on your winter ou ngs. And, Marlene Borneman talks Leave No Trace ethics with Faith Overall.

In case you thought wildflower season was over, Marlene offers up six seed pods to guess on in her monthly quiz. We have all the latest in RMNP press releases, While Darlene Bushue graces us with another beau ful Feature Photo.

We have so much to be grateful for this November. I am thankful our incredible team of contributors and for

Above, Longs Peak as seen from Trail Ridge Road before it closed for the season photo by Darlene Bushue ront Co er hoto Contest inner: Sunset o er ea er eadows b a ela ohnson. Pamela is from Westminster and a Colorado na ve. Her photos of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park are stunning

managing editor Barb who brings us all together Enjoy Dave Rusk, Publisher RockyMountainDayHikes.com

HikeRockyMagazine@gmail.com Publisher: Managing Editor Copy Editor: Sales: Contributors to the November edition:

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This issue marks one full year - 12 issues - of HIKE ROCKY magazine It s been a joy bringing this publica on to all of you, and we have been spending a lot of me working on our Mission Statement.

So far, we ve come up with the following reasons we exist: To provide the Rocky Mountain National Park hiker with the accurate and timely information about trails and conditions in Rocky To inves gate current issues affec ng our favorite Na onal Park including climate change, visita on issues, Leave No Trace ethics, science, ecology, wild res, and safety To provide gear and provision recommenda ons (not solicited ) to be er ou it those who recreate in Rocky To give historical perspec ves while looking to the future of Rocky And, most of all - to convey through various perspec ves how Rocky Mountain Na onal Park feeds our souls. Wilderness is a precious gi and all of us who contribute to this effort nd our life-force through spending me in Rocky Would you like to be a part of this mission? We accept proposals for wri ng, video, and/or photography submissions by reaching out to me at ikeRockyMagazine@gmail.com

The iconic symbol of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado s northern-most 14-er (peak over 14,000 feet high), Longs Peak, as seen from Upper Beaver Meadows.

Photo by Barb Boyer Buck

Na onal Park. Photo submissions must be received by the end of the month to be considered for the following month s cover. The photo must have been taken in Rocky, not previously published (except for social media), and be seasonal.

The winner will receive a cash prize, free access to the edi on that features his or her photo, and online promo on.

A hint about what we are looking for to grace our cover every month is included in our weekly email blast.

To sign up for no fica ons, visit: h p://rockymountaindayhikes.com/hike-rocky-emailno ca on-page.html

Three short samples of your work (and a commitment to meet deadlines) is all that s required for considera on.

We are also working on our Vision Statement - where do we go from here? We d love your input on this use the same email address above.

You can also give us feedback on our survey here: h ps://k71pdkwc w.typeform.com/to/fvA yUB

hoto Co te t

Each month, we will feature a cover photo from a photographer who lives and breathes Rocky Mountain

- Barb Boyer Buck, Managing Editor, HI E R C

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Gone to Seed

by Marlene Borneman

It is that me of year to see lots of seed-heads out there. Can you iden fy these? Hint: two are noxious weeds the others na ve plants. Inspired by the Colorado Na ve Plants Society.

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RMNP UPDATES

Skeletal remains of Rudi Moder found after almost 40 years and other RMNP news Photo of the 1983 search efforts for Rudi Moder; photo courtesy of RMNP

Editor’s note: the following news releases are reprinted verba m, as received directly from Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, between October 16 - November 15, 2021.

the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. Trail Ridge Road normally opens the last week in May, weather permi ng. This year Trail Ridge Road opened on May 29.

Trail Ridge Road Closes To Through Travel For The Season RMNP UPDATE - October 25, 2021 Today, Monday, October 25, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park officially closed for the season to through travel. Many popular driving des na ons for this me of year including Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the sec on of Trail Ridge Road along the Kawuneeche Valley, are all open.

Old Fall River Road closed for the season to vehicles on October 4. Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road will remain open to bicycles and leashed pets through November 30. Leashed pets and bicycles are only allowed on the road, not on side trails. On December 1, both of these roads will revert to "winter trail status" which means that bicycles and leashed pets are no longer permi ed beyond the closed gates but pedestrians, snowshoers and skiers are.

Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet, few guard rails and no shoulders. Winter condi ons of dri ing snow, high winds and below- freezing temperatures occur above 10,000 feet. Weather permi ng, Trail Ridge Road will remain open to Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park and to Milner Pass on the west side of the park. Eventually, those closures will move down in eleva on for the winter season to Many Parks Curve on

For more informa on about Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Informa on Office at (970) 586-1206.

Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Announces Winter Pile Burning Opera ons On Both Sides Of Park RMNP UPDATE - October 26, 2021 Fire managers from Rocky Mountain Na onal Park plan to take advantage of any upcoming wet or winter

weather condi ons to burn piles of slash generated from several fuels reduc on projects and hazard tree removals. Slash from these projects has been cut and piled by park fire crews and contractors over the last two years and are now dry enough to burn.

When figh ng the East Troublesome Fire in 2020, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and exis ng prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects aided considerably in stopping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road. Years of hazardous fuels reduc on projects and bark beetle tree removal on the west side were instrumental in the successful burnout opera ons around the town of Grand Lake and helped minimize structure loss in the main park housing area.

Pile burning opera ons will only begin when condi ons allow. The piles are in a variety of loca ons including areas near the boundary of the park with Allenspark,

Pile burning opera ons in Rocky; photo courtesy of RMNP

near Lily Lake, west of Deer Mountain, near Moraine Park Campground, in the Willow Park area off Old Fall River Road and on the west side of the park.

The fuels reduc on projects are designed to reduce significant accumula ons of forest fuels that can generate extreme or problema c fire behavior adjacent to wildland urban interface. By reducing the poten al fire behavior the wildland fire risk to firefighters and the public is significantly reduced. However, these projects are not designed as a stand-alone defense against wildfires nor are they guaranteed to hold a wildfire in the worst of condi ons. Please do your part and complete wildfire mi ga on on your property. To learn more about wildfire mi ga on around your home visit www.firewise.org Safety factors, weather condi ons, air quality and other environmental regula ons are con nually monitored as a part of any fire management opera on. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more informa on see h ps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/woodsmoke-and-health.

For ques ons about this project or informa on about Rocky Mountain Na onal Park please call the park’s Informa on Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit www.nps.gov/romo Pile burning opera ons in Rocky; photo courtesy of RMNP

Skeletal Remains Found On West Side Of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Believed To Be Those Of Rudi Moder RMNP Update - Nov. 4, 2021 Skeletal remains found on the west side of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park are believed to be those of Rudi Moder, a 27-year-old man from West Germany, who disappeared in the park 38 years ago.

On February 13, 1983, Rudi Moder departed the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead on Colorado Highway 17 near Cameron Pass for a two-to-three-night ski mountaineering trip over Thunder Pass and into Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Moder, a West German living in Fort Collins, was described as an experienced winter mountaineer. On February 19, Rudi was reported overdue by his roommate. Search opera ons and further inves ga on were ini ated, and search teams were in the field early on February 20, 1983. Over a foot of snow fell in the Never Summer Mountains on February 19, hampering search efforts in finding tracks and other clues. A food cache belonging to Moder was found at the mouth of Box Canyon, in the northwest corner of the park. A snow cave, with Moder’s sleeping bag and other gear and items, was found near the food cache. These were the only major clues discovered during the four-day extensive search.

Because Rudi’s point last seen was outside of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park at the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead, the extensive search efforts were coordinated with Larimer County Search and Rescue and Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Search and Rescue Teams. Search efforts occurred mainly in the Box Canyon and Skeleton Gulch areas, including Mount Richthofen. This included ground searchers on skis and snowshoes as well as aerial search opera ons.

Searchers, including an avalanche search dog and handler, also focused efforts in avalanche terrain. The extensive search efforts con nued for four days and ended on February 23, however there were numerous search efforts by ground and air that occurred later that spring and summer.

In mid-August of 2020, skeletal remains were discovered by a hiker in the Skeleton Gulch area, near avalanche debris. The area the remains were found were part of the ini al search area. Rangers conducted an ini al inves ga on at the scene but could not complete the inves ga on due to priori es shi ing to the Cameron Peak Fire closing the area, followed by the

Photo of the 1983 search efforts for Rudi Moder; courtesy RMNP

East Troublesome Fire. Snow then covered this high eleva on area above 11,000 feet. This summer, park rangers further searched the scene and found skis, poles and boots, along with remains of personal items believed to belong to Moder. The FBI Evidence Response Team assisted park rangers with the recovery of remains. The Grand County Coroner’s office a empted to confirm iden fica on through dental records however, the results were inconclusive.

Officials have worked extensively with the German government for repatria on, family no fica on and dental record analysis.

In the decades following Moder’s disappearance, search efforts con nued periodically by Rocky Mountain Na onal Park staff and Larimer County Search and Rescue Teams. The discovery and recovery of Rudi Moder’s remains closes out a nearly four decade long cold case at Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Ancient game-corraling rock walls on Trail Ridge Road; photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park

Who was here before?

By Cindy Elkins here before the Euro-American se lers came west.

How do we begin to accept our responsibility as travelers on this planet when our existence is temporary? Discovering what came before and accep ng that there will be many future genera ons once I am gone, makes me ponder why it is so important to “Preserve and Protect.”

According to h ps://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/historyculture/ m e_line_of_historic_events.htm

Learning about past inhabitants and establishments while imagining the flying cars of the future, I appreciate my simplis c understanding of what it would have been like 10,000 years ago in the high country of what is now RMNP. Thinking about surviving the elements, hun ng for bison or mammoth, foraging for food and being in a landscape recently carved by glaciers, I appreciate that my interac ons with Rocky are purely recrea onal. Imagine seeing the base of Lumpy Ridge covered in the skulls of bison a er a great hunt, or witnessing the compe on between Arapahoe and Ute na ons for hun ng rights next me you are hiking the trails.

“The…Clovis Paleoindian hunters entered the park as the glaciers retreated around 10,000 BC… and from 6000 BC to around 150 AD archaic hunter-gatherers occupied areas of the park as seasonal hunters in the spring and summer months. These are the ancestors to many of the tribes in the western United States including the Ute, Comanche, Goshiute and Shoshone...

Some me around 1200 -1300 AD members of the Ute Na on enter into Colorado's North Park and Middle Park as well as areas of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park…

It is believed that around 1500 AD the Apache are in the high country of what is now the Rocky Mountain Na onal Park... Members of the Arapaho Na on are believed to arrive in Rocky early in the 1800's. Shortly therea er in 1820, the Stephen A. Long Expedi on comes along and names Long's Peak as his own. They

This ar cle is an a empt to give a glimpse of who was

West face of Old Man Mountain; photo by Barb Boyer Buck are reported as the first non-Indians to see the area.”

Just over 200 years ago the Euro-Americans arrived to an area that had supported and provided for our human ancestors for over 11,000 years. That is something to ponder. In my opinion, we have an obliga on to respect those who were here prior and those who will come through a er we are gone. There have been several discoveries within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Remnants of wooden shelters called wickiups date back 300 years.

is a granite silhoue e of an elder looking west. A magnificently powerful mountain that is protected, so please obey the signs. There are at least five loca ons that are known ritual sites up on Old Man. These are considered important archeological places as well as vision quest sites. Old Man Mountain is not public. It is considered a sacred site of Colorado and is mostly private land with no clear trail to summit. Remember that honoring tradi ons and respec ng cultures builds community. We ask that anyone in our hiking community tread lightly when in the Park and all surrounding areas.

Traces of ancient hunts can be found in Rocky. Low rock walls, s ll in place today, were once used to guide game to their death. Once a happy hun ng ground for nomadic tribes, now a thriving ar st, tourist and outdoor-adventure mecca, RMNP has had many faces.

So, what were the original inhabitants like who made their way through the west and flourished around

A rock outcropping near Beaver Meadows designates where a fierce ba le was once fought. The magnificent Ute Trail which is named for some of the original people who used it, crosses through all three eleva on life zones that are in Rocky: alpine tundra (11,000 . and up), subalpine zone (9,000-11,000 .), and montane zone (5600-9500 .). This hike was one of the main foot paths to cross the con nental divide. It can be started up on Trail Ridge and is a well-marked hike down, or go up it.

Nestled on the northwestern edge of Estes Park, at 8310 . or 2533 m. above sea level, Old Man Mountain

Remaining wickiups, da ng back 300 years, are le in place in Rocky. Photo courtesy of RMNP

Ancient Clovis points, da ng up to 10,000 years ago, were found in Rocky.

Northern Colorado? Why did Joel Estes report that he and his family never saw nonwhite folks when they arrived to build their ca le ranch 1858? Piecing together history that is mostly oral or concluded by the discovery of ar facts, emphasizes the importance of the RMNP policy of leaving anything you find exactly where you found it. Report all finds or possible discoveries to the rangers, and take a selfie with it for posterity’s sake! Clues come in all shapes and sizes. The image of arrowheads shows the similar and different tools that were hand made by chipping at stone, a prac ce that is found worldwide.

Like the mammoth, buffalo and original elk herds, the last of the Na ve Americans were driven out. The Arapaho, Ute, Apache, and all tribes who crossed through the area are part of the history; part of what makes this place so special. As a traveler, local or tourist, next me you are up in the Park or just dreaming about it, listen closely. The wild winds of Northern Colorado may just whisper a clue from the past that fuels your imagina on. You may find yourself as you go hiking across peaks or through marshy fields of braided creeks. You maybe wondering what it was like before and knowing that if we do our part, there References: h ps://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/historyculture/ me _line_of_historic_events.htm h ps://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/educa on/upload/ Cultural-History-Of-RMNP-Teacher-Guide-Final.pdf h ps://www.eptrail.com/2014/10/24/snowbirds-notnew-to-the-estes-valley/

Eagle Plume’s and Strange Owls One Cheyenne woman's perspective on life

story, photos, and video by Barb Boyer Buck

Just a few minutes south of Estes Park, there is a remarkable place redolent with various tradi ons and history, both na ve and non-na ve. Eagle Plume's Trading Post, just over the Boulder County line on Highway 7, is owned by Nico Strange Owl, who took over the full opera on a er the recent deaths of her parents. Her father, Dayton Raben, passed last December of a stroke and her mother, Ann Strange Owl, lost her ba le with Alzheimer's in July. Nico sat down with me last week to speak about the history of the place and her perspec ve on the tradi ons which formed her life.

To'tseha (The History of of Eagle Plumes) The building itself was built in 1917. It was originally commissioned to look like a Kansas farmhouse by Katherine Lindsay who wanted to open an inn in the proposed town of Hewes-Kirkwood, slated to be developed in the area. Lindsay was an ar st and painter in an early art-deco style; she opened the What Not Inn and decorated the establishment with her artwork and beadwork her father “collected” during in the Indian Wars in Kansas. The building next store was the grocery store.

Dayton Raburn and his wife, Ann Strange Owl, ran Eagle Plume’s Trading Post a er Charles Eagle Plume died in 1992.

A er a few years, she realized there was not going to be a town; business was very seasonal and most people were heading to Estes Park or into the na onal park itself for their lodging needs. She had married a man named Perkins and they turned the inn into a trading post dealing in Na ve American art from the early to mid-1920s. Her husband was sickly and passed away soon a er, so she hired Charles Eagle Plume in the mid

1930s.

“He showed up on horseback one day,” said Nico, “and claimed to be one-quarter Blackfoot Indian from Montana.

“He was a master marketer; he ran the place and made it famous. He would dress up in Na ve American regalia and pretend to shoot arrows at the passing cars and then point them toward the store.” Works purchased from Mrs. Perkins and Charles are housed in museum collec ons, including the Denver Art Museum.

“Together Charles and Mrs. Perkins built on their collec on; they were close, he became like a son,” Nico said. “When she passed away in 1966, she le the store to Charles.” He was adamant about carrying only Na ve American-made art and goods. This holds true today, except for a line that is designed by Na ve Americans and made elsewhere. “In the beginning, we could find things to offer that were $5-$10, but not anymore. We carry these to be compe ve,” Nico explained.

Nico's parents moved to northern Colorado in 1966, when Dayton got a job as a history teacher in Berthoud.

“When they got married, interracial marriage was illegal in Wyoming. He was a white man of German and Scots descent from that state, and she was a Cheyenne woman, working on the Wind River reserva on. He fell in love with her right way; they were married within three months of mee ng,” said Nico.

Charles Eagle Plume as a young man (above) and later in life (below); courtesy photos

“When dad took mom to meet his family, some of them tried to buy her off to get the marriage annulled; they were horrified he had married a na ve woman. When mom introduced him to her family at her home in the Northern Cheyenne Reserva on in Montana, some stared right through him as a sign of banishment,” Nico said. On the advice of his father, the couple moved to California where Nico was born.

“For the sake of the child, they wanted to get closer to family – “but not too close!” Nico said, which precipitated the move to Colorado. There were frequent trips to the reserva on where Ann had lived, but she was feeling lonely for other na ve people in Colorado. She had an aunt who was southern Cheyenne; this woman lived in Denver because of the government's efforts to assimilate Na ve Americans into larger ci es. "They were trying to take them away

from the na ve language and culture,” Nico said.

Ann didn't feel at home with the Denver Indian community, so someone told them to visit Charlie at

The video will play automa cally but the sound will be muted. Watch full screen and/or un-mute the video by using the controls on the playing video.

Eagle Plume's.

dress with beaded boots; Charlie made posters to sell from a photograph with her in that dress.”

“Charlie loved mom right away, he loved na ve people.

He asked her to work for him at the trading post,” said Nico. He kept hounding her un l she finally said yes in 1979. “They became really good friends and Charlie adopted mom in the na ve plains tradi on.”

In na ve plains tradi on, a person can adopt another (even if they are not related by birth) by exchanging gi s, Nico explained. “Charlie gave her a Cheyenne

Intricate beadwork at Eagle Plume’s

While Ann started working for Charlie in the summers, Dayton would come up and sit behind the shop and read books or take walks. Finally, Dayton was persuaded to work in the shop, too. He would regale the male customers with stories about the weapons in the collec on while the women shopped, remembered Nico.

Nico Strange Owl took over running the store a er the recent death of her parents.

A “spit-gun” on display at Eagle Plume’s Nico began working at the shop when she was ge ng her degree in Anthropology from Colorado State University. She would come up in the summer, some mes with friends from college, to work (and nap!) in the shop. ”A er a hard night out the day before, "We took turns taking naps up there." “When Charles caught us, he got very mad and made us fold the rugs. That was a horrible job,” she said.

“Charles didn't have any children, so he created a buy/sell agreement with my parents, the bookkeeper, and the sales lady,” Nico explained. Immediately a er Charles’ death in 1992, the bookkeeper and sales lady broke the agreement and put the store up for sale.

“That was a horrible summer,” said Nico. “The sales lady was really prejudiced against Indians and Charles would defend my mom against her all the me.” But now he was gone, and two of the three members of agreement were trying to sell the shop.

Nico recalls that through the summer, they hadn't really go en any offers and curiously, the sales lady began declining in health rapidly; she had kyphosis - an exaggerated, forward-rounding of the back. One day, the bookkeeper came in and said she had changed her mind about selling. Why was that? Well, reported Nico, the bookkeeper had a dream where “Charles came to her, and he wasn’t happy” about the proposed sale.

In 1993, the other two women were bought out by Nico's parents, who went on to run the store for the next 30 years with Nico's help. “it's funny, because Charles ran the place for 30 years

Historic horse bridles

before my parents got it,” Nico recalled, “and Mrs. Perkins ran it for 30 years before she went into a nursing home.

“Before Charles passed away, I was packing up the collec on at the end of the year to put it in storage while he gave instruc ons from his wheelchair. He looked at me and said, 'My dear, one day you will have a son and he will run this store.' I have one son but he doesn't want to run the store like it has been, so we'll see if it comes true.” Perhaps Nico has to run it for 30 years first?

Nico was very close with her parents, and Charles.

Charles helped get Nico her first job a er college, at an Indian art gallery in Vail. “There was a couple that had an Indian shop in Vail and came in and asked Charles if they could consign his stuff for the winter (since Eagle Plume's was only open from mid-May to midSeptember).” Charles pointed at Nico and said, “she has to be part of the deal. because he knew she wanted to ski.

“So I went and managed their gallery and sold his stock so he could replenish for the next summer. It was crazy how much stuff he had.” So Nico skied, mountain biked, and sold Indian art in Vail for the next seven years. Then, she got married and moved to Denver where she put her now-ex through graduate school.

A er the divorce, Nico came back to run the store with her parents a er Charles died.

Collec on jewelry

Pawn jewelry (above and below)

“We ran it for decades, and I miss them so much,” she said, “but I always knew they would go together, they were so close. A er my father died, I had to retell my mother mul ple mes a day that he had passed,” Ann's Alzheimer's was taking control. “Every me, she would cry and mourn, it was terrible.” Finally in March, it sunk in her husband was gone, said Nico, and then Ann deteriorated quickly.

“So now, it's just me and Kay (the current sales person), my son, and a few neighbors who come in and help; it's good,” said Nico.

“What does it mean to be a good Cheyenne woman?” I asked her.

“Well, I'm not a great Cheyenne woman,” she laughed, “but I try.”

-tsėhésevo'ėstanéheve (to live as a Cheyenne) Today, Nico honors her father by telling his stories to people who come into the store and she honors her mother by trying to be a “good Cheyenne woman.”

A “good Cheyenne woman” works hard and keeps her place very clean and organized, Nico said. " To be humble, respect your elders and take care of family and community.

good Cheyenne woman.

Nico explained she herself is just one Cheyenne woman and can't speak for the Na on but through stories told by her rela ves and on the reserva on, she has created her life to carry on certain tradi ons.

One of the things that is quite important to her is the Cheyenne language, and how names are given.

“So having 'Strange Owl‘ as a last name was because of the government,” she explained. The original Strange Owl was her great-grandfather and when her ancestors were put on the reserva on in Montana, they decided that all of his nuclear family would have “Strange Owl” as their last name. “They gave him the first name of John,” she said. Her great-grandmother's name was Turtle Ribs, but was given the name “Mary,” so she became Mary Strange Owl. Nico's real name is Appearing Buffalo Woman, “a buffalo transforming into a woman,” she explained – in Cheyenne, it's spelled Esevonenameh'ne'. Original names are what are used among her Na on, between each other, she said.

“ This is what we teach our children: you have two li le eyes to see, two li le ears to hear, and two li le nostrils to smell with but you have only one mouth. You must listen more than you talk. I try to do that,” she said.

“People used to come in and say 'Wow, your mom is so quiet, so regal,' but she was just being who she was, a

Her son's name is Dah'som, the name of a grandfather on the reserva on her mother grew up with who was very light-hearted, funny, and loved to make people laugh. But in order to use that name, her mother had to get permission to do so. She had to give a reason and, in this case, it was because she honored the grandfather and wanted his traits to be part of Dah'som's life and persona.

considered most honorable if you give things away and if you own very li le possessions. For example, when Nico and her cousin came of age, their grandmother on the reserva on honored them by buying a buffalo and taught the girls how to clean and dress the en re animal.

The original Strange Owl, Nico’s great-grandfather “You can only give a name four mes,” Nico explained.

For example, her mother's name was Blue Wing and she gave it away three mes, but then her mother gave it away a fourth me. “She was really mad her mother did that, so she gave her own name (which means she needed another) to my granddaughter,” said Nico.

Nico spends as much me as she can with the youngest Blue Wing, teaching her Cheyenne language and customs. Ann's new name was Medicine Eagle Feather Woman, “which she didn't like,” said Nico. “She thought it was too long.”

Preserving the Cheyenne language is very important. A Cheyenne prophet, Sweet Medicine, who had many predic ons that came true, said that when the Cheyenne lost their language, “a yellow-toothed monster would eat the world,” Nico said. She was concerned when the renaming of a mountain in Colorado from its English name - which was derogatory and sexist - to the Cheyenne name for Owl Woman: Mestaa'ėhehe (pronounced mess-taw-HAY) was cri cized by the governor. Polis thought it was “too hard to pronounce,” and ini ally objected to it.

Recently, he agreed to the name but warned against using hard-to-pronounce names in the future, arguing it would make people revert back to the original, offensive name it was trying to remedy.

The Cheyenne e que e can be interpreted as opposite of mainstream e que e, she said. White people are called vé'ho'e, meaning spider, because they wore woven clothes (like a spider's web) and/or because they carved up the land with fences, rail lines, and farms.

Unlike the vé'ho'e, in the Cheyenne Na on, you are

Being young, they tried to take a short cut by pu ng a garden hose through the intes ne which made it flop all over the place. “My grandmother was very angry about that,” remembered Nico. Every part of the bison was used; the tendon that run from the shoulder to the tail along the back was made into sinew, thread for jewelry making. The hide was tanned. There were strips of meat cut and dried; the bones were preserved for carvings. And every bit of the meat was given away.

This brought great honor to the two girls, who were learning what it meant to be Cheyenne women.

“Every part of the animal is used,” Nico explained; there is no waste. The animal was thanked for the high honor of providing its life for the sustenance of others. “I hunt and I always thank the animal for its life,” she said. “I think all hunters do that – it's ins nctual; it's a powerful moment when an animal dies while you are there.

“We have a long history with the Earth; our crea on story speaks of the Creator asking a bird to find him some land because there was nothing but water, so the bird dove down and brought up mud. The Creator then turned that li le piece of mud into land. The earth is miraculous and precious,” Nico said. She was taught about the plants that act as medicines and how you should only take what you need and leave the rest.

“You never pull up sage from the roots,” she says about the sage that grows around Eagle Plumes.

She uses the sage to pray herself, gree ng the sun each day. There are greens and mushrooms that can be eaten in the area, and there used to be thimble berries ( ny raspberries) that grew all over the site where Eagle Plume's sits, even moss on the trees. Global warming has changed a lot of that, she said.

The area in and around Rocky Mountain Na onal Park was part of the Cheyenne's culture, providing sustenance and ceremonial sites; they came up from their land east of the foothills and north of Denver to hunt, gather berries in the canyons, and worship.

Lodgepole pines from the Tahosa Valley where Eagle Plume's sits were also used.

Beaded riding blanket; believed to be Lakota “This land around here is part of my gene c heritage,” said Nico, “it's not a mistake that I am here.”

There's something about Eagle Plume's, Nico Strange Owl (Esevonenameh'ne'), and the tradi ons she is trying to preserve that make me stop and think. What would it be like if everyone in the world would give more than they take, if you could create family by giving gi s, and if everyone fully understood the ramifica ons of disrespec ng the land they live on?

Barb Boyer Buck is a professional writer, journalist, editor, photographer, playwright, and researcher who lives in Estes Park.

Barb is the managing editor of HIKE ROCKY online magazine.

Portrait of Ann Strange Owl hangs in the shop,.

TRAIL OF THE MONTH

photo by Dave Rusk

Explore the Cow Creek Trail The Cow Creek Trailhead is located at the end of McGraw Ranch Road, accessed from Devil’s Gulch Road in Estes Park. The trail is located within Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, but to get to it you have to travel through private land on the private road.

There’s a very real possibility of having your car towed if you park anywhere but in the small designated parking area, at the end of the dirt road. We suggest ge ng there early in the morning or later in the a ernoon; this me of year there’s a be er chance of ge ng a parking spot at this popular trailhead.

There are two fun lower eleva on trails beginning at the Cow Creek trailhead that can make for good hikes in the early winter months while we wait for the snow to pile up in the higher eleva ons. Both trails are moderate in length and lead to waterfalls, which will be a trickle now compared to spring runoff me. While the the Bridal Veil Falls trail gradually climbs over it's 3 miles, the West Creek Falls trail climbs quickly out of

the Cow Creek drainage 600 , then drops back down into the West Creek drainage before gradually rises up to the falls. This trail also travels out of the Na onal Park boundary and into Roosevelt Na onal Forest and then reentering the Na onal Park before reaching the falls, making this trail not as well maintained as many other Na onal Park trails.

photo by Dave Rusk

ow to et There: From Downtown Estes Park, travel north on McGregor Ave, crossing over the Hwy 34 Bypass and con nuing past the sharp bend to the east, where the road becomes Devils Gulch Road, for about 3.8 miles. Then take the dirt road that branches off toward the north for another 2 miles to the Cow Creek Trailhead. Park in the designated area only.

ridal eil all Trail Type: Moderate Hike Trailhead: Cow Creek Trailhead Eleva on: 7,820' Des na on Eleva on: 8,880' Total Eleva on ain: 1,0 0' Total Roundtrip Miles: .2 Trail Descrip on: This is a good early summer hike when the falls are ripping with spring runoff. Enjoy an abundant variety of montane meadow wildflowers all season long. Follow the trail through the the McGraw Ranch Historic Site and con nue west in the Cow Creek valley. The gradual rise in eleva on in open meadows makes for pleasant hiking.

Complete Trail Pro le & Maps: h ps://rockymountaindayhikes.com/bridal-veil-falls-moderatehikes.html

photo by Dave Rusk

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

We

ree

all

Trail Type: Challenge Hike Trailhead: Cow Creek Trailhead Eleva on: 7,820' Des na on Eleva on: 8,140' Total Eleva on ain: 730 Total Roundtrip Miles: 4.8 Trail Descrip on: At the west end of the McGraw Ranch Historic Site, take the less traveled North Boundary trail and climb up out of the Cow Creek drainage to the saddle, then drop steeply down into the West Creek drainage. Signs of the 2013 flood are all along the stream and the enjoyable but lesser maintained trail eventually finds a path to the Falls.

Complete Trail Pro le and Maps: h ps://rockymountaindayhikes.com/west-cr-fallschallenge-hikes.html

photo by Marlene Borneman

photo by Marlene Borneman

photo by Marlene Borneman

photo by Marlene Borneman

A late-summer stroll on the historic Cow Creek trail Early morning in late summer on the Cow Creek Trail; photo by Barb Boyer Buck

by Barb Boyer Buck

Imagine it's 150 years ago (I do this all the me).

Imagine you have made the long trek via horseback to the beau ful mountain valley of Estes Park. At that me, Colorado was a territory of the US and the land was declared "public" by the Homestead Act. Every piece of the valley that is not already developed is open for homesteading. All you have to do is pick out your 160-acre parcel, "improve" the property, and pay a small registra on fee.

Put yourself in that scene. What is your personal perspec ve? Are you a child, part of a family

looking for a new home? Are you sick of the towns where you live and want some peace and quiet in the Colorado mountains? Do you fancy yourself a wilderness man or woman, fiercely independent and resourceful? You're itching to live off the land and figure things out for yourself. Whatever your perspec ve, I'm sure you'll agree. The homesteading narra ve is roman c and adventurous.

Perhaps you're a big game hun ng guide and you marvel at the wide-open fields below you as you crest that final hill over Estes Park. It's the late summer of 1871, and the basin looks mostly dry,

with only the snake of the Big Thompson River slicing through it (there was no lake back then). You no ce the prime spots along the river were already claimed.

Now, suppose you ride north in the valley, where the mountains meet the meadows and the elk are plen ful.

Finally, you see it: the Cow Creek Valley.

The creeks in this valley have been slicing a sliver out of the surrounding Rocky Mountains for millions of years.

Upon inves ga on, you find the valley is more than wide enough to establish a viable homestead and the en re drainage is covered in lush foliage.

Imagine you stop to take a drink from the stream.

(Don't do that today unless you treat the water ) These are not the exact circumstances that led Henry Farrar to eventually homestead the area in 1871, but the premise is probably close.

These are the kind of things I like to think of when I talk about hikes in historic sites within Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, but when I was a kid I hated history. I struggled in class to remember dates, names, events. I only fell in love with history while I earned a BA in Anthropology.

Suddenly, I found context in past events. I studied possible mo va ons for historical figures I found

awn at the t ailhead photo by a b oye

uck

before me. I can imagine myself into the mindset of someone in Estes Park, 150 years ago. In the case of the Cow Creek Valley, I can imagine the s rring excitement of the situa on, being given just enough help through the Homestead Act to get myself started in something en rely my own.

In reality, Estes Park and Rocky Mountain Na onal Park

The ba n was built

photo by a b oye

uck

Henry Farrar’s homestead cabin, built in 1871; photo by Barb Boyer Buck

The McGraw Ranch in 1936; historical photo

had long been the hun ng grounds for na ve Americans, a summer stop on their nomadic routes.

Just because a place had never been se led, doesn't mean anyone should claim it. It had been shared public space for ten thousand years before the homesteaders arrived.

Several buildings near the original homestead near Cow Creek were finished in 1887 a er the property was developed following its sale in 1884. The barn, the lodge, the bunkhouse, and two addi onal cabins started this valley along another journey. It provided water for cows and the family that lived there.

I imagine an idyllic scene, exactly how you'd imagine what a Li le-House-on-the-Prairie homestead would be like here, in its perfect riparian ecosystem. Bounteous and cozy. I'm an environmentalist, so I understand the damage human development has effected our ecosystem, but the feeling of adventure, possibility, and excitement is intoxica ng.

John and Irene McGraw, grandparents of the surviving McGraw lineage, bought the ranch outright in 1909.

John set it up so there could never be any debt on it.

There was no way any of his kin was going to gamble with the family home by using it as leverage in other concerns. This pioneer tradi on of establishing family ranches can be found in nearly every rural town, including those close to a na onal park.

Frank and his brother John, sons of the senior McGraws, turned the place into a dude ranch in 1936 by building addi onal cabins, eager to get in on the ac on so many in the area had at the me by taking in lodgers.

Alf Langdon, Governor of Kansas and Republican candidatefor President made the ranch his campaign headquarters; historical photo

Immediately a er the McGraw Ranch guest ranch opened, Alf Landon, Governor of Kansas and Republican candidate for President, booked the en re ranch for his summer campaign headquarters. Ul mately, this was an

Frank and Ruth McGraw on the Ranch; hand-colored photo, private collec on.

unwise choice for Landon, despite having the public support of US Olympic-gold medals winner, Jesse Owen. Landon became known as the poli cian who rarely traveled far from his home.

He lost by a landslide later that year to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR held the record of most electoral votes in any US presiden al elec on at 523 un l the 1980s.

Landon received eight.

Landon lost the popular vote as well.

The McGraw family was the backbone of the opera on and was living onsite, but everyone had to move to a hotel in Estes Park to make room for the Landon family and his campaign. Secret service personnel were housed in the bunkhouse; the Landon family lived in the lodge. The McGraws would return to the ranch every day to cook for everyone and take them on horse rides. One of the most popular rides was to Bridal Veil Falls. Eventually, this well-trodden path became the Cow Creek Trail.

A er Landon's visit, the McGraw Ranch was on the map and the family, eventually including Frank's wife and five daughters, were essen al to its success during its 52 years of opera on as a guest ranch. In 1988, The McGraw Ranch was sold to the Na onal Park Service and became part of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

At that me, the buildings were originally slated to be razed to rehabilitate the riparian habitat a er nearly 100 years of being used as a ca le ranch. But the Na onal Trust Historic Preserva on (NTHP) and a few

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

ci zens balked at the idea of removing evidence of one of the last "dude" ranches to operate in the country.

Thus, it became the product of true collabora on. The Con nental Divide Research Learning Center is part of a na onal ini a ve by the NPS to provide science and historical research and learning opportuni es for state universi es and federal land scien sts.

Researchers from Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, and the University of Colorado, along with the United States Geological Survey, now use the

Beau ful morning light along the Cow Creek trail (above and below); photo by Barb Boyer Buck

surrounding land as an outdoor laboratory.

Onsite housing, laboratories, mee ng rooms, and dining areas for these individuals are provided by the ranch buildings. The renova on of the buildings started in 1999, the culmina on of a partnership between the NTHP and several private ci zens to restore the McGraw Ranch buildings to their 1936-1955 heyday. The research center opened in 2003, becoming an important site to gather significant data in RMNP; Rocky Mountain Na onal Park is designated as a United Na ons Educa onal, Scien fic, and Cultural (UNESCO) interna onal biosphere reserve.

From bu erflies (there are 142 species confirmed in RMNP) to climate change, these studies provide important, scien fically-gathered informa on for the en re world.

Before I go into details of the Cow Creek Trailhead hiking opportuni es, there are several things to keep in mind. First, parking is extremely limited and fills up quickly. Roadside parking, or parking in a homeowner's driveway is strictly forbidden. Respec ul usage of this trailhead is a must as there are sensi ve ecosystems, private land, ac ve researchers, and lots of wildlife also inhabi ng the Cow Creek Valley.

The McGraw Ranch Road, which is your only access to this trailhead, is a dirt road with mild washboards and can be easily accessed from Devil's Gulch Road, on the north side of Estes Park. If you want to hike this trail,

my advice would be to go very early in the morning, or late a ernoon. Please remember in the summer months, a ernoons o en bring thunderstorms and several por ons of this hike cross wide-open meadows.

It is not advisable to hike during a thunderstorm; lightning strikes are a very real possibility.

If you find yourself wan ng to hike this trail at any other me of the day, the best thing to do is have someone drop you off at the trailhead; however, cell phone recep on is pre y much non-existent in the area. If you decide on this op on, have a plan to meet at a specific me with the understanding that idling cars

Mule deer in the early-morning light photo by Barb Boyer Buck

Cow Creek/North Boundary unc on photo by Barb Boyer Buck

wai ng to pick up delayed hikers are also not permi ed. Instruct your driver to check back occasionally if you are not there when you expected to be.

Originally a horse trail, the Cow Creek trail leads to Bridal Veil Falls in a li le over three miles. This feature is quite impressive, with rushing water falling about 20 feet. In the winter, the spray freezes, crea ng an amazing veil of ice.

I started my hike at dawn, just before a.m., at the research center. Very soon, the trail has an intersec on on the right with the North Boundary Trail which branches up and east. The beginning of the way to Bridal Veil Falls was lit with the sun at my back, glorious coloring the late-summer vegeta on and a mule deer, grazing along the edge of the trail.

When I spot wildlife on a trail, I stop and give them lots of space. And I take many pictures. This way, you get a more natural reac on and a true glimpse into their daily habits. With the Chickeree squirrel, I came upon her suddenly, too late to get a shot of her munching pinecones on a log. We surprised each other. Fairly quickly, she scampered away and to an overhead branch to cha er angrily at me.

The first part of the hike is a beau ful meadow that climbs a bit before it wanders back to Cow Creek. For most of the hike, you can hear its rushing or trickling waters, something I enjoy very much. It's so relaxing.

A bit further down the road comes another trail

A surprised Chickeree s uirrel photo by Barb Boyer Buck

crossing, this me giving you the op on to turn le to hook up with the Lumpy Ridge Trail to visit Balanced Rock and Gem Lake. This is the route Jason Miller took, detailed in his essay this month.

A er the meadows come the aspens and then a forest mixed with deciduous trees and pines. At this point, you are walking right next to or crossing over Cow Creek, in a lush forest. Many mini-waterfalls occur along the way un l you reach the horse-hitching spot, at which point horses are no longer allowed on the trail.

(Note: horseback riding trips can only be legally led through RMNP by NPS-cer fied guides.)

Just beyond this spot, there are some steep rocks

Mini waterfalls (above and le ) and lush forest surround the trail where it crosses Cow Creek several mes photos by Barb Boyer Buck

before the trail picks up again. I didn't dare do this on my own so I guess neither horses nor I would get any further.

It was frustra ng because PSmyhike told me I was essen ally there, but I couldn't chance it. Last summer, a woman took a tumbling fall, sustaining serious injuries, above Bridal Veil falls.

So, I ate some fruit, drank some water and started back.

I saw several more people on the trail and I was grateful to be coming back. The sun was higher now, and it was star ng to get hot.

When I passed through the meadows again, the bu erflies were fli ng all around me, enjoying the lateAugust sunshine.

And then, another surprise Wild turkeys were using the trail It took me about five hours to do six miles roundtrip but remember, I stopped to take many pictures along

Horse-hitch close to Bridal eil Falls photo by Barb Boyer Buck

Dark wood-nymph bu erfly photo by Barb Boyer Buck

Final approach to Bridal eil Falls photo by Barb Boyer Buck

the way and reflect on the area s history. It was perfect.

Juniper bushes with berries photo by Barb Boyer Buck

photo by Barb Boyer Buck

Wild rose hips photo by Barb Boyer Buck

photo by Barb Boyer Buck Click here to return to the table of contents

Barb Boyer Buck is a professional writer, ournalist, editor, photographer, playwright, and researcher who lives in Estes Park.

Barb is the managing editor of HI E R C online magazine.

To Gem Lake from the Cow Creek Trail story, photos, and video by Jason Miller I have hiked up to Gem Lake via Lumpy Ridge Trailhead many mes in the past years and highly recommend doing it. This me, we started deep within the McGraw Ranch and ended up at this iconic spot atop of Lumpy Ridge. We came across grasslands, rivers, forest, mountains, but very few people. This hike is a MUST DO! We began the morning with my son driving his car and me following behind him. We parked his car at the parking lot of Twin Owls and Gem Lake Trailheads. We then took a picture of our beginning point and jumped in my car to head toward McGraw Ranch. We got

mentally prepared for our adventure of the day with a li le coffee, breakfast snack, and some good music.

Music, It does the soul some good. When pulling onto McGraw Ranch Road, realize that this is a residen al area and that these are private homes. Drive slowly and respect the area residents that call this home. The parking area is located 2 miles from Devils Gulch Road. and is located at the end of the road alongside in designated areas. Once parked, we were on our way.

The old McGraw Guest Ranch is located at the trailhead. There used to be 25 buildings and five of those dated back to 1884. This opened as a dude ranch

in 1936 for the enthusias c adventurist. It specialized in trail rides, fishing, cookouts, and even square dancing. We walked past a few old buildings where all the fun used to be had and started down the trail.

It starts off as an easygoing, flat hike. Vast, grassy meadows all around you remind you of the fall wildflower beauty. A er walking through 1.2 miles of the grasslands you come to a fork in the trail. If you would go right, it takes you to Bridal Veil Falls (2 mi) or Lawn Lake (8 mi).

We chose to go le . Gem Lake is 2.8 miles ahead.

Jakob's car is 4.5 miles. From here it gets a li le more challenging. We traversed downhill a li le and crossed a river. I love crossing on the cut logs, makes me feel like a kid. Crossing the river means that the incline begins. Heart pumping and legs burning are normal for me. I have hiked up to Gem Lake many mes but not on this trail.

During this awesome me in the wilderness, you will experience all sorts of terrain from large meadows to heavily populated forest areas. I have always wanted to go on this trail, and it is super serene. There is not

The video above will play automa cally, but will be muted. Click full screen and/or use the videos controls to turn the sound on.

major rock scrambling on this hike, but the listed eleva on gains and losses do not do it jus ce. There are a lot of ups and downs. A er 1.5 hours of speed walking, we made it to Gem Lake. This is the first me we have seen people today. It is a small lake at the top of Lumpy Ridge surrounded by large boulders and rocks. I could not see any fish in it but if you are going to fish in the RMNP, make sure to read up on rules: have a fishing license and catch and release. Please help our fish popula on.

There are great shady areas all around the lake to find a nice res ng area. We sat down to eat lunch and drink some water. A er 15 minutes, we con nued down the mountain. It is 1.8 miles to the parking lot. Not too long a er we started our descent, we came across a privy. If you need to use the toilet in the wilderness this is one of the best views out there. Traversing down a li le farther and we came to Paul Bunyan's Boot: a large rock feature that looks like a boot with a hole in it.

A polaroid moment. Many different spots on the way down proved to be great photo spots. Views of the snowcapped Rockies and the Estes Valley in the distance make for another spectacular photo. Some people enjoy hiking in silence, others find it enjoyable to wear headphones; whatever you like just make sure that you do not create noise pollu on. Please don't carry in a boom box.

We made it down to the Gem Lake trailhead within 3 hours of star ng the hike. When I hike with my son, he tends to walk faster as we go farther. I highly recommend ge ng outside with family and friends. It is a great me to catch up on life challenges and reconnect with your loved ones.

Some mes just being together in silence is one of the best feelings in the world. Remember this me of year to dress in layers. It may start off cold but could turn warm and end up cold again. GET OUTSIDE!

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Jason Miller, 49, is a resident of Glen Haven and is married with two children. Before moving to the area, he used to work as broker for Nestle USA and H.P. Hood milk company. Today, he is the owner of The Rus c Acre (vaca on rentals in Estes Park) and co-owner of Lightbrush Projec ons.

Next-to-skin Base Layers Igor Guziur skied the lower sec on of Trail Ridge Road with Murray earlier this year.

The key to staying warm is staying dry! story and photos by Murray Selleck, HIKE ROCKY’s equipment specialist I remember a par cular winter backcountry ski day like it was yesterday. Even with decades of me having passed, that single drip of sweat running down my side le an impression.

We were backcountry skiing and hiking for turns when it happened. These were the early days when layering for warmth was becoming more technical with the fabrics being offered and fast becoming a widely adhered-to concept.

Murray’s full collec on of next-to-skin base layers

Of course, layering for warmth has long been an acknowledged prac ce. Think Shackleton and the Endurance. Think Charlie Brown on the baseball mound so thickly layered up he can barely move!

The reason why I remember this specific backcountry ski day so well is realizing my next-to-skin wicking layer was certainly not wicking, far from it.

Ideally, the layering concept is designed to allow the

sweat and perspira on you generate while skiing or snowshoeing or any high aerobic ac vity to wick off your skin and pass through your insula on layer.

Layering correctly will prevent you from overhea ng while keeping you warm and dry.

That par cular winter day, with sweat sending shivers up my back, was a huge fail. Since then, through lots of trial and error, I wear a layering system that works

really well for me; however, it goes without saying that what works and feels comfortable for one person doesn't mean it will be equally effec ve or comfortable for the next.

But here are a few ideas to keep in mind as you dress for your next hike, winter ski, or snowshoe day in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

The key to staying warm in winter is to stay dry. This means your next-to-skin layer is truly the most essen al. It must wick the moisture off your skin. This layer should also be quick-drying. It shouldn't stay damp against your skin. If this first layer does stay damp you will have to use even more energy to stay warm. As soon as you pause for a break to catch your breath or take a drink of water you'll start to chill down. Your break will be short lived because you'll have to quickly get moving again to regenerate more heat to overcome your chill. A frustra ng repe on of sweat, chill, warm up; sweat, chill, warm up will repeat itself all day long.

This first layer, the next-to-skin base layer, is cri cal to keeping yourself dry, warm, and comfortable even in the most extreme temperatures.

The best way to ensure that your next-to-skin layer works properly is to have it form-fi ng to your body.

Some manufacturers call this body mapping. The layer shouldn't be loose, baggy, or floppy anywhere on your torso or legs.

Body mapping tops typically have specific areas within the design to vent more heat or be purposefully even more snug fi ng than the rest of the garment.

This was the biggest lesson I learned during that winter ski day way back when. How was my base layer supposed to wick when it wasn't even touching my upper body in all places?

Once I began wearing body hugging, snug, form fi ng tops and bo oms did the wicking performance actually begin to work effec vely.

This snug, body-hugging fit may feel pre y foreign to lots of first me users. However, once you get use to the feel you'll never go back.

Think of the next-to-skin layer's sole purpose as transpor ng moisture off your skin or wicking. This is what will keep you dry... and comfortable.

Cra Ac ve Extreme X (Sweden)

Don't think of this layer as an insula ng layer. The most effec ve wicking layers I have found are also incredibly thin as well as body-hugging. Since they are thin that also makes them very quick-drying.

During a ski or snowshoe break this layer this layer is drying equally as quickly as it is wicking, moving all that underneath “micro climate” generated moisture away from my skin. I can enjoy a sa sfying drink of water and snack without feeling rushed or compromised by the cold temperatures.

Here are a few of the next-to-skin tops and leggings I have found to be really effec ve. I use one or another pre y much every winter day Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.

Cra Ac ve Extreme X (Sweden): Cra was the first top with a body-snug fit that I ever wore. It was my game changer. The Ac ve Extreme Top is made with 100% recycled polyester, much of it from old fishing nets.

Mesh inserts under the arms to promote ven la on, flat lock seams and stretchable material for easy mobility, waffle knit design for enhanced wicking: these are the things that make up a wonderful next-to-skin layer.

By the way, that first Cra top I wore many moons ago?

I s ll have it and wear it on certain trips which speaks to the durability, performance, and longevity of Cra products.

Bjorn Daehlie Compete-Tech (Norway): For those who may not know, Bjorn Daehle is the most successful male cross-country skier in history. He and his clothing company know a few things about how to stay warm

fine merino wool.

Tencel is produced from sustainable, fast-growing eucalyptus trees using fiber-extracted cellulose.

Bjorn Daehlie Compete-Tech (Norway)

Ortovox Comp 120 (Germany/Switzerland): This is another very light next-to-the-skin layer. The fabric make-up is 70 % virgin wool for wicking and warmth and 30% polyamide to provide the snug body-hugging fit.

Ortovox uses a unique circular kni ng technique which creates a prac cally seamless garment. This weave also allows Ortovox to create body mapping zones for strength and increased breathability.

Ortovox uses merino wool from Tasmania for their next to skin fabrics. They also use Swiss wool for increased insula on in their midlayers and outer jackets and tops.

Ortovox takes pride in knowing exactly from which farms their wool is produced, ensuring quality and animal welfare.

Odlo Ac ve F-Dry Light Top (Norway) Yes, there is a theme here: Scandinavian companies offering bodysnug, excep onally-wicking and fast-drying garments.

The Odlo F-Dry Light top is made with 88% recycled polyester and 12% recycled polypropylene.

Odlo produces a variety of fabrics for their base layers including sheep's wool and yak wool.

Ortovox Comp 120 (Germany/Switzerland

There are many more companies producing great nextto-skin base layers. The choices are prac cally endless: Swix, Smartwool, The North Face, Icebreaker, Helly Hansen, and on and on..

The trick is to find a company you believe in and that you can support. One that you can support both with your dollars, trust, and recommenda ons.

The great debate over next-to-skin fabrics - synthe c fabrics vs. natural (primarily wool) and renewable materials - won't go away any me soon. Everyone will develop their personal favorites.

Odlo Ac ve F-Dry Light Top (Norway)

Early on my choice was always synthe cs. There was no comparison when it came to synthe c materials being faster wicking and drying.

and dry outside in winter.

The Compete-Tech top is the thinnest top that BD produces. The lightweight fabric and snug fit will keep you dry no ma er how fast you climb or how long you stay out.

The fabric is made with Tencel, recycled polyester, and

Wool users countered that wool is a natural and a renewable resource. It doesn't pick up or retain body odor. Wool is also an excellent material at wicking. They just couldn't claim it to be faster drying or produce a body-hugging fit; durability was also an early issue.

Swix (Sweden)

Today, much of those old arguments have disappeared.

Synthe cs are being manufactured with recycled materials and have added an -microbial treatments to eliminate funk. Many of these same manufacturers who primarily produced synthe c layers have also added wool op ons to their product lines.

And, many manufacturers producing products with wool are using core spun (synthe c fibers combined with wool fibers) fabrics to their clothing to achieve a body-snug fit, enhance the drying effect, and increase the durability in high wear areas like around your shoulders because of backpack straps.

The choice between synthe c or wool as your next-toskin layers will always come down to your perceived comfort, performance expecta ons, and metabolism (which in of itself is another discussion).

The one constant remains: To stay warm in to stay warm in the winter backcountry you have to stay dry!

Click here to return to the table of contents Murray Selleck moved to Colorado in 1978. In the early 80’s he split his me working winters in a ski shop in Steamboat Springs and his summers guiding on the Arkansas River. His career in the specialty outdoor industry has con nued for over 30 years. Needless to say, he has witnessed decades of change in outdoor equipment and clothing. Steamboat Springs con nues to be home.

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Simon ogt made two previous a empts to summit Longs Peak (above) before achieving the peak on September 9, 2021 (below)

n ering ea na iga ing alle

A recover s or story by Barb Boyer Buck photos by Simon ogt

Colorado resident Simon Vogt has summited 57 of the state's 14-ers (mountains over 14,000 feet in eleva on) he only has one le : Culebra Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range. Mountaineering in the high peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountains has become a metaphor for the new life he is developing for himself: one of

and

sobriety and focus.

“The summit is the goal, but it's not the reason,” he said. Since choosing sobriety three years ago, Simon has turned to high places of Colorado (and other states) for solace and a sense of accomplishment. This a tude hasn't been Simon's strategy his en re life, however.

He was born and lived in Germany for eight years a er which his family moved to New York. He moved to Colorado for college in the early 1990s.

“Colorado is the first place I developed a real interac on with the outdoor world: climbing, hiking, and mountain biking,” he said. But he also encountered tumultuous problems with the law, alcohol, and drugs.

His naturally impulsive and reckless nature got him into some real trouble while he was using and drinking.

“I almost died many mes,” he said ci ng a week-long coma from a heroin overdose in 1994 and daring mishaps while bouldering with friends. “I was also shot at several mes and stabbed as a result of poor choices,” he said. “It was the world I was living in at the me.”

A couple of years a er that, he almost died again.

“I quit drinking a er I went to the emergency room for

“The summit is the goal, but it’s not the reason”

Approaching the summit of Longs Peak on September 9

pancrea

s. It felt like I was on my deathbed.,” he said.

“Being able to get up from that bed and walk out of the hospital was the beginning of a new start, and a miracle.”

He faced an immediate test right a er ge ng sober; his boss died, he got evicted from his apartment, and his girlfriend le him. He started living in his truck. In those uncertain days, Simon started taking walks at night because he couldn't sleep. “I got back into hiking more and more a er that,” he said.

The view from the summit of Mount Ida on June 7, 2020

Simon likes to hike alone, especially on his longer adventures, but takes care to be sure he is prepared.

His naturally impulsive personality no longer turns reckless, as he cares for his well-being now. He pushes his limits, but he doesn't exceed them.

“It's nice to be alone, but running into someone is reassuring,” he said about seeing others on the trail.

“It's a secret link between you and them, a camaraderie of being with someone within a 10-mile radius. “ “Mountaineering is very peaceful, medita ve, and an inner experience,” he said.

“There's a dichotomy between being deep inside of yourself, examining your consciousness from a li le further back in your mind, juxtaposed with the physical challenges of the outside environment.

“Emo onally, it puts me very much at ease, I go out there for the feeling of solitude, to get more of an inner connec on by having that outward experience. This is when I thrive and feel alive.”

On his adventures, Simon also finds he can communicate quite easily with what he understands as God; this has been one of his touchstones since achieving sobriety.

The trail to Mount Ida in June, 2020

“Turning your life over to a higher power, trus ng that things are going to be OK, any way it turns out-- that is the key,” he said. “You have to let things go and not stress or be anxious about things you don't have any control over, like trail condi ons or the weather, or what you encounter at work.

“Once you see yourself as connected to a greater path in life it's easier to enjoy the moment.”

The gra tude he feels while on these trips reinforces this connec on. Suddenly, he is no longer the outcast and trying to fit himself into a shape society asks him to fill. These days, Simon works as a freelance contractor and carves out considerable me for traveling and mountaineering. While standing on these mountaintops alone, he sees these moments as wonderful gi s that are uniquely for him.

Marmots on the way to Mount Ida in June, 2020

“I experience a rush of endorphins, that weird chemical euphoria that I used to seek out ar ficially,” he

appl e sa e in s in i in a appl in recover i s no necessaril e in o e oun ain op a s e i por an in n life ou re never li e ade i ou never rul reac a poin ou re never done i s never over nce ou e o e op ou ave o e bac do n

Watch Simon ogt s vlogs of his ascent of Longs Peak and his adventures above Dream and Emerald Lakes in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

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explained. “I become grateful for being a human on this planet, for having legs to get me to the summit.”

Simon is con nuously honing his prepara on for hiking a er every trip he has figured out a way to lighten his pack a bit more and reduce the amount of water he carries.

“When climbing a mountain, you should only expend about of your energy climbing to the summit, you need to reserve about for the return,” he counseled.

“You need to find your own path and whatever path that is, keep moving. Keep moving even if it's not forward, some mes you have to go sideways. As long as you keep going take another step and then another and another.

“I apply the same things in hiking that I apply in recovery it's not necessarily ge ng to the mountain top that's the important thing. In life, you're never like 'I made it ' You never truly reach that point. You're never done, it's never over. Once you get to the top you have to get back down.”

Taking responsibility for his ac ons, along with expec ng setbacks on the journey is essen al to Simon's new outlook on life.

“If you can use those setbacks and disappointments not as a discouragement but as a mo vator, you succeed,” he said. “They are learning experiences and that's what it takes to improve. You have to expect to have problems and run into unforeseen things in life and in hiking.”

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EA

RE P O O

This photo of drama c skies over Rocky was taken by Darlene Bushue of Allenspark.

The Boreal Owl HIKE ROCKY magazine November, 2021 The video above will play automatically, but will be muted. Click on the sound icon to unmute the video.

The History of the Boreal Owl in Colorado story, photos, and video by Sco Rashid, Director of the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilita on Ins tute

The Boreal Owl is a small owl that can be found nes ng in the spruce-fir forests throughout parts of North America. Historically, it was thought that in North America, Boreal Owls only nested in Canada and Alaska, and moved into the lower 48 states in the winter.

It wasn't un l 1977, when Dr. Ron Ryder, a professor of Biology at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, decided to begin searching for the species in Northern Colorado. Earlier that summer, Ron was looking at bird specimens at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and found a specimen of a juvenile Boreal Owl that was found along HWY 14 near Walden, Colorado, in July.

Knowing that if a juvenile bird was found in July, he figured that Boreal Owls must nest in that area. A short me a er that, Ron and a few of the students from Colorado State University (CSU) began searching for Boreal Owls along Cameron Pass and quickly found calling birds.

Nes ng female Boreal Owl

Boreal Owl habitat, above and to the right, consists of spruce/fir forests, similar to the landscape at Hidden Valley in Rocky.

Ron and one of his students, Dave Palmer, created a protocol to study the owls. Part of the procedure was to move through the area listening for calling males to iden fy how many birds might be in the area.

They would play back recordings of calling birds to lure owls to be captured and banded so they could iden fy individuals as a way to figure out how many Boreal Owls might be in the area.

They also had more than 100 nest boxes built and placed within the forest for the owls to nest in; however, few of the boxes were ever occupied. The owls seemed to prefer nes ng in natural cavi es.

Throughout their study they ended up finding several ac ve nests in natural cavi es as well as a few of their nest boxes occupied. They managed to iden fy egglaying dates, incuba on lengths, hatching dates, food preferences, and fledging dates of the owls.

Another part of their study was to drive along Highway 14 stopping every half-mile listening for calling birds. If no birds were detected at a specific stop, they would play a call of the bird for two minutes then listen for two minutes and document if a response occurred.

I met Ron in 1989 and began assis ng him with his Boreal Owl research in 1993. While assis ng him with his research along Cameron Pass, I explained to him that the area we were in looked like the area in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park (RMNP) called Hidden Valley.

Ron said that he always thought that area would be a good area to search or Boreal Owls, but he had never Adult Boreal Owl in the fall

Fledgling Boreal Owl in its nest

done that.

While driving along the pass we ended up hearing 14 calling males. One of our stops was the Moose Visitors' Center. When we arrived in the parking lot, I stepped out of the truck and heard a calling bird in a spruce tree. I asked Ron if he was playing the call. He said no. I then explained that if he was not playing the call, there was a bird in the tree calling.

We placed ourselves in two different areas near the tree and shined our flashlights to where we were hearing the calling owl and turned on our lights. That night I saw my first Boreal Owl. Two night later, I went to Hidden Valley in RMNP with a friend and saw a Boreal Owl. A er that, I went to Hidden Valley every spring and found calling males, yet never found an ac ve nest.

It wasn't un l 2019, that I found the first ac ve Boreal Owl nest in RMNP. The owls nested in a cavity in a dead spruce. The cavity was created by a Northern Flicker that was 21.83 feet from the ground.

What I found while studying the Boreal Owl nest was quite interes ng. For example, the male Boreal Owl seems to defend the nest tree, not a territory. Also, the male and female have two very different calls during courtship and nes ng.

The territorial call of a Boreal Owl is a winnowing sound that is somewhat reminiscent of the structural call of the Wilson's Snipe. But the response from the female is a high-pitched “seeh.”.

Fledgling Boreal Owl

Furthermore, male Boreal Owls begin hun ng at dark and seem to feed them before delivering food to their females at their nests. Furthermore, when he delivers food to the female, he lands near the nest and calls before he drops the food into the nest cavity. When he delivers food to the nest each item is completely intact as if he killed it but did not eat any of it before delivering it.

When the female began hun ng for the nestlings, which was just a few days before the young fledged, she would eat a por on of each item before delivering it to the awai ng nestlings. The first owlet fledged just a er dark and the other fledged early the following morning.

A er the young owls had fledged, they remained within a few yards of the nest for several days, before moving off with their parents to learn how to survive in the Boreal Forest.

“It wasn't until 2019 that I found the first active Boreal Owl nest in RMNP. The owls nested in a cavity in a dead spruce. The cavity was created by a Northern Flicker that was 21.83 feet from the ground.”

Adult Boreal Owl

A er Ron and his researchers found the Boreal Owls nes ng in Colorado, one of Ron's students went down to New Mexico and another researcher went to Idaho and all found Boreal Owls nes ng. These researchers are the reason the species range map in the lower 48 states is drawn the way it is.

Click here to return to table of contents Ar st, researcher, bird rehabilitator, author, and director of a nonprofit are only a few things that describe Sco Rashid. Sco has been pain ng, illustra ng and wri ng about birds for over 30 years. In 2011, Sco created the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilita on Ins tute in Estes Park.

In 2019, Sco located and documented the first Boreal Owl nest in the history of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park in Colorado. Sco has wri en and published five books and several papers on a variety of avian species. More informa on available on his website: h p://www.carriep.org/

ENJOY YOUR WORLD

LEAVE NO TRACE YOUR NATURE, YOURS TO PROTECT Story, photos, and interview by Marlene Borneman One hundred six years ago Rocky Mountain Na onal Park was established. Since that me, natural and manmade changes have taken place: floods, fire, wildlife impacts, trails built, trails removed, buildings removed, and roads improved and re-routed. During these changes the core mission of preserving nature remains.

How can each one of us help to keep this pris ne, fragile environment intact for future genera ons?

Faith Overall is the Community Engagement Manager with the non-profit organiza on, Leave No Trace. Her job concentrates on building and suppor ng partnerships that help educate recrea onists from all walks of life on how to protect outdoors by prac cing Leave No Trace. She explained it all began in 1987, when a “Leave No Trace Land Ethics” pamphlet was put out by the U.S. Forest Service, Na onal Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. In the 1990s the

New language reflects LNT evolving mission and the Leave No Trace basics are reaching new users.

Na onal Outdoor Leadership School developed handson science based minimum-impact educa on training for non-motorized recrea onal ac vi es. In 1993 an Outdoor Recrea on Summit involving land management agencies and members of the outdoor industry was held in Washington DC to form an Independent Leave No Trace organiza on. The na onal program Leave No Trace, Inc. was incorporated in 1994.

Its Mission Leave No Trace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organiza on providing Leave No Trace programs, educa on, training and outreach in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the globe. U lizing the power of science, educa on for all, and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. Learn more at: www.LNT.org.

Leave No Trace is supported by corporate partners, community partners, individual members, founda ons, and sales of Leave No Trace educa onal materials.

Subaru is a large supporter of Leave No Trace, providing support for the organiza on's mobile educa on teams, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Teams. Leave No Trace partners with many other non-profits spreading the Leave No Trace principles to diverse popula ons by connec ng with schools, guides and ou i ers, scout groups, small businesses, interna onal groups and a variety of other organiza ons and businesses. The organiza on also works closely with the state and local tourism offices, Na onal Forest Service, Na onal Park Service, state park, open spaces, city parks and land managers to iden fy problems and share cu ng-edge research. Leave No Trace frequently advises federal, state, and local parks on visitor educa on, impact reduc on and sustainability ini a ves. Other partners include land trusts and stewardship groups. With decades of experience Leave No Trace has developed site-specific strategies that protect resources by inspiring visitors to reduce their impacts.

The LNT basics

Carved aspen trees near the Wind River area

Learn and Explore As Faith explained, “outdoor recrea on is changing and with that the seven principles are constantly evolving to fit all-natural areas and all recrea onal ac vi es.”

There are over fi een versions of the Leave No Trace principles to fit ac vi es from geo-caching to mountain climbing, from city parks to backcountry se ngs. The Seven Principles are also con nually being evaluated

Long lines in September as more and more users enter Rocky

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and reshaped to be consistent with the latest research and recommenda ons from other outdoor leaders. For example, principle number five, Minimize Campfire Impacts, now strongly encourages lightweight camp stoves instead of the use of campfires for cooking.

There are Leave No Trace Seven Principles for Kids that is used by the Junior Ranger Program in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. There is a Rocky Mountain Skills and Ethics Booklet with informa on on specific prac ces for the Rocky Mountain region.

Park Service sign in Rocky

Chalk marks from climbers

A present opportunity is “new users.” Faith noted that there are many more first- me users to natural lands, new to the area, new to outdoor ac vi es, and new to Leave No Trace. Many people are simply unaware of behaviors that have nega ve impacts and uninformed about how to minimize the impacts from recrea on on the outdoors.

Leave No Trace offers many trainings and courses on how to minimize impacts on the natural world. From one day trainings to a five-day Master Courses each one designed to ins ll outdoor ethical prac ces to all who enjoy spending me outside. Leave No Trace reaches out to youth with educa on and resources that helps

youth learn how responsible ac ons can help protect the outdoors.

Research Research is ongoing. All seven principles are based on scien fic research. Leave No Trace not only conducts its own research, but they also combine and organize informa on from many other researchers.

One research project conducted in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park (2015) was a Bouldering study: Boulderers' A tudes and Beliefs Regarding Leave No Trace in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Bouldering is a rapidly growing outdoor ac vity taking place in fragile environments. All outdoor ac vity has the poten al to cause ecological damage. In the case of bouldering, impacts iden fied were vegeta on loss with use of crash pads, aesthe c damage by residual climbing chalk on boulders, excessive noise (playing music). The goal of the study was to examine boulderers' percep ons of Leave No Trace in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and establish a baseline understanding of their a tudes toward Leave No Trace recommended prac ces. The study included interviews with key players such as park rangers and bouldering gym owners to help iden fy problem behaviors. Surveys were conducted in the field with boulderers. This kind of research aids RMNP managers with effec ve communica on and educa on strategies in wilderness protec on not only to this specific group but all wilderness users.

For more informa on on this research study view: h ps://lnt.org/research-resources/rocky-mountainna onal-park-bouldering-study/ Cita on: Schwartz, F., Taff, B. D., Pe ebone, D., & Lawhon, B. (2016). Boulderers' A tudes and Beliefs Regarding Leave No Trace in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Interna onal Journal of Wilderness, 22(3), 25-32.

Social trails are another challenge. Faith reports “There are about 150 miles of designated trails in Boulder County and about 150 miles of social trails as well.”

Staff and volunteers conducted surveys and observa on sta ons in areas with social trails for the purpose of gathering informa on on users' behaviors and their impact. Well placed signs and barriers on the trail explaining the science “why” to prac ce Leave No Trace has been part of the solu on.

A few of the many research studies between 2011-2018 that help support The Leave No Trace Seven Principles: Leave No Trace Behaviors in Na onal Parks that included Rocky Mountain Na onal Park where on-site

Social trail along the Big Thompson River

Leave No Trace principles being taught to children.

Photo Credit: Leave No Trace

surveys to individuals in the Bear Lake Corridor were completed.

Minimizing the Use of Undesignated Trails (2015) Efficacy of Leave No Trace Youth Educa on (2015)

Pet Waste Disposal (2017) Waste & Recycling Behavior in Na onal Parks (2017) Communica on & Messaging Regarding Wilderness Camping (2018) 2019-2020: Exploring Visitors A tudes and Behaviors Regarding Waste In Na onal Parks Tes ng the Efficacy of Data Driven Messages Study of the Efficacy of Leave No Trace Youth Curriculum

Take Ac on Since 2012 Leave No Trace has been iden fying “Hot Spots” in Colorado that are experiencing severe humanrelated impacts. Nine Colorado outdoor des na ons were iden fied: Fourmile Canyon, Mt. Bierstadt, San Juan Na onal Forest, Conundrum Hot Springs, Guffey Cove, South Colony Lakes, Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Mt. Sneffels Wilderness: Blue Lakes, and the Monarch Crest Trail. In 2019 West Maroon Trailhead and Cha ield State Park were added. Recently, Leave No Trace wrapped up a Hot Spot in the city of Colorado Springs parks.

The “Hot Spots” program provides site-specific training, consul ng, and service projects to reverse heavy recrea onal impacts. Staff and volunteers work on site providing educa onal services as well as hiking, biking, and other recrea onal opportuni es spreading the Leave No Trace principles. h ps://lnt.org/our-work/protec ng-parks/hot-spots/

Connect “The wilderness we now have is all the wilderness we may ever have and once a decision is made about it, it cannot be rescinded.” Wri en in 1974 by Edward Arlington Robinson, the words are s ll genuinely accurate today. Please make good decisions out there.

You can help support Leave No Trace by joining as a member or connec ng with local stewardship volunteer opportuni es. You can also request a Leave No Trace presenta on for your park or group from the Subaru/Leave No Trace Teams.

Want to know more? Visit www.LNT.org or email info@LNT.org

A combina on of direct (barrier) and indirect (message) interven onis most effec ve in mi ga ng social trails .

Photo Credit: Leave No Trace Marlene has been photographing Colorado's wildflowers while on her hiking and climbing adventures since 1979. Marlene has climbed Colorado's 54 14ers and the 126 USGS named peaks in Rocky. She is the author of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers 2Ed, The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes, and Rocky Mountain Alpine Flowers.

PARK PEOPLE

Wearing and bleeding green Highest Lake and Azure Lake as seen from the top of Mount Julain; courtesy photo

Dave & Annie Larson’s life in public lands clarity build confidence as they openly talked about

by Cindy Elkins A na ve of Rapid City, South Dakota, Dave Larsen frequented Devil's Tower and worked there as a seasonal park employee in the early 1980's. An avid rock climber, one summer he met a beau ful person there who became his life partner, Annie Poloney.

Dave's calm voice and Annie's smart, ma er-of-fact

their experiences as Na onal Park employees. Hearing stories of heavy equipment, such as a front-end loader being flown into a remote area of Rocky by helicopter to remove an aging earthen dam or about comba ng fires, really brings home what all it takes to maintain our Na onal Parks.

Dave said that feeling the freedom of working outside and being able to look around at the beauty as a seasonal employee while working in a few different Na onal Parks, led him to pursue year-round posi ons at the Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. “I remember thinking and s ll think that there's just not a bad view in the whole valley”, Dave said as he reflected on his first impressions of Rocky.

Annie and Dave first visited RMNP to explore the amazing climbing routes that are part of the allure for many. The Larsens shared that they made life choices to work doing what aligns with their personal values, and that Rocky Mountain Na onal Park's mission to “Preserve and Protect” had always aligned with their personal beliefs.

Dave Larson at Bluebird Lake; courtesy photo

Growing up in the Amish country of Pennsylvania, Annie wanted an adventure. At 20 years old she took a Greyhound Bus from Hershey, Pennsylvania to Chiricahua Na onal Monument in Arizona to work as a spring intern with the Student Conserva on Associa on, (SCA).

Annie Larson among the Rosy Paintbrush; courtesy photo

GPSmyhike map of the Mount Julian area in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

While on break from college, Annie gained confidence as an outdoors enthusiast and adventurer. Her trip to go climbing with friends at Devil's Tower was just the beginning of a life of adventure and love. Annie has held different posi ons within the Na onal Park Service and has a deep passion for land management. Her current job with the Forest Service is both challenging and rewarding. She knows the hard work and exper se that she brings is doing good and making sure that natural areas will be preserved for genera ons to come.

Even a er over thirty years of hiking in northern Colorado, Annie shared that she s ll finds trails she's never done before and loves the challenge of a good summit or a walk to hunt wild flowers.

Mt. Julian is 14 miles with 6 miles of walking and scrambling on rock. First, you climb Mt. Ida then scramble three more peaks. “Remember you have to climb all of them again on the return trip,” Dave said with a grin. Annie and Dave both emphasized that this is a REALLY advanced hike and climb. Do not a empt this if you are not comfortable with extreme exposure and not having a clear trail. Dave explained by saying, “Imagine knowing that each step you take you have to inten onally plant your foot and know that the rocks you just stepped on may slide, twist, or completely roll away.” Annie shared that she got a crazy, feeling of awe in her chest once on top. She said, “Up there it is just daun ng how big it really is; it's hard to describe.”

Recently Annie's family suffered a tragic loss. Her nephew's three-year-old son Julian died in an accident.

Annie's grieving process led her to approach her husband about summi ng Mount Julian in Rocky. Dave had done it a few years prior and knew the difficult summit and the risks. Annie trained for several months, and thought she knew what she would have to endure to make the trip possible. It is a very visible peak in the park that requires summi ng three other peaks before you get there and there's not really a trail. Round trip,

The accomplishment of summi ng Mt. Julian in remembrance of Julian, Annie and Dave signed a Mason jar register lodged in the rocks on the summit. Few people summit this remote peak each year. They were the only ones from this year. Annie shared her sacred experience of gi ing a small locket of her recently deceased mother's hair in a personal ceremony honoring the short sweet life of her nephew’s son while on top of a very physically challenging climb.

Park people wear green and bleed green according to Dave and Annie Larsen. The lifestyle of working for the preserva on of wilderness and living adventures, builds connec ons with like-minded others and has blessed their lives. They tend to run into old friends, former colleagues, and climbing buddies in obscure out-of-theway campsites or trails. “We have been very, very blessed. We've won the life lo ery many mes; so many things that money can't buy, our experiences are priceless. We even got married in 1986 at the end of Beaver Meadows Road in RMNP. We were so in love with Rocky and the people you get to spend me with in life. It's made for a full life.” Dave explained.

He simply described it as saying we bleed green, and love it. Annie shared that you can have any experience you want in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Just do your homework. Find out the popular mes to go and avoid the crowds if that is your fancy. Annie also shared how she believes the med entry has helped control the masses that visit the park and how they like to open up the map and say, "let's go there!”

Born in the mountains of West Virginia, Cindy Elkins has called Colorado home since 1981. As a professional ar st and teacher, hiking and the outdoors provide inspira on and keep her ac ve.

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