HIKE ROCKY magazine Vol. I, Issue 11 October, 2021
a publication of
HIKE ROCKY Welcome hikers, to HIKE ROCKY’s fall edi on! Autumn is such an amazing me of year to be on the trail. It’s like the grand finally to a fantas c fireworks show, a er a deligh ul summer of hikes on this trail and that trail, each with their own spectacular display of awesomeness, the season builds to a fiery busts of sudden color and boom! It’s a great me to be on the trail!
And like a bunch of chickaree squirrels scurrying around gathering up all the seeds they can before winter sets in, a few of our east-side hiking wordsmiths seem to have scurried over to the west side of the Park to gather up the last hikes before Trail Ridge Road closes for the season. We have two separate accounts of treks up the East Inlet trail to Lake Verna and points beyond by Marlene Borneman and Jason Miller. And I take a glorious hike up to Timber Lake with my good friend Murray Selleck (with video). Also on tap, Chris Reveley gives us another astonishing story of a run from downtown Estes Park to the summit of Longs Peak and Rebecca De erline offers up a snowy story of her odyssey to Lake of Many Winds in Wild Basin. All in all, our hiking scribes covered a lot of terrain in this issue. And don’t miss our regular features including Marlene’s wildflower Autumn Fruits-matching game and the monthly RMNP Updates. This issue’s Trail of the Month is Twin Sisters, while Murray gives a thorough review of different map op ons (with video) and managing editor Barb Boyer Buck visits with ar st Andrea Gabel. Avian expert extraordinaire, Sco Rashid, lets us know who’s migra ng, and Cindy Elkins gives a special look at Park Person Abner Sprague. As if all of that were not enough, this month we offer a HIKE ROCKY must-see documentary, Firestrorm, the incredible story of last years Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires. This exclusive video of interviews complied by Barb and Maddy Rusk, gives never before seen accounts by the
Front Cover Photo Contest Winner: Bear Lake’s autumn aspens and honorable men on for the above photo of Longs Peak over aspens were taken by Darlene Bushue of Allenspark, CO. Darlene Bushue is a landscape and wildlife photographer from Allenspark, CO. “For me, photography is more than a way of making memories - it is a means of preserving beau ful moments in my life and allowing others to go on a journey with me.”
five chiefs involved in that incredible firefight. Don’t miss this one! Dave Rusk, Publisher
HIKE ROCKY Magazine is a publication of Barefoot Enterprises, Inc., and RockyMountainDayHikes.com, Estes Park, Colorado. HikeRockyMagazine@gmail.com Volume 1, Issue 11, October, 2021 Copyright 2021, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Publisher: Dave Rusk Managing Editor: Barb Boyer Buck Copy Editor: Sybil Barnes Sales: Cynthia Elkins Contributors to the August, 2021 edition: Scott Rashid, Marlene M. Borneman, Barb Boyer Buck, Dave Rusk, Maddy Rusk, Murray Selleck, Darlene Bushue, Cindy Elkins, Jason Miller, Rebecca Detterline, Chris Reveley.
a note from the managing editor I was looking up the origin of Colorado's license plate slogan, “Colorful Colorado,” and was treated to a varied and interes ng history of this state’s various plate designs since it first a appeared in 1950, disappearing in 1955, only to reappear in 1958 with an infamous rendi on of what is considered the most ar s c of all Colorado plates because of the a dark green figure of a skier.
glow under stormy skies. Snow is common in the higher eleva ons, so there's fresh white to add to the pale e. And the evergreens are se ling into a deep hunter green a er a good growing season. I love October in Rocky and in this edi on, we celebrate the most colorful season in our colorful state.
- Barb Boyer Buck, Managing Editor, HIKE ROCKY magazine
It was infamous because it had a light green background and the skier forced the le ers and numbers to be smaller, smaller s ll for the slogan “Colorful Colorado.” The state reverted to simpler designs from 1959-on and a er just one year, the slogan dropped off. The same small font and “Colorful Colorado” returned in 1973 to be replaced with the slogan “Centennial” in 1976 & 1977. (Did you know Colorado is called the Centennial State because it became a state 100 years a er this country was established? But that's a story for another me.) License plates in this “colorful” state have been similar versions of what exists now, the white mountains with green le ering, since 2000. What I found most interes ng in this history is the reason “Colorful Colorado” was taken off license plates between 1955-1958. The governor at the me, Edwin Johnson, said Colorado already meant colorful and the plates were too clu ered with the extraneous word. Actually, he was wrong about one thing – Colorado means, “the color red” and refers to the color of Colorado's Front Range red sandstone cliffs, many of which are located just east of Rocky. To me, “Colorful Colorado” is what is going on right now – the beau ful, rich colors of the changing aspen leaves and varied foliage in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Every year, most of the photos I take are during this me of year. The colors are striking and the ligh ng feels like sunset all day, or creates a wonderful filtered
Colorful aspens on the Bear Lake Road, 10/9/21; photo by Barb Boyer Buck
cover photo contest Each month, we will feature a cover photo from a photographer who lives and breathes Rocky Mountain 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 fica on-page.html
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ild ruits are plen ul in Rocky Mountain Na onal ark right now - can you iden y these Sprinkeld throughout this issue o E R C are the answers and in orma on on each depicted below lease do not eat any wild berry you are not completely sure is edible ns ire the Co or o e nts o iet
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RMNP UPDATES
Structure burns at Glacier Creek Stables and other Rocky news
Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park
Structural Fire At Glacier Creek Stables In Rocky Mountain Na onal Park - Strong Interagency Firefigh ng Efforts RMNP News Release - September 18, 2021 Late 9/18/21 a ernoon a structural fire was reported at the Glacier Creek Stables in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park near Sprague Lake. Park rangers and interagency firefigh ng resources arrived on scene to find a large two-story metal hay barn burning. As structural firefigh ng resources ba led the fire in the barn, park wildland fire resources laid hose downwind to help prevent a wildland fire in case embers were blown into the surrounding vegeta on. Previous thinning and fire mi ga on efforts have taken place in this area. The metal building kept the fire contained and lessened the likelihood of the fire spreading to the surrounding wildland area. Thousands of gallons of water have been used. As the hay and building con nued to burn, excavators have pulled the building down to assist in ex nguishing the fire. Crews are ac vely turning over debris and dousing flames. Bear Lake Road inbound traffic was temporarily closed
Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park
for approximately three hours for emergency vehicle traffic. Bear Lake Road reopened at 7 p.m. but the access road to Sprague Lake remains closed. Interagency resources from Estes Valley Fire Protec on District, Allenspark Fire Protec on District, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department, Pinewood Springs Fire Protec on District, US Forest Service and Big Elk Meadows Volunteer Fire Department were involved with the firefigh ng efforts. There were no personal injuries and no horses were harmed. The cause of the fire is under inves ga on. -NPS-
Trail Ridge Road & Old Fall River Road closed due to snow on Monday, reopens today RMNP Updates - September 30, 2021 9/28/21, 5:01 p.m.: Due to ice and snow accumula on near Rock Cut (eleva on 12,110 feet) on Trail Ridge Road, park rangers are beginning to close Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Closures on Trail Ridge Road will be Many Parks Curve on the east side of the park and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side of the park. 9/30/21, 12:25 p.m: Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road have reopened. Due to the weather forecast the next few days, travelers should plan ahead and be aware that road status may change. Trail Ridge Road recorded status line 970-586-1222 Old Fall River Road In Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Closed To Vehicles For Season RMNP Update - October 4, 2021 Old Fall River Road closed for the season to vehicles today, Monday, October 4. The road will be closed to all uses through Friday, October 8, for park staff to conduct road maintenance and culvert replacement. Old Fall River Road will reopen temporarily to bicycles, leashed pets and walkers for Saturday October 9, through Monday, October 11. Star ng, Tuesday, October 12, Old Fall River Road will close again to all uses for con nued road maintenance through Friday, October 15. On Saturday, October 16,
Along Old Fall River Road on Sept. 26, 2021; photo by Barb Boyer Buck
the road will reopen to bicycles, leashed pets and walkers through November 30. Leashed pets and bicycles are only allowed on the road, not on side trails. On December 1, the road will revert to trail status and bicycles and leashed pets will not be allowed on the road. 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.
Along Old Fall River Road on Sept. 26, 2021; photo by Barb Boyer Buck
COVER STORY
East Inlet Creek with Mount Craig looming ahead
Glorious Autumn “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne, from The American Notebooks
Story and photos by Marlene Borneman Just as wildflowers blooming in summer bring us joy, autumn brings fresh pleasures. The most recognized natural fall spectacle in Colorado is the changing colors of aspen leaves. Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, is a hardy deciduous tree na ve to North America. The leaves are small heart-shaped with fine serrated teeth on the edges. The white bark is smooth which becomes ru ed and uneven with age. Deciduous trees lose their leaves each winter. But it all begins in summer when there is an abundance of sunlight which aspens use along with water and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and energy in the form of sugar. This process is known as photosynthesis. The green pigment chlorophyll is responsible for the
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absorp on of light to help produce the energy sugar and hides the yellow, oranges, reds, that are true colors of the leaves. Many internal chemical changes occur in aspens during the fall. At the autumnal equinox and during the days following, there is less sunlight which results in leaves making less sugars, thus less chlorophyll is needed. he trees stop storing sugars and go into a dormant state for the winter months. When this process starts to happen, the pigments carotenoids and xanthophylls become visible bringing out yellow and orange colors. o, what about aspens that turn a brilliant red ess sunlight also signals the aspen trees to form a blockage layer called the abscission , preven ng any sugars from passing between the leaf and the rest of the tree. uring this process sugars may get trapped inside the leaf when the abscission layer is being formed producing the pigment anthocyanins. he higher the concentra ons of anthocyanins, the deeper the crimson red hues. ach year aspen trees can produce a different set of colors depending on condi ons in the environment during the forma on of the abscission layer. leva on, temperature, and moisture are variables that in uence the ming of leaf change and intensity of color. he ideal circumstances for a brilliant display are sunny days and cool nights.
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A great way to drench yourself in autumn gold is with a backpack trip to the west side of Rocky. My husband, Walt, and I planned a trip to Lake Verna the day before the autumnal equinox in hopes of catching some colors. The day before our trip, a fast-moving storm system deposited snow, closing Trail Ridge Road for a few hours. We checked the status of the road the morning of our drive to find it had re-opened. Rocky Mountain Na onal Park is full of surprises so take seriously the posted signs that read “Be prepared for rapidly changing weather.” The road up high was snow covered and icy with seventeen degrees at the Alpine Visitor Center! A er passing a snowplow, I thought to myself no winter boots, no gaiters, and no micro-spikes. And maybe, no backpack trip. Dropping down into the Kawuneeche Valley, we found a pleasant surprise: only a sca ering of snow on the mountains and a balmy forty-eight degrees in Grand Lake.
The trail to Lake Verna begins at East Inlet trailhead. The first hint of the stunning scenery on the East Inlet is Adams Falls, only 0.3 mile from the trailhead. From
Lake Verna’s sandy beach
The author at Lone Pine Lake
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aspens. By the me we reach one Pine ake it is a warm, sunny autumn day! At about 0, 00 feet we see snow lingering in the trees with heartleaf arnicas s ll in bloom. Another surprise.
Blue oint rass
here, the trail rises moderately following the creek un l reaching switchbacks. hen the trail becomes steeper as it leaves the creek. he ast nlet trail is a good example of trail crews hard work with many rock steps, fine bridges and retaining walls for hiker s comfort, safety, and preven on of erosion. oon we are immersed in deep golds, bright oranges, and reds of
ake erna is the largest along a chain of five lakes in the ast nlet drainage. he old- mers in Grand ake used to call these the tring akes one Pine ake, ake erna, pirit ake, Fourth ake and Fi h ake. here are eight backcountry camp sites along the ast nlet rail. n past years we have snagged ake erna site but this me we are at olitaire, . miles from the trailhead. A er se ng up camp we head for an evening tour of picturesque ake erna. egend has it ake erna was named for the sweetheart of a member of the . . Geological urvey. he iden ty of the survey, surveyor and the sweetheart is unknown which makes for good storytelling around camp. he landscape seems so s ll and quiet as it slowly transi ons from season to season.
Aiguille de Fleur rocky tower over Spirit Lake
Looking around I no ce other subtle signs of autumn. The wildflowers have been replaced by their astonishing seedpods that are truly works of art.
Pine squirrel prepares for winter
bronze na ve bluejoint grass (Calamagros s canadensis) waving in the light breeze. Pine squirrels are quite ac ve carrying pinecones to their middens as they prepare for the long winter days.
Subalpine meadows shimmer with shades of deep
Fi h Lake’s outlet
We head to the east shore to relax on ake erna s splendid sandy beach and en oy the impressive views. ooking north is the imposing ridge line of sola on Peak. ake erna makes an excellent base camp for climbing Mount raig, Andrews, and Ptarmigan peaks or hiking to the upper three lakes. All along this drainage many stately towers and pinnacles rise above the lakes making a drama c scene. At 0, 00 feet pirit ake glistens under the rock tower known as Aigiulle de Fleur which can render one
large bull moose res ng in the autumn grasses
a stand of golden aspen trees
speechless with its he y but graceful presence. Fourth Lake is next on an unimproved trail with many huge down trees to nego ate over and under. Some of the down trees are the results of a derecho last September before the Troublesome fire raged through the park. Derecho is a type of windstorm with straightline wind damage in a swath over a large area. The unimproved trail gets very faint a er Fourth lake and almost non-existent to Fi h. Remote and striking Fi h Lake sits under the stately towers of Isola on Peak and along the ridge of The Cleaver. On the third day we pack up and reluctantly hike out. We take in that the aspen have no ceably increased in color and intensity in our short me on the trail. But what a way to end our backpack! Click here to return to the table of contents
Adams Falls
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.
Colorado wildowers Spring through fall, Colorado’s dazzling display of wildflowers charms and some mes overwhelms. These guidebooks make flower iden fica on easy; the compact size is perfect for hikers and backpackers.
This guidebook showcases 22 trails filled with na ve wildflower species across five life zones. Trail descrip ons include habitats and interes ng dbits on each flower, along with lis ngs of na ve flora, common and scien fic names. •
• •
Marlene Borneman 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. Purchase Marlene’s books at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy or the Colorado Mountain Club Press.
All summer, the alpine tundra of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park awakens from winter sleep with an incredible display of wildflowers. The harsh environment has a short growing season and the plants must make the most of it with a showy presenta on.
22 of the best wildflower hikes • along the Front Range, Colorado Springs to Fort Collins (and RMNP) A wide range of hikes - from family- • friendly to challenging • Complete trail descrip ons including color photos and maps
Wildflowers are grouped by color and subdivided as plant families. Both common and scien fic names are provided to avoid confusion. Addi onal help comes from the informa on on life zones, habitat, characteris cs, and season. •
Covers 128 of the alpine tundra’s most common wildflowers Detailed photos for easy iden fica on The latest classifica ons for serious wildflower lovers
• • • •
Inden fies 180 of Colorado’s most common wildflowers Revised with latest classifica ons Organized by color and plant families 220 photos for easy iden fica on Superb educa onal tool for all ages
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his trail is good almost any me of the year except maybe the snowiest and windiest winter days , but autumn is a par cularly good me to get this moderate length peak hike in where one can en oy the fall vistas. his hike begins at the end of a small stretch of dirt road, ascending from the east side of ighway , ust east of ily ake. Parking is only available roadside, and between signs as directed. he trail switchbacks up through montane forests with views of ongs Peak through the trees to the west. At about . 5 miles, the trail crosses a drama c landslide which occurred from heavy rains in eptember, 0 . hen a series of short, steep switchbacks brings the trail into a subalpine imber Pine forest before then rising to above treeline. n oy a 0 degree views on the summit, from the drama c ,000 ongs Peak in the west to the high plains looking back east.
Twin Sisters ro le h ps
Trail Type Moderate ike Trailhead win isters Beginning Eleva on , 0 Des na on Eleva on , Total Eleva on Gain , 5 Total Roundtrip Miles .
Maps
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he sim e art of arr in a to o ma et me say right off that am a map guy. can easily spend hours looking at topographical maps spread out on the oor or table. ne of the main reasons these maps hold my a en on for so long is how they let my imagina on ow along with their contour lines. he topo maps, with their swirling, ever changing, brown contour lines, their shading of slope and green and white, represents adventure and possibility. My imagina on takes over deciphering terrain and trail. m not only picturing future des na ons but if you let it, your imagina on might even give you clues as to what you ll expect to hear along the way! n these maps see and hear distant rockfalls and cascading waterfalls and creeks. he sound and swirl of wind. see the stunted wind-blasted spruce trees struggling to hold their line as the eleva on transi ons from forest to tundra. here are boggy wetlands to skirt
Waterproof and pre-folded, the Na onal Geographic rails llustrated map of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park
ne of the est thin s i e a o t a er to o ra hi a ma s is how the
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rrent o ation and what ies ahead over the hori on and e ond around and open meadows where you might see elk or moose. he bluest of lakes, rugged boulder fields, lingering snowfields, cliffs and cirques, and of course, ma es c mountain tops. he names of these places on the maps within RMNP tease me relentlessly to come visit them... onesome ake, tone Man Pass, agles Beak, appily ost ampsite, ake of Many Winds... Who can resist opographical maps hold the keys to all this discovery and more. ne of the best things like about paper topographical maps is how they provide the big overall picture of an area. Right in your hand, on a single page of paper, you can see your current loca on and what lies ahead over the horizon and beyond. As you begin looking at some of the available topo maps of RMNP you ll see different scales. ,000. 0,000. 50,000. echnically, this means unit of measurement typically an inch or cen meter on the map represents ,000 or 0,000 of that equivalent measurement on the ground. his is pre y difficult for me to wrap my head around. What is more meaningful to me is the smaller scale will show the greatest topographical detail in a smaller area while the larger scale will show less detail in a larger area. ou will be able to navigate your way with any of these three map scales but depending on your trip, more or less topographical detail will prove beneficial to you.
ky errain trail to o a co ers southeast ocky Mountain a onal Park an the n ian Peaks il erness
here are all kinds of maps that cover RMNP. Raised relief maps of the park show a three dimensional view.
he ocky Mountain a onal Park is i en ree at the Park s ront ates but
here are fine art wall maps that are suitable for framing, historical maps, and geological maps depic ng the deposits of minerals. par cularly like three maps of RMNP. he Na onal Geographic rails llustrated Map 00 is printed in a 50,000 scale with 0 foot intervals between contour lines. his single page map front and back shows the en re area within RMNP. ky errain s outhern Rocky Mountain Na onal Park ndian Peaks Map is printed with a 0,000 scale also with 0 contour intervals. his map shows the southeast por on of the park from stes Park south into the ndian Peaks Wilderness. Both maps are printed on waterproof-tear tough paper. hese maps provide tons of informa on beyond the lay of the land to help you plan your hike or backpack trip. nforma on included on these maps are RMNP regula ons, permit informa on, trail descrip ons, eave No race thics and wilderness conduct, safety and survival ps, trail mileage, the map scale, and of course, the map legend showing what the symbols on the map mean. All of this valuable informa on will help you plan your
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day hike, backpack trip, or even plan your scenic sight seeing drive through RMNP. he third kind of map is the nited tates Geological urvey G .5 minute topographical quadrangle maps. he G quads show the greatest detail printed at a scale of ,000 with 0 contour interval lines. he G maps show the greatest topographical detail of all three maps but within a smaller printed area. Perhaps the only issues with G maps are you ll need at least maps to cover all of RMNP and they are printed on regular paper. ou ll have to take extra precau on and store these maps in your pack with a zip lock bag or some other kind of waterproof map case to protect them. hese considera ons, however, are minor inconveniences and are easily dealt with. here is a fourth map that like to study from me to me and it is the free Rocky Mountain Na onal Park map produced by the Na onal Park ervice. ou ll find these at all the visitor centers inside Rocky. While this map does not show topography it is ar ully shaded to depict terrain. o not rely on this map as your backcountry trail guide. hat is not its inten on.
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t does give a nice overview of the en re park showing roads, trailheads, trails, numerous named features and a brief descrip on of the ecosystems found within the Park s boundaries... t is a useful dreamers map, for sure! n the shop where work have lost count of the number of mes customers have come in looking for a map showing where they have been. hey admit ge ng turned around and disoriented, even lost for a me so now they want to see where they were. Maybe, they say, we should have bought a topo map before our hike or backpack trip to determine where we re going versus finding out where we ve been a er the fact. omehow that ust seems too logical, right like carrying a topo map even if am familiar with a trail and have been on that trail numerous mes. ust don t know when might get a whim to leave the trail and go exploring. n addi on to my map carry a compass. he map is pre y useless unless you can orient it in the right direc on. n a stormy day with reduced visibility a compass is essen al. And if do hike off trail prac ce eave No race ethics. look for rocks to step on as frequently as possible to avoid crushing vegeta on. f am with another person or a group we don t hike single file where we might inadvertently create a subtle trail where no trail should
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exist. A map, a compass, and a pair of boots and a few other items to take with you and you re all set for a wonderful hiking adventure in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.
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Bond to Longs and Back Extreme Adventures Relived Twin Sisters peaks from the summit of Longs Peak A note from the managing editor: the adventures described in this piece were undertaken by well-trained athletes and should not be a empted by those who are not familiar with the terrain and/or are insufficiently trained and acclima zed for such ac vity.
story and photos by Chris Reveley The sun is rising over the east side of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and I'm stunned by what I see. A few hours of jogging, mostly in the dark, from Bond Park in downtown Estes have le me at tree line on the North Longs Peak Trail (NLPT). The view from here takes in the spectacular valley that opens below the north side of Longs, the en re range going north to Trail Ridge and every peak of the Mummy Range. A er 50 years adventuring in the Park, I don't recall having been here, so I'm pausing for a few minutes to take it all in. My day began at 4:00 a.m., star ng with 6 miles of tro ng on pavement, past the YMCA entrance, to the trailhead at the end of the Spur 66 highway. There, I started up trails that run behind Na onal Park campgrounds to intersect with the Boulder Brook trail. This steep passage leads up along the Brook to intersect the NLPT a mile or so below tree line. Today's project is to begin and end downtown and to lay hands on the Longs summit in between. I'm hoping for no rain and, even more fervently, for no water
Longs Peak summit as seem from the North Longs Peak Trail, below Boulderfield.
running down the North Face ables route that leads to the summit from the Boulderfield. he idea of doing such adventures with a fast and light approach was embraced by my genera on in the early 0 s. Roger Briggs, one of our cohort s leading rock climbers and trail runners, showed that ongs could be done round-trip, very quickly by one highly trained, experienced person wearing only running shoes, shorts, a -shirt and carrying nothing. uch fast trips on ongs, and many other peaks, have become a tradi on that has been honored and built upon for these past 5 decades. For several years the rangers and volunteers maintained a display in the ongs Peak trailhead Ranger ta on, with photos and accounts of the fastest trips on ongs and the people who had done them. everal years ago, a new supervising ranger, fresh off some other, far away NP assignment and unfamiliar with RMNP, threw the display in the trash, claiming that this kind of informa on only promoted dangerous, irresponsible behavior. hus, history is o en erased by the ignorant and inexperienced. aving worked as a ongs Peak ranger and adventured in the area for a long me, m not aware of any in uries among fast-light prac oners. hey tend to be well prepared athletes who know what they re doing and their achievements are an inspira on to those who follow.
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oday, here on the north side of ongs, ll need some inspira on to complete my plans. A er pausing for the sunrise views, arrive in the Boulderfield already somewhat low on energy. n the steep, loose talus slope leading up to hasm iew suck down a good por on of my coffee chocolate drink. By the me reach the start of the more difficult climbing at the site of the old ables route m re-energized. n the late 0s and early 0s a movement swept the Na onal Parks, aimed at removing man-made improvements in wilderness areas. hough the North Face cables had allowed many people to experience this shorter, spectacular route to the ongs summit, they were removed in the early 0s, leaving only the large steel anchor bolts in place. he bolts have been used as rappel anchors by climbers ever since, a situa on that should be reconsidered and made safer by the placement of new, modern rappel anchors. hese days the climbing community has become a bit more sensi ve about trus ng our lives to hundred-year-old Master trail buil in on the orth on s Peak rail
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hardware. oday, the cracks and corners of the North Face route are running with chilly water, not surprising a er a couple days of rain. For this reason ve come prepared with a length of one-inch webbing ed around my waist and three mechanical camming devices used in technical rock climbing to place temporary anchors and provide protec on against falls. don t have a rope or a partner to belay so ll be placing the cams and clipping them to my waist loop to protect individual moves that seem par cularly slippery and scary. his approach turns out to work very well and before long m above the difficult climbing, basking in warm sun, wandering up the last bit of nd and rd class climbing to the summit. t s a typical summer day on the ongs summit. here are already a dozen people res ng and en oying the view and near-windless condi ons. A few ques ons reveal that most started their trip at about 00 a.m. from the ongs Peak trailhead, coming up the more popular but longer eyhole Route. t s been years since ve done the eyhole so chose it as my descent route. Passing many who are s ll ascending, make my way along the narrow ledges, sloping slabs and loose nes aille shelter alon
eyhole route
passages for an hour, back to the Boulderfield campground area. here, tank down on water from my filtering bo le, eat the last of my snacks, and begin the long og home. Back on the N P , ust before descending into the trees, find myself fast-stepping down a sec on of trail that reminds me of ancient Roman highways. he huge blocks have been fi ed, ghtly together, forming a smooth, at, aesthe c surface for a couple hundred yards. nce again, find myself in awe of the reless trail building crews of RMNP. his remarkable construc on will be intact 5,000 years from now when the aliens land and try to understand who these humans were. he remainder of my trip involves lots of downhill, retracing my morning steps and stopping o en to drink. he last six miles along the shoulder of pur are, as an cipated, somewhat miserable and the whole adventure ends, mercifully, and a half hours a er it started in Bond Park. Now, soon to turn 0, m cking-off one-day ookin
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adventures like this that ve been intending to complete for the last 5 years. m grateful that my personal infrastructure has held up and more grateful that this Na onal Park s ll looks much as it did in 0 when first visited. ately, the Na onal Park ervice is frequently demonized, both for its failures as well as many good faith a empts to manage use by the millions of people who visit from near and far. uring my employment with the NP , the overriding mandate was to protect the resource. ater, there was a slow mission dri and soon Park employees spent more me managing crowds and a ending to visitor safety. Park Rangers came to be thought of as cops in the wilderness and an adversarial rela onship developed between visitors and those trying to maintain the quali es of the Park to which we are all a racted. As individuals, hope we will, once again, embrace a spirit of responsibility, accountability and support for our Na onal Parks. hey are R public property and we can all be volunteers, in the broadest sense, suppor ng the Na onal Park ervice, lobbying for increased funding, observing rules and regula ons and working toward a future where these beau ful, unique pieces of land remain forever unchanged. hris e eley has s ent years cli bin an oin en urance s orts an thirty years learnin an rac cin e icine o a a y ouse usban ith hobbies he sai
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Meeting Lake of Many Winds
The joy of experiencing something new Story and photos by Rebecca De erline The snow at Thunder Lake was definitely deeper than an cipated on a recent a empt at a few remote peaks in Wild Basin. It quickly became obvious that our original plan would be thwarted by the slick condi ons resul ng from the first snowfall of the season. Knowing that our hike would be considerably shorter than we had prepared for, my two girlfriends and I hopped from rock to rock, following the steep trail that leads hikers from Thunder Lake to Lake of Many Winds, occasionally post-holing into calf-deep snow. Our feet were already cold and wet, and each step into the fresh snow packed a bit more snow into our sneakers.
Visibility was poor and it would have been unwise for us to travel to the high and exposed peaks of Wild Basin with no trac on or mountaineering equipment. However, moments of sunshine and breaks in the clouds revealing views of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker made our chilly feet nothing more than a small annoyance. Winds were rela vely low and we knew we were only a mile and a half or so from the dry Thunder Lake Trail. ‘Have you ever been up Mount Alice?’ I asked my friend Kirby. She hadn’t. ‘How about Boulder-Grand Pass?’
“As much as I love visiting these places that have become like old friends and constants in times of uncertainly, the real joy comes from sharing these gems with others. “ Nega ve on that one as well. Unbeknownst to me, the trail that we were hiking on was completely new to her! She had never traveled past Thunder Lake toward Lake of Many Winds. While I love to stand on a summit or dip my toes in an alpine lake, I am definitely a hiker who enjoys the journey as much as the des na on. I will not hesitate to hit the trail in the drizzling rain or on a day with a 90% chance of precipita on knowing that my original objec ve is likely una ainable on that par cular occasion. There are so many worthy des na ons at and below treeline in RMNP and I am always happy to don a rain jacket and gloves and revisit Ouzel Falls or Lake Helene or any other number of places I have seen about a million mes. That being said, Kirby’s revela on that she had never been to Lake of Many Winds absolutely made my day! ‘You only get to see a place for the first me once!’ I beamed and we plodded up the last half mile of trail to the aptly-named lake, taking in the views of the high
peaks surrounding us while Thunder Lake glistened below. This snowy hike in glorious Wild Basin was one of many opportuni es this summer to share my favorite places with people who had never seen them before. I am not quite Jim De erline-level when it comes to revisi ng a place over and over. However, I am pre y sure that I hold the world record for most ascents of Eagles Beak. I have no idea how many photos exist of me in front of Ouzel Falls, but it has go en to the point where I politely decline friendly bystanders’ offers to take my photo there. I think I have every season, every type of weather and every me of day covered. As much as I love visi ng these places that have become like old friends and constants in mes of uncertainly, the real joy comes from sharing these gems with others. One summer I stood on top of Longs Peak seven mes, each me with folks who had never been there. I don’t an cipate another season like that, but I am always up for sharing my favorite lakes or remote
summits with friends who are excited to see them. There are plenty of des na ons in RMNP that I have not visited. I am not the type of person who needs to stand on top of every scree-laden summit in the Never Summer Range. I don’t have a checklist of des na ons that I am hell-bent on reaching. I don’t know how many mes I’ve scrambled up Pilot Mountain or The Cleaver. I do know my favorite des na ons so far, though, and I tend to return to them year a er year. While I enjoy revisi ng these places with my regular hiking partners, the greatest joy always comes from showing someone a place for the first me. Being able to take my friends to places they have never seen is an honor and a blessing. Traveling safely through RMNP is a learned skill and I have certainly been on the receiving end of guidance from those more accomplished than myself. This summer I was blessed to traverse Blitzen Ridge to the summit of Mount Ypsilon. Thanks to an experienced partner,
“Any day spent in the mountains of RMNP is a gift, but the best views I have found are the ones standing alongside a friend who is seeing a place for the very first time. “ I didn’t have to worry about route finding and I was able to relax and enjoy the views of Spectacle and Fay Lakes from the Four Aces. I’ll never forget the first me I walked across Broadway Ledge on Longs Peak, ed into a rope and plucking out protec on as I meandered toward Upper Kieners. I never could have guessed that parry primrose grew on that grassy ledge that appears so cold and rocky from afar. Any day spent in the mountains of RMNP is a gi , but the best views I have found are the ones standing alongside a friend who is seeing a place for the very first me. Rebecca De erline is a lover all things RMNP. She is a wildflower aficionado whose favorite hiking des na ons are alpine lakes and waterfalls. Her name can be found in remote summit registers in Wild Basin and beyond. Originally from Minnesota, she has lived in Allenspark since 2011.
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Lone Pine Lake
Lone Pine - Verna - Spirit Exploring the East Inlet Trail story and photos by Jason Miller
We traveled over Trail Ridge Road and into Grand Lake, Colorado, for our next hike. It’s packed with everything you would expect from RMNP: meadows, rivers, lakes, and mountains - without all the crowds. Nestled in at the south end of Grand Lake, you will find the East Inlet Trailhead Parking Lot. I drove across Trail Ridge Road around 3pm trying to avoid the crowds. Aspen are at their peak transforma on, looking like rays of sun on the mountain side. The devasta on of last year’s East Troublesome Fire is eerie, to say the least. As far as the Photo: Sunrise over Estestrees, Park when I started trip from eye can see are burnt all leaning in my unison
the force of winds and fire. Horrible. Since the hike I am doing is Sprit Lake, I thought I would get some rest at the Spirit Lake Lodge. Only three miles from the Trailhead and in the center of the Town of Grand Lake, its loca on is ideal. Simple accommoda ons that serve the purpose of rest and relaxa on. It is also near the local watering hole. I got some rest and arrived at the trailhead the next day at 7:30 am. Here is a big difference on this side of RMNP. There is only one car in the lot. Deserted. There are big meadows with grand mountains all around. Winding rivers snaking through the open space were barely moving. It is very rare to see s ll water in Rivers, almost like a lake with a mirror effect. The first part of
the hike was flat and not too strenuous. Slowly climbing out of the meadows moving alongside large mountains. The views of Grand Lake are amazing from different lookouts along the way. Moving on and up it is so cool seeing the trees on this hike. Much larger than
ones on the Estes Side. HUGE! We arrived at Lone Pine Lake at 9:45 am. At this point we have hiked in 5.3 miles and have gone up in eleva on around 900 . Not too strenuous. Passing the lake, we saw moose droppings. STOP! On the trail is a cow moose “female”. We stopped, it saw us, we moved off trail, it moved off trail, we went back to trail, and moved forward while she let us pass. WHEW!!! From here it gets a li le tougher. We climbed in eleva on and hiked for a while and got some great views of Lone Pine Lake. Leveling off a li le we came across two small bodies of water. Up we go. As I have said previously, RMNP trails are very well maintained. This one is steep. We arrived at a large lake. Lake Verna. Walking along side, we saw evidence of moose being there as well. At the end of Lake Verna there is a magnificent sand beach. Water is slowly flowing in from tributaries of Spirit Lake. We are almost there.
Nego a ng our place on the trail with a female moose.
Looking back at Grand Lake from the East Inlet Trail
Lake Verna
I’m always grateful for a day in the mountains!
Lone Pine Lake
Standing next to the slow-moving waters
End of the maintained trail. Now, we follow the route, limb over and under fallen trees. Traversing over loose rock will play havoc on your ankles, if you are not careful. This last stretch is the hardest part of this trail and it took a lot out of me. Arriving at Spirit Lake felt amazing. Views of the mountains and the aspen in peak season were out of this world. We relaxed for a few minutes to eat a snack and hydrate. Eight miles to go. This part of the hike seems to go a bit faster than ge ng to the des na on. I have already taken in the views and am determined to get back to the car for an ice-cold Coca Cola. We got back to the parking lot at 1:45 p.m. A li le faster than I thought we could do this hike which is 15.7 miles with a net eleva on gain of 1907 .; 2910 . total for the roundtrip eleva on gain. 6 ¼ hours. Overall, this is a very hard hike and be cau ous trying to do the whole thing. Its ok to go to Lone Pine Lake and turn around. That would change the intensity level of this hike tremendously. Know your limits and listen to your body. Always pack the essen als: water, filter, food, First Aid, & a good a tude. Happy Hiking! Click here to return to the table of contents Jason Miller, 49, is a resident of Glen Haven and is married with two children. Before moving to 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. “I was born and raised in Lima, Ohio, moved here eight years ago, and never looked back,” he said.
Jakob Miller accompanied his father on this hike.
Timber Lake in late September story by Dave Rusk photos by Murray Selleck “What do ya think?” We stood before some fallen logs strewn across the trail that required climbing over in order to go forward. “I don't see why not.” The sign had warned us that, 2 miles into our 5.3 mile hike to Timber Lake on the west side of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, there would be an ac ve landslide with possible moving soil and falling trees. Now, here we were at that point. “I don't know. When I was here before, they had diverted the trail up and around.” That had been seven years ago and I was surprised that this was s ll an ongoing thing. But the sign did say to proceed, “at your own risk.” “Well, let's go see what it's like. Probably not that bad.” We stepped carefully onto the fallen logs. They were
covered with a dus ng of snow that was mel ng and making them slippery. But we moved forward to where we could get a be er look. A gouge down the hillside of mud and fallen trees appeared before us. The Park had cut a few trees and we followed a makeshi path that dropped steeply down into the ravine. The path slid narrowly between some cut logs going one way and a fallen tree going the other. Then we ducked under that tree. There was a rivulet of water flowing down the ravine and I imagined during spring melt, this hillside might become very fluid and unstable. But right now, at the end of the season, the mud slide seemed dry and solid. So, a short scamper up out of the ravine and that was it. “Well that wasn't much of a problem.” “Ya, it was a lot shorter than I thought it would be.” I had met my friend, Murray, in Grand Lake the evening before, our hike having been delayed a day due to a first-of-the-season snowfall that had temporarily closed Trail Ridge Road. Weather can always be a factor
making planning for an autumn hike difficult, although our day today ended up being a beau ful early fall day. While a number of trails on the west side of Rocky had been damaged by the massive Troublesome Creek fire the previous October, with some trails s ll closed, the fire did not reach the Timber Lake trail, which starts out at the base to Trail Ridge Road across from the Colorado River Trailhead.
gorgeous hike and we were excited to hit the trail. As we started our frosty hike, we wondered how deep the snow might get as we gained eleva on with Timber Lake res ng at 11,000 . The trail starts off easy enough, traversing around the lower west side of Jackstraw Mtn, crossing over Phantom and Beaver Creek, and then begins a steady climb going around the south side of Jackstraw and into
We had stayed the night before at a friends cabin in Grand Lake, grabbing some take out at White Buffalo Pizza. There was a pre y good frost the next morning on the windshield, so we didn't rush out the door. By the me we got to the trailhead, at about 9,000 , the sun was warming the frosty grass in the meadows. We hopped out the truck and took a look around. Golden aspens accented a Colorado blue sky with a decent dus ng of snow gracing the peaks across the valley. Despite the unexpected one day delay, it looked like we were going to have a
The author striding on the Timber Lake trail on September 22, 2021
Striking autumn color at the Timber Lake Trailhead parking lot.
the Timber Creek drainage. But while some sec ons of the 2,000 foot eleva on gain got me huffing, the trail is mixed with more gradual stretches too. Once past the brief but tricky landslide area, the trail con nues its steady but gradual rise through subalpine forest, eventually bumping into Timber Creek. At one point, an open meadow comes into view and I am reminded of spending me here one early August photographing and p-toeing around a large patch of Elephant's Head wildflowers. It was a beau ful patch. But the meadow was mostly dry and dormant now, wai ng for a return to winters nourishment. First snow on the trail to Timber Lake
The trail follows Timber Creek closer here before breaking into a clearing at just under 11,000 ., with good vistas of the Con nental Divide to the north, where a trail to Mt Ida travels above tree line. At this point, it seems like you must be very close to Timber Lake, and you are except that the trail takes an unexpected turn to the east through more forested terrain, rising to just over 11,000 before finally coming onto the lake right at tree line. There was maybe an inch or two of snow around the lake and the dus ng on surrounding ridges looked splendid. I've been here as early as mid-June when the lake was s ll thawing out from the deep winter snow. I've also been here in mid-summer with terrific wildflowers surrounding the lake. And now the end of September with first snow. They've all been great hikes.
Timber Lake under fresh snow in late September of this year.
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We find ourselves a sunny lakeside rock and pull out our snacks, taking in the views and the sunshine. There are smaller ponds farther on nearby that can be explored and some folks like to climb up the ridge at the far end of the lake to ascend Mt Ida. On this day though, we just take it easy and enjoy the peaceful solitude of this end of summer beauty before our return. Click here to return to the table of contents
Dave Rusk has been sauntering and taking photographs through Rocky Mountain Na onal Park for decades. He is the author publisher of Rocky Mountain Day Hikes, a book of 24 hikes in Rocky, and the website of the same name. He is the publisher of HIKE ROCKY Magazine and an important content contributor to all of these endeavors.
Rocky Mountain Day Hikes is a portable introduc on to 24 trails in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, ranging from very short, easy walks to long and more challenging hikes. This pocket-sized guidebook includes maps, helpful hints, and other important informa on. Purchase here
ART IN ROCKY
Andrea Gabel’s Colorful Rocky Photo courtesy of Jay Grooters
by Barb Boyer Buck “Rocky is the epitome of Colorado life,” said ar st Andrea Gabel of Fort Collins. “Surrounded by mountains, wild animals, forests, streams, and weather, it has a grandness that fills up hearts. In the winter it especially feels ominous with mother nature ruling the grand beauty. I've camped, hiked, snow-shoed, and painted there. It doesn't' really ma er what I paint when I go there; It's just being there and the whole experience of taking in all the surroundings that fills you up and inspires me not only in art but in life on planet earth.” Gabel’s joy in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park’s natural treasures is conveyed by her colorful, vibrant oil pain ngs. She loves to paint all landscape subjects, but lately she’s been pain ng a lot of trees during many trips to Rocky.
In late September, she agreed to join me for a demonstra on while she painted the drama c Hallet’s Peak, as seen from Bear Lake Road. There we discussed why she became an ar st, and what mo vates her to this day. When she was a child, Gabel saw a documentary on Leonardo DaVinci and immediately knew she was going to be an ar st. She went on to earn a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in graphic design from Colorado State University and worked for an adver sing agency in Denver for three years therea er. Then, she was married and a stay-at-home mom for the next 20 years, “taking pain ng classes whenever I could,” she said “I've been plein-air pain ng for 18 years now.” Star ng next month, Andrea Gabel will be represented at the Art Center of Estes Park and her studio is in the
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3-Square Art Studios complex in Fort Collins, Colorado. View more of her art at: h ps://www.andreagabelart.com/
Rocky Banks, by Andrea Gabel - 12x16 - oil - $600 Alluvial Fan RMNP
Aspen Wave, by Andrea Gabel - 18x14, oil-plein air, 9-26-16, $700.,RMNP near Alluvial Fan
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Morning Glory, by Andrea Gabel, 11x14, oil-plein air, 6-15-17, $500. RMNP, Trail Ridge Road
GIFT to Conrad and Amy - Li le Friend, by Andrea Gabel 5x7, 10-2016 Click here to return to the table of contents
Standing Out, by Andrea Gabel - 9x12 - $350
FEATURE PHOTO This beau ful photo taken by Diane Calden of Estes Park would be perfect, but for the destruc ve treecarving ac vi es of thoughtless humans. Diane Calden of Estes Park took this amazing photo; next month, Marlene Borneman will present a report on the orgainza on, Leave No Trace, and how their efforts relate to Rocky.
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Birds that move for the winter astern creech story an hotos by co ashi irector Co or o ns t te o i n ese r h n eh
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As fall approaches, birds begin moving to their wintering grounds, or the areas that they will spend the winter. For some species that can be outh America, for others it can be Mexico, and s ll for others it can be the southern part of North America. ll, some species remain in the same areas year-round, and don t migrate at all. Birds that nest farthest north may also winter farthest south. For example, the Ar c ern nests in northern por ons of anada, Alaska, Greenland and celand and winters in Antarc ca. Bar-tailed Godwits that nest in Alaska, o en make a nonstop 000-mile migra on to New ealand and Australia in as li le as eight days. Not all birds move south in the fall winter. ome individuals may actually move east or west in the fall. aving said that, there are several types of migra ons.
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hese include la tudinal migra on, longitudinal migra on, ver cal migra on, leapfrog migra on and circular migra on. Warblers have a longitudinal migra on. ome of these include the irtlands, hooded, Northern Waterthrush, Nashville and others which migrate from their northern nes ng grounds straight south to winter in Mexico, uba, and entral America.
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Birds that o en have a la tudinal migra on, include Band-tailed Pigeons, Glaucous Gulls, and Mallards. Band-tailed Pigeons and some Mallards o en nest in olorado or Wyoming and winter along the west coast. ome Glaucous Gulls nest along the shores of the Pacific cean and have been known to winter in olorado. Rufous ummingbirds, ownsend s Warblers and alliope ummingbirds are examples of birds that have circular migra ons. hese birds winter in Mexico and move north along the west coast to nest in regon, Montana, daho, and Washington tate, then migrate east through olorado on their way south to Mexico, crea ng large circles. ong-billed urlews, Marbled Godwits, anderlings, and unlins are examples of shorebirds that have circular migra ons. hese birds move north through exas, klahoma, ansas north to nest in the high ar c, they then migrate south along the east or west coast to winter in Mexico.
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Birds that nest on or near the alpine tundra will o en winter at lower eleva ons, called ver cal migra on. orned arks nest on the tundra and may winter on the eastern plains of olorado. lark s Nutcrackers nest in the spruce-fir forests at higher eleva ons within Rocky Mountain Na onal Park RMNP , and may winter a few hundred feet lower in the town of stes Park. usky Grouse also have a ver cal migra on, but their movement is ust the opposite of nutcrackers. he grouse actually nest at lower eleva ons within RMNP or the stes valley, then move upslope to nest near the alpine tundra to feed upon spruce needles.
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We have been banding American rows for years. What we have found through our research and band recoveries is that the crows that winter in stes Park actually nest in Bri sh olumbia and Alberta anada. And the crows that nest in stes Park actually move
south and east for the winter, being replaced by the northern birds. n short, within the stes alley, we see crows all year. owever, the individuals that we are seeing in the winter are not the same individuals that we see in the summer.
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When thinking of wintering grounds, many of us think that all birds winter in the south where it is warm. owever, almost anywhere can be south for birds. Many of the northern owls, including the snowy and Great Gray wls frequently only move as far south as they have to, in order to find enough food to sustain themselves throughout the winter. his is why many snowies, hawk, and great grays bo om le are o en found in Northern Minnesota and upper Michigan in the winter in large numbers, as they are so good at finding prey that they do not need to move any farther south. here are many species that only migrate short distances. Blue ays that have been banded in Fort ollins, olorado were found to winter in Greely, olorado which is only about 5 miles away.
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ooking at the banded birds in and around our facility, we have found that Black-billed Magpies, astern creech wls and Northern Flickers remain in the area year-round. n the northern parts of their range, Northern ardinals, Mourning oves o en remain and do not migrate. Gray ays remain in the same areas all year. his is simply due to their ability to find and store food in the fall and winter. hese birds have a very s cky saliva that enables them to encase their food, which then acts as a freezer for the stored food.
he i eo abo e ill lay auto a cally but ill be ute lick on the layin i eo to atch ull-screen an a ust the olu e r st researcher bir rehabilitator author an irector o a non ro t are only a e thin s that escribe o shi co has been ain n illustra n an ri n about bir s or o er years n co create the olora o ian esearch
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When they are in need of that food, they simply crack the ice away and eat their frozen food. When it comes to bird migra on and where birds winter, not all birds are created equal.
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A HIKE ROCKY magazine documentary - our first! This video will play automa cally, but will be muted. Hover over the video to watch full screen and/turn on the sound.
Editor’s Note: the following is taken from BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) reports on inciweb.gov - Barb Boyer Buck, managing Editor
The Cameron Peak Fire Current as of 6/21/2021, 12:29:19 PM The Cameron Peak Fire was reported on Thursday, August 13 at approximately 1:48 PM. The fire was burning in steep, rugged terrain, approximately 25 miles east of Walden and 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes near Cameron Pass. The fire burned through an area of 208,913 acres on the Arapaho and Roosevelt Na onal Forests in Larimer and Jackson Coun es and Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. The cause of the wildfire remains under inves ga on. Large scale and long dura on evacua ons took place throughout the fire. During the me the Cameron Peak Fire was burning, there was another fire (East Troublesome) burning
The Cameron Peak Fire starts near Red Feather Lakes. Inciweb.gov photo
simultaneously to the west of the Cameron Peak Fire, on the west side of the Con nental Divide. On October 22, the East Troublesome Fire spo ed over the Con nental Divide, and created what became known as the “Thompson Zone” of the East Troublesome Fire. This zone was managed by the Cameron Peak Fire Incident Management Team un l November 9, upon
which me command returned to the East Troublesome Detailed map of Cameron Peak Fire’s footprint; source: inciweb.gov Incident Management Team. On the Cameron Peak Fire, extreme temperatures, low humidity, rough terrain and gusty winds reaching over 70 miles per hour were just some of the elements that contributed to extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread. A major contribu ng factor to the large fire growth was the tremendous amount of beetle kill trees and the drought-stricken Ponderosa Pine, Engelmann Spruce and mixed conifer stands available as fuel. The heavy concentra on of standing bark beetle-killed snags, along with steep, loose terrain made it difficult to get firefighters safely into the fire for direct a ack; however, this fire was always managed as a full suppression fire. Firefighters worked to protect homes and outbuildings using a combina on of heavy equipment and fire personnel to build fire lines. Road systems were used as control lines where crews
source: inciweb.gov
ini ated firing opera ons to slow the fire spread. Air support was u lized in fire suppression efforts throughout the incident, but at mes was limited due to condi ons. A er 62 days of burning, on October 14, the Cameron
The Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the East Troublesome Fire (NOTE: This map does not include Rocky Mountain Na onal Park’s footprint of the East Troublesome Fire; that BAER Report has not yet been released.)
Peak Fire became the largest recorded wildfire in Colorado's history, surpassing the Pine Gulch Fire that burned near Grand Junc on in 2020. On October 18, the Cameron Peak Fire became the first in Colorado history to burn more than 200,000 acres. Prior to 2002, there was never a fire larger than 100,000 acres in Colorado.
East Troublesome Fire Fire Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response Execu ve Summary - Update Arapaho-Roosevelt and Medicine Bow-Rou Na onal Forests July 21, 2021
The East Troublesome Fire was reported the a ernoon of October 14 on a por on of the Arapaho Na onal Forest administered by the Medicine Bow-Rou Na onal Forests; the cause is s ll under inves ga on. Within three days, high winds and low humidity allowed the fire to spread to over 10,000 acres. Between Oct. 20-23, the fire exploded from 18,550 acres to 187,964 acres. The fire crossed Highway 125 on the a ernoon of Oct. 21 and spread eastward into the Rocky Mountain Na onal Park on Oct. 22, crossing the Con nental Divide, and reaching the western edge of Estes Park on Oct. 23. The fire was fueled by wide-spread drought, numerous dead and down beetle-killed trees, red flag weather condi ons created by high winds and dry condi ons, and poor humidity recovery overnight. The combina on of these factors led to unprecedented, wind-driven, ac ve fire behavior with rapid spread during the
overnight hours. A winter storm from Saturday, Oct. 24 through the morning of Oct. 26 brought very cold temperatures, precipita on in the form of snow and lighter winds, resul ng in a drama c drop in fire behavior with smoldering and reduced fire spread, resul ng in a final total fire acreage of 193,812. Impacted areas included the Arapaho & Roosevelt Na onal Forests, Medicine Bow-Rou Na onal Forests, Bureau of Land Management, Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, and private lands. The BAER assessment for the East Troublesome fire was completed by two BAER teams. The Na onal Park Service (NPS) mobilized a team to assess the burned area within Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, which is approximately 23,000 acres of the total burned area. The US Forest Service (USFS) mobilized a BAER team to assess the remaining por on of the burned area. This report will focus on the 171,209 acres assessed by the USFS BAER team. Early season snowfall in Fall, 2020 prevented the USFS BAER team from conduc ng a field survey in most of the burned area. In 2020, the USFS team mapped soil burn severity for the en re fire outside of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and shared the soil burn severity informa on with agency partners. The team documented poten al issues with the accuracy of the 2020 soil burn severity map based on cloud and/or smoke cover and lack of adequate field valida on. In 2020, the assessment of threats to cri cal values focused on human life/safety and trails on Na onal Forest System (NFS) lands. The task of upda ng and finalizing the assessment was resumed in late spring 2021. Work included upda ng the soil burn severity map and watershed response model outputs, inventorying other cri cal Forest Service values and making treatment recommenda ons. BAER PROCESS USFS BAER assessments focus on imminent post-fire threats to life and safety, property, natural resources, and cultural resources on NFS lands. Threats include determining where post-fire snowmelt and precipita on events could increase runoff and flooding, erosion and sediment delivery, debris flows, and high-risk areas for the spread of invasive weeds. Hydrologists, soil scien sts, engineers, recrea on and weed specialists, archaeologists, wildlife and fisheries biologists, and GIS support all contribute to the BAER assessment.
Comparison of low soil burn severity with roots and structure (top of shovel) vs. high soil burn severity with no soil structure or roots to help bind soil (bo om of shovel) The first step in iden fying post-fire threats is development of a Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map to document the degree to which soil proper es were impacted by the fire. Fire damaged soils have low strength, high root mortality, and increased rates of water runoff and erosion. Soil burn severity is classified according to the Field Guide for Mapping Soil Burn Severity (Parsons et al, 2010). Primary soil characteris cs considered in soil burn severity classifica on are forest floor cover, ash color, integrity of roots, integrity of structure, and water repellency. Water-repellent soils have reduced infiltra on which results in increased runoff. Areas of low and unburned SBS have minimal effects to soil proper es, and therefore li le to no post-fire effects. Moderate SBS indicates that some soil proper es have been affected and the duff and li er
layer that acts as a sponge to absorb precipita on has mostly been consumed. igh B areas have significant altera ons to soil proper es such as complete consump on of li ler and duff, loss of root viability and changes to soil structure than o en drive substan al watershed response including increased erosion and runoff following precipita on events. N L S S S MM R S LS Fire behavior, fire weather, forest type, and vegeta on size and density in uenced severity of impacts to soil in the ast roublesome fire. he east por on of the fire experienced a running crown fire due to the intense winds and was quickly cooled by a snow event. All the factors listed above in uenced soil burn severity. n many places mapped as moderate soil structure and root health are largely intact but erosion risk is greatly e acerbated due to loss o orest oor cover he B map was updated using a BAR image from une 0, 0 and field validated une 0- , 0 . Field assessment was conducted the week of une , 0 for all cri cal values except trails which were assessed in the all 0 0 effort. RE D M RE aken ro st ro esome ire orest er i e rne mergen es onse e e mm r ra aho- oose elt an Me icine Bo - ou orests July
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by in y lkins he first me took the spring run-off muddy aunt around prague ake, it was a des na on and a planned leg stretch along my first crossing of the highest paved con nuous road in the con nental nited tates of America, summer . he road trip from my western slope home was my first visit to in Fort ollins where would eventually graduate from and then move to stes Park for the start of my teaching career. he name prague meant li le to me as took in the magnificent mountains re ec ng in the water. hen read there had been an inn at this spectacular remote loca on. et s explore the history of prague and what is now known as one of the be er places to catch a glimpse of moose and elk, not to men on the trout. ver 50 years ago Abner prague loved the same views that do when he traveled to olorado as a year-old. Alongside his father, Abner and his brother Fred built their homestead cabin in what is now Moraine Park, inside the boundaries of RMNP. As squa ers on public domain a mid-western family from llinois in search of a new life in the rugged vale surrounded by promise, carved out a home. Abner and Fred stayed behind the first winter to care for the ca le while their parents went to lower eleva ons. he harsh high-al tude winter capped off with trouble from ord unraven and his associates who were ac vely trying to
claim all of the land in the area as their own, taught the prague boys how to handle themselves. hey succeeded in only losing one calf during the winter of 5 and in ruining unraven s thirst for land by holding onto their claim. prague would go on to live his life pursuing challenges as a failed prospector, successful inn keeper, ca lemen, and three terms as arimer ounty urveyor, where he helped dra plans for the towns of Fort ollins, oveland, and Berthoud. is surveying efforts for railroads and land development helped build infrastructures that created northern olorado. n at age , Abner first climbed ong s Peak. e would repeat this climb several mes with his last ascent at age , a fi y-year span of being grateful for being able to climb to the top of the world. uring his colorful life me Abner . prague, then , married Alberta remembered now in the RMNP as the namesake for Alberta Falls. At their home in Moraine
one of my favorite easily accessible spots to stretch my legs, laugh and take in amazing views. oday that muddy path first explored as a quick pitstop in the 0 s, is s ll a favorite. t s well-kept, wheelchair accessible, and holds the magic of a rugged picnic spot dripping with diverse wildlife, ma es c views and gorgeous wild owers. Abner prague recorded many of his thoughts in wri ng and is credited with helping us understand the intricacies of life in the Rocky Mountain Na onal Park as it transi oned into being a na onal park. is choice of home and loca on for successful tourist accommoda ons are re ected in his ability to understand the importance of land preserva on. e is remembered as a pioneer in the history of making stes Park and Rocky. ne of the aspects of prague s life that really makes me understand the grit of this man, who proudly bought one of the first entrance ckets to Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, is when he made na onal headlines. At age in , Abner . prague tried to enlist in World War . is example of doing what you have to in order to do what s right, offers lessons in life to re ect upon. bner
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Park, Mr. and Mrs. prague provided rest and nourishment for travelers coming to explore the rugged west for themselves. he need for expansion and the promise of prosperity pushed the prague s to expand their accommoda ons. hey built a homestead capable of providing space and food for the bustle of summer travelers. Abner was quoted as claiming we had to go into the hotel business or go bankrupt from keeping free company! n 0 . . tead purchased the thousand-acre Moraine Park ranch, considered one of the best .ranches for the full olorado experience for folks from back east. Not done with innkeeping, the prague s created a new lodge at Glacier Basin near Glacier reek. here they decided to build a lake for their guest s en oyment. tanding at prague ake, the views of the on nental ivide pierce the sky and sparkle, re ec ng on the surface of the water. My rela onship with prague ake is filled with happiness. As a toddler, my son would raucously race with me along the plank board walk ways and giggle with delight every me we would pull into the parking lot. he same parking lot where so many travelers once had extended stays at an inn. We were happy to come up for the day. A smart visionary, prague recreated himself when he made
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C i here to ret rn to the t e o ontents References . meet-localhttps www eptrail com legend-abner-sprague-in-a-living-historyper ormance . https www mycoloradoparks com park history abn er-alberta-sprague Born in the ountains o est ir inia in y lkins has calle olora o ho e since s a ro essional ar st an teacher hikin an the out oors ro i e ins ira on an kee her ac e
Coming this winter in
HIKE ROCKY online magazine
Photos by Barb Boyer Buck
- Chris Reveley provides his unique perspec ve on Rocky through various accounts, based on his 50 years of experience in the area! - Equipment specialist Murray Selleck will review snowshoeing and skiis for the upcoming ski season and talk about the proper layering for recrea ng in Rocky! - Leave No Trace- Marlene Borneman profiles this nonprofit organiza on and how it has helped Rocky Mountain Na onal Park - Barb Boyer Buck dives into the various medentry programs on federal lands - Growing up McGraw - Fran Grooters provides her first installment of her memoir of growing up at McGraw Ranch. - Rebecca De erline con nues her love affair with Wild Basin - Cindy Elkins profiles addi onal Park People - past and present! - Jason Miller finds out what he can do by taking on addi onal difficult hikes in Rocky. - And so much more!
