Even though temperatures are warming, for wildlife Colorado remains in the depths of winter; and despite the recent snow storms Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds citizens that big-game wildlife do not need our help. Feeding big game in Colorado is not only illegal but also does more harm than good.
Also, people should not approach big-game because it will force the animals to move unnecessarily and burn calories they can’t afford to lose.
“Native species are well adapted to survive the winter months on natural food sources,” said Renzo DelPiccolo, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Montrose. “Feeding big game, especially deer, whether it’s hay, corn, dog food or other livestock-type food, can kill them. Their digestive systems aren’t designed to handle these types of rich foods.”
Unfortunately, every year, some people decide to feed big game and every year big-game die as a consequence. CPW wildlife managers recently have received reports of dead deer in the San Luis Valley and Gunnison Basin. Wildlife officers examined the stomach contents of the some of the carcasses they found them to be full of corn, grain, bird seed and other food that the deer couldn’t digest. The deer died with stomachs full of food that people had provided.
“People want to help. But the reality of it is that feeding doesn’t help wildlife, it harms them,” DelPiccolo said. “Winter is a tough time of year, and it has always been how nature eliminates the sick, the weak and less-fit animals from the population. It’s ironic, but the toughest time of the year is what makes wildlife populations healthy.”
Big-game often lose 30-40 percent of their body weight during the winter. Most are able to live off the fat they’ve stored from the summer and from some available forage they find during the winter. Big game are now running on empty, so don’t do anything that would make them move unnecessarily.
“Leaving them alone is the best way to help big game during the winter,” DelPiccolo said.
Feeding animals can cause other problems. When deer crowd around a food source they can transfer diseases or parasites from animal to animal. When animals bunch up they also become easy targets for predators, including mountain lions. Feeding big game can also draw them away from their natural habitats and disturb migration patterns. In some areas, deer that have been fed during the winter haven’t moved on as they should when spring arrives.
Feeding is not just a concern with big game. CPW also advises people to refrain from feeding small animals such as coyotes, foxes, squirrels, bobcats, rabbits, chipmunks or turkeys. These animals also aren’t equipped to eat human-provided food. And just like deer, animals can bunch up, draw in predators and create unnecessary conflicts.
Wild animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous to people who decide to get close to them. They can be particularly aggressive or defensive around food sources, during breeding seasons and when they have dependent young nearby.
“Winter in Colorado is often a great time to watch big game animals. They are more visible when they congregate on low-elevation, more open winter ranges,” explained DelPiccolo. “Please, observe them from a distance, keep your dog on a leash and don’t be tempted to offer any food.”
For more information about wildlife in Colorado, see cpw.state.co.us.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Monday, March 18, 2019
Magic Feather Collaborative Forest Restoration Project Decision Signed
The Canyon Lakes District Ranger on the Roosevelt National Forest has signed the decision for the Magic Feather Collaborative Forest Restoration Project. This project was done in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. The decision calls for prescribed burning on 5,536 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands and 793 acres of non-NFS lands.
The project is located near Red Feather Lakes, Colo., and consists of ponderosa pine, aspen, riparian areas and mixed conifer stands. This landscape-scale, cross-jurisdictional restoration project will help reduce the risk of wildfires and improve watershed health, while returning ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands to a more natural, resilient state.
“The cooperation among agencies, organizations and private land owners has been outstanding,” District Ranger Katie Donahue said. “We appreciate everyone’s hard work and know that the collaborative nature of this project will make it a success.”
Non-NFS lands include Colorado Parks and Wildlife and private land. Implementation of the prescribed burn could begin as soon as spring 2019.
Detailed information on this project, a project map and the decision is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/MagicFeather.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
The project is located near Red Feather Lakes, Colo., and consists of ponderosa pine, aspen, riparian areas and mixed conifer stands. This landscape-scale, cross-jurisdictional restoration project will help reduce the risk of wildfires and improve watershed health, while returning ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands to a more natural, resilient state.
“The cooperation among agencies, organizations and private land owners has been outstanding,” District Ranger Katie Donahue said. “We appreciate everyone’s hard work and know that the collaborative nature of this project will make it a success.”
Non-NFS lands include Colorado Parks and Wildlife and private land. Implementation of the prescribed burn could begin as soon as spring 2019.
Detailed information on this project, a project map and the decision is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/MagicFeather.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Friday, March 15, 2019
Broad Scale Search Efforts For James Pruitt Suspended
On March 3, 2019, search efforts began in the Glacier Gorge area of Rocky Mountain National Park for James Pruitt, 70, of Etowah, Tennessee. After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am.
More than two feet of snow accumulated in the Glacier Gorge area between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 3. That significant snowfall in mountainous terrain added to the challenge of search efforts, making finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
Active search efforts took place March 3 through March 9. The overall search area encompassed approximately 15 square miles and included the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Searchers concentrated efforts in the heavily forested areas near Bear Lake and the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, the Nymph Lake area, Chaos Creek area, the Alberta Falls area, Lake Haiyaha, Mario’s Gully east of Lake Haiyaha and the winter trails to Mills Lake and The Loch. Off snow packed trails, searchers encountered chest deep snow in numerous areas.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members has been Larimer County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue based in Boulder County, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Alpine Rescue Team, numerous dog teams from Larimer County Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. On Tuesday, March 5, a multi-mission aircraft (MMA) from the State of Colorado assisted efforts with fixed-wing aerial reconnaissance over Sky Pond, Lake Haiyaha, Flattop Mountain and Bierstadt Lake.
Patrols will continue to occur in the search area, and further actions may be considered as conditions improve. Reported clues will be investigated as appropriate.
James Pruitt is still a missing person and our investigation will continue in hopes of gaining further information as to his plans on the day of his disappearance. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who was in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas between Thursday, February 28 and March 3, or who may have had contact with Pruitt during his other hikes leading up to February 28. Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
More than two feet of snow accumulated in the Glacier Gorge area between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 3. That significant snowfall in mountainous terrain added to the challenge of search efforts, making finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
Active search efforts took place March 3 through March 9. The overall search area encompassed approximately 15 square miles and included the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Searchers concentrated efforts in the heavily forested areas near Bear Lake and the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, the Nymph Lake area, Chaos Creek area, the Alberta Falls area, Lake Haiyaha, Mario’s Gully east of Lake Haiyaha and the winter trails to Mills Lake and The Loch. Off snow packed trails, searchers encountered chest deep snow in numerous areas.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members has been Larimer County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue based in Boulder County, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Alpine Rescue Team, numerous dog teams from Larimer County Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. On Tuesday, March 5, a multi-mission aircraft (MMA) from the State of Colorado assisted efforts with fixed-wing aerial reconnaissance over Sky Pond, Lake Haiyaha, Flattop Mountain and Bierstadt Lake.
Patrols will continue to occur in the search area, and further actions may be considered as conditions improve. Reported clues will be investigated as appropriate.
James Pruitt is still a missing person and our investigation will continue in hopes of gaining further information as to his plans on the day of his disappearance. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who was in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas between Thursday, February 28 and March 3, or who may have had contact with Pruitt during his other hikes leading up to February 28. Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Why are dogs allowed on trails in national forests, but not in national parks?
Why are dogs allowed on hiking trails in national forests, but not in national parks? To state it more bluntly, why are the two federal government agencies at odds with each other? Either way, it’s a question that deserves an answer. The case for not allowing dogs on most backcountry trails in most national parks seems compelling, at least on the surface. Most parks publish their policies regarding pets on backcountry trails on their websites. Before digging deeper into this subject I assumed that these policies were developed by wildlife biologists, and were therefore backed by at least some science. But are these truly valid reasons? This blog post will attempt to answer that question.
Overall, the justifications for banning dogs on backcountry trails by the various national parks are fairly similar. Immediately below is a composite listing of these reasons from a sampling of park websites. The second section of this post cites data and research that support many of the claims by the National Park Service:
• Dogs may become prey for larger predators such as bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, bobcats and even great horned owls. Moreover, if your dog disturbs and angers a bear or a moose, it may lead the angry bear or moose directly back to you. Wild canines are also highly territorial, especially during the summer denning season, and will kill loose dogs they encounter in their territory.
• Dogs can carry diseases into the park's wildlife populations. Conversely, they can also contract diseases from wildlife.
• Dogs are predators that can threaten, chase and even kill wildlife. They can also scare birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding and resting sites.
• The scent left behind by a dog can signal the presence of a predator, which disrupts or alters the behavior of park wildlife. Small animals may hide in their burrow the entire day after smelling a dog, and may not venture out to feed.
• Dogs can encounter insects that bite and transmit disease, or plants that are poisonous or full of painful thorns and burrs.
• Pets may dig or trample fragile vegetation, and pollute water sources.
• Dogs bark and disturb the quiet of the wilderness. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably, bark excessively or even bite someone. Park visitors should be able to enjoy native wildlife in their natural environment without disruption from other visitors’ pets.
• Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors.
As already mentioned, there are several published studies that support many of these assertions. The following are a few examples:
In 2008 the National Park Service published the results of a field research study, titled, “The Effects of Dogs on Wildlife Communities”, which discusses many of the points mentioned above in much more detail; in particular, how dogs impact wildlife. Conducted near Boulder, Colorado, the study found that the “presence of dogs correlated with altered patterns of habitat utilization for mule deer, small mammals, prairie dogs, and bobcats”. The assertion here is that dogs force animals to move away from trails, or force them to hide for extended periods of time. The paper also asserted that “Recreational trails with abundant dog scent could appear to carnivores to be linear dog territories, necessitating increased vigilance and activity”, meaning that the presence of dogs on trails is associated with increased activity of carnivores (bears, wolves, coyotes and mountain lions) in areas that are frequented by hikers.
A comparable study, conducted by Peter B. Banks and Jessica V. Bryant from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia found that “dog walking in woodlands leads to a 35% reduction in bird diversity and 41% reduction in abundance, both in areas where dog walking is common and where dogs are prohibited.” This was also reported in Science News.
Even more troubling, an article published in The Conversation (and Newsweek) by Dr. Al Glen from Landcare Research, New Zealand and Dr. Abi Vanak from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, India, claims that “dogs are implicated in the extinction of at least 11 species”… and are “also a known or potential threat to 188 threatened species worldwide: 96 mammal, 78 bird, 22 reptile and three amphibian species. This includes 30 critically endangered species”, many as a result of predation, but also through disturbance and disease transmission.
A recent BBC article also asserts that dogs threaten almost 200 species worldwide (the article also includes a video of dogs harassing two bull elk).
The very first point in the list above states that dogs can become prey for predators such as bears, mountain lions, wolves and coyotes. Problems also arise for pet owners when a dog disturbs or angers a bear or a moose. These issues are also specifically addressed by scientific research. According to a study conducted by Stephen Herrero and Hank Hristienko, both leading authorities on bear behavior, dogs were involved in more than half of all black bear attacks on humans between 2010 and 2013. “The study found that in most of those cases, the dogs were running off leash and drew the bears to their owners.”
In October of 2018, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued a press release warning Coloradoans about the increase in moose encounters throughout the state. The release quoted District Wildlife Manager Elissa Slezak of Summit County, who stated that “moose react to dogs as they would to wolves - one of their primary predators. Moose will often attack even the most gentle dog as if it were a wolf, especially if the dog barks at or chases the moose. Unfortunately, the dog typically runs back to its owner bringing an angry, 1,000-pound moose back with it. The dog often gets away but the owner cannot escape and ends up injured instead. We've seen several instances where that exact scenario played out and the dog owner was seriously hurt."
In order to formulate the policies of the 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas managed by the City of Portland, Oregon, the Metro Government compiled and examined “54 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and several research reports relating to the impacts of dogs in natural areas, including numerous literature reviews on the impacts of various types of recreation on wildlife and habitat”, which ultimately led to the banning of dogs on most trails within those spaces. What they found was categorized under four broad categories:
Physical and temporal displacement: “Displacement may be the most significant impact due to the amount of habitat affected. The presence of dogs causes wildlife to move away, temporarily or permanently reducing the amount of available habitat in which to feed, breed and rest. Animals become less active during the day to avoid dog interactions. Furthermore, the scent of dogs repels wildlife and the effects remain after the dogs are gone. The research is clear that people with dogs disturb wildlife more than humans alone. These effects reduce a natural area’s carrying capacity for wildlife, and also reduces wildlife viewing experiences for visitors.”
Disturbance and stress response: “Dogs cause wildlife to be more alert, which reduces feeding, sleeping, grooming and breeding activities, and wastes vital energy stores that may mean life or death when resources are low, such as during winter or reproduction. Animals release stress hormones and their heart rates elevate in response. When stress becomes too high, animals may flush, freeze, or hide. Repeated stress causes long-term impacts on wildlife including reduced reproduction and growth, suppressed immune system and increased vulnerability to disease and parasites.”
Indirect and direct mortality: “Dogs chase and kill many wildlife species including reptiles, small mammals, deer and foxes. A Canadian study found that domestic dogs were one of the top three predators that killed white-tailed deer fawns. In northern Idaho winter deer grounds, an Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer witnessed or received reports of 39 incidents of dogs chasing deer, directly resulting in the deaths of at least 12 animals (several other examples of wildlife deaths due to dogs are cited here). Dogs transmit diseases to wildlife and vice versa, including rabies, Giardia, distemper and parvovirus. Large carnivores such as cougars are especially vulnerable to domestic dog diseases including canine distemper.”
Human disease and water quality impacts: “Dog waste pollutes water and transmits harmful parasites and diseases to people. A Clean Water Services DNA study found that dog waste alone accounts for an average of 13% of fecal bacteria in stream study sites in the Tualatin River Basin. The City of Gresham found extremely high levels of E. coli bacteria in water quality samples of a very specific stretch of a stream, where dog feces were found along stream banks behind several yards with dogs.” In 1991 dog waste was labeled as a non-point source pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to it being the host to an array of diseases, as well as fecal coliform bacteria.
The Portland, Oregon Metro Government document cites many other statistics from an array of studies that supported their decision making.
So, if most, if not all of the reasons cited by the National Park Service are valid, many of which are backed by science, why does the U.S. Forest Service continue to allow dogs on backcountry trails, especially in designated Wilderness Areas where the land is supposed to remain in a natural state in perpetuity, and where impacts from human activities are supposed to be minimal? Seeing wildlife in their natural environment is one of the highlights of venturing into the woods and mountains for many hikers. This privilege should be vigorously protected. By no means am I advocating for the complete banning of all dogs on all national forest lands. However, I do believe we need more balance; more consideration for wildlife, and more protection of sensitive water sources. Doesn’t the U.S. Forest Service have a fundamental responsibility to protect the habitat and the long-term sustainability of wildlife? I believe the U.S. Forest Service and wildlife biologists should conduct studies to determine where dogs are appropriate and inappropriate on trails in our national forests and other wilderness areas. I also believe that stricter enforcement is needed for those who blatantly break existing rules, or any new rules. Certainly the fines that could be collected would pay for the increase in backcountry rangers who could be used to patrol sensitive areas.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Overall, the justifications for banning dogs on backcountry trails by the various national parks are fairly similar. Immediately below is a composite listing of these reasons from a sampling of park websites. The second section of this post cites data and research that support many of the claims by the National Park Service:
• Dogs may become prey for larger predators such as bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, bobcats and even great horned owls. Moreover, if your dog disturbs and angers a bear or a moose, it may lead the angry bear or moose directly back to you. Wild canines are also highly territorial, especially during the summer denning season, and will kill loose dogs they encounter in their territory.
• Dogs can carry diseases into the park's wildlife populations. Conversely, they can also contract diseases from wildlife.
• Dogs are predators that can threaten, chase and even kill wildlife. They can also scare birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding and resting sites.
• The scent left behind by a dog can signal the presence of a predator, which disrupts or alters the behavior of park wildlife. Small animals may hide in their burrow the entire day after smelling a dog, and may not venture out to feed.
• Dogs can encounter insects that bite and transmit disease, or plants that are poisonous or full of painful thorns and burrs.
• Pets may dig or trample fragile vegetation, and pollute water sources.
• Dogs bark and disturb the quiet of the wilderness. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably, bark excessively or even bite someone. Park visitors should be able to enjoy native wildlife in their natural environment without disruption from other visitors’ pets.
• Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors.
As already mentioned, there are several published studies that support many of these assertions. The following are a few examples:
In 2008 the National Park Service published the results of a field research study, titled, “The Effects of Dogs on Wildlife Communities”, which discusses many of the points mentioned above in much more detail; in particular, how dogs impact wildlife. Conducted near Boulder, Colorado, the study found that the “presence of dogs correlated with altered patterns of habitat utilization for mule deer, small mammals, prairie dogs, and bobcats”. The assertion here is that dogs force animals to move away from trails, or force them to hide for extended periods of time. The paper also asserted that “Recreational trails with abundant dog scent could appear to carnivores to be linear dog territories, necessitating increased vigilance and activity”, meaning that the presence of dogs on trails is associated with increased activity of carnivores (bears, wolves, coyotes and mountain lions) in areas that are frequented by hikers.
A comparable study, conducted by Peter B. Banks and Jessica V. Bryant from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia found that “dog walking in woodlands leads to a 35% reduction in bird diversity and 41% reduction in abundance, both in areas where dog walking is common and where dogs are prohibited.” This was also reported in Science News.
Even more troubling, an article published in The Conversation (and Newsweek) by Dr. Al Glen from Landcare Research, New Zealand and Dr. Abi Vanak from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, India, claims that “dogs are implicated in the extinction of at least 11 species”… and are “also a known or potential threat to 188 threatened species worldwide: 96 mammal, 78 bird, 22 reptile and three amphibian species. This includes 30 critically endangered species”, many as a result of predation, but also through disturbance and disease transmission.
A recent BBC article also asserts that dogs threaten almost 200 species worldwide (the article also includes a video of dogs harassing two bull elk).
The very first point in the list above states that dogs can become prey for predators such as bears, mountain lions, wolves and coyotes. Problems also arise for pet owners when a dog disturbs or angers a bear or a moose. These issues are also specifically addressed by scientific research. According to a study conducted by Stephen Herrero and Hank Hristienko, both leading authorities on bear behavior, dogs were involved in more than half of all black bear attacks on humans between 2010 and 2013. “The study found that in most of those cases, the dogs were running off leash and drew the bears to their owners.”
In October of 2018, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued a press release warning Coloradoans about the increase in moose encounters throughout the state. The release quoted District Wildlife Manager Elissa Slezak of Summit County, who stated that “moose react to dogs as they would to wolves - one of their primary predators. Moose will often attack even the most gentle dog as if it were a wolf, especially if the dog barks at or chases the moose. Unfortunately, the dog typically runs back to its owner bringing an angry, 1,000-pound moose back with it. The dog often gets away but the owner cannot escape and ends up injured instead. We've seen several instances where that exact scenario played out and the dog owner was seriously hurt."
In order to formulate the policies of the 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas managed by the City of Portland, Oregon, the Metro Government compiled and examined “54 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and several research reports relating to the impacts of dogs in natural areas, including numerous literature reviews on the impacts of various types of recreation on wildlife and habitat”, which ultimately led to the banning of dogs on most trails within those spaces. What they found was categorized under four broad categories:
Physical and temporal displacement: “Displacement may be the most significant impact due to the amount of habitat affected. The presence of dogs causes wildlife to move away, temporarily or permanently reducing the amount of available habitat in which to feed, breed and rest. Animals become less active during the day to avoid dog interactions. Furthermore, the scent of dogs repels wildlife and the effects remain after the dogs are gone. The research is clear that people with dogs disturb wildlife more than humans alone. These effects reduce a natural area’s carrying capacity for wildlife, and also reduces wildlife viewing experiences for visitors.”
Disturbance and stress response: “Dogs cause wildlife to be more alert, which reduces feeding, sleeping, grooming and breeding activities, and wastes vital energy stores that may mean life or death when resources are low, such as during winter or reproduction. Animals release stress hormones and their heart rates elevate in response. When stress becomes too high, animals may flush, freeze, or hide. Repeated stress causes long-term impacts on wildlife including reduced reproduction and growth, suppressed immune system and increased vulnerability to disease and parasites.”
Indirect and direct mortality: “Dogs chase and kill many wildlife species including reptiles, small mammals, deer and foxes. A Canadian study found that domestic dogs were one of the top three predators that killed white-tailed deer fawns. In northern Idaho winter deer grounds, an Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer witnessed or received reports of 39 incidents of dogs chasing deer, directly resulting in the deaths of at least 12 animals (several other examples of wildlife deaths due to dogs are cited here). Dogs transmit diseases to wildlife and vice versa, including rabies, Giardia, distemper and parvovirus. Large carnivores such as cougars are especially vulnerable to domestic dog diseases including canine distemper.”
Human disease and water quality impacts: “Dog waste pollutes water and transmits harmful parasites and diseases to people. A Clean Water Services DNA study found that dog waste alone accounts for an average of 13% of fecal bacteria in stream study sites in the Tualatin River Basin. The City of Gresham found extremely high levels of E. coli bacteria in water quality samples of a very specific stretch of a stream, where dog feces were found along stream banks behind several yards with dogs.” In 1991 dog waste was labeled as a non-point source pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to it being the host to an array of diseases, as well as fecal coliform bacteria.
The Portland, Oregon Metro Government document cites many other statistics from an array of studies that supported their decision making.
So, if most, if not all of the reasons cited by the National Park Service are valid, many of which are backed by science, why does the U.S. Forest Service continue to allow dogs on backcountry trails, especially in designated Wilderness Areas where the land is supposed to remain in a natural state in perpetuity, and where impacts from human activities are supposed to be minimal? Seeing wildlife in their natural environment is one of the highlights of venturing into the woods and mountains for many hikers. This privilege should be vigorously protected. By no means am I advocating for the complete banning of all dogs on all national forest lands. However, I do believe we need more balance; more consideration for wildlife, and more protection of sensitive water sources. Doesn’t the U.S. Forest Service have a fundamental responsibility to protect the habitat and the long-term sustainability of wildlife? I believe the U.S. Forest Service and wildlife biologists should conduct studies to determine where dogs are appropriate and inappropriate on trails in our national forests and other wilderness areas. I also believe that stricter enforcement is needed for those who blatantly break existing rules, or any new rules. Certainly the fines that could be collected would pay for the increase in backcountry rangers who could be used to patrol sensitive areas.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Monday, March 11, 2019
Budget Prioritizes Improvements to Critical Park Infrastructure while Saving Tax Dollars
President Donald J. Trump has proposed a $2.7 billion budget for the National Park Service (NPS) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, which includes funding that would help address the $11.9 billion maintenance backlog in the National Park System.
"This budget reflects President Trump’s commitment to protecting and rebuilding our national parks and public lands to ensure they may be enjoyed by future generations of Americans,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “The President's request provides funding that will allow the National Park Service to repair an aging infrastructure, protect America’s scenic wonders and iconic historic sites, and provide rangers to greet the more than 300 million visitors who visit each year.”
Infrastructure – The NPS estimates that in FY 2018 there was more than $11.9 billion in backlogged maintenance and repair needs for the more than 5,500 miles of paved roads, 17,000 miles of trails and 24,000 buildings that service national park visitors. In 2018, more than 318 million people visited the 418 national parks across the country. The NPS retired more than $600 million in maintenance and repair work in FY 2018, but aging facilities, high visitation, and resource constraints have kept the maintenance backlog between $11 and $12 billion since 2010.
The President’s budget provides $246.3 million to fund construction projects, equipment replacement, project planning and management, and special projects. This includes $152.7 million for specific line-item construction projects like rehabilitating the Eagle Lake Carriage road at Acadia National Park in Maine, and rehabilitating the Kennecott Leach Plant foundation at Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It also includes $4.0 million for demolition and disposal of obsolete facilities, and another $4.0 million to implement safety and environmental mitigation or remediation of abandoned mines.
For other facility maintenance and improvement needs, the budget proposes $134.1 million for cyclic maintenance projects to ensure maintenance is done in a timely manner and does not become “deferred”. To address other facility needs such as deferred maintenance and code compliance, the budget proposes an additional $132.0 million for repair and rehabilitation projects.
These discretionary fund sources are critical to help address the deferred maintenance backlog in the NPS. Additionally, the recreation fee program allows the NPS to collect recreation fees at selected parks to improve visitor services and enhance the visitor experience. In 2018, NPS leveraged $148.7 million in recreation fees to address priority maintenance projects to improve the visitor experience. The NPS estimates that in both FY 2019 and FY 2020, $165.8 million in fee revenues will be available for similar deferred maintenance projects.
Park Operations – The FY 2020 NPS budget requests $2.4 billion for park operations, which includes $5.7 million for NPS’s role in the Department of the Interior’s reorganization to help implement unified regions to improve service and efficiency. The budget proposes $10.0 million to support and enhance recreational access opportunities, including building accessible hunting blinds and fishing piers, and establishing a traditional trades apprenticeship program for veterans. The proposed budget also includes $4.0 million for Active Forest Management efforts to mitigate the fire risk to the public and NPS infrastructure assets.
State Assistance – The budget proposes a continued shift to use of the mandatory funding from oil and gas leases for state conservation grants. These grants provide funding to states to acquire open spaces and natural areas for outdoor recreation and access purposes, and develop outdoor recreation facilities. Permanent funding for these grants in FY 2020 is estimated to be $113 million.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
"This budget reflects President Trump’s commitment to protecting and rebuilding our national parks and public lands to ensure they may be enjoyed by future generations of Americans,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “The President's request provides funding that will allow the National Park Service to repair an aging infrastructure, protect America’s scenic wonders and iconic historic sites, and provide rangers to greet the more than 300 million visitors who visit each year.”
Infrastructure – The NPS estimates that in FY 2018 there was more than $11.9 billion in backlogged maintenance and repair needs for the more than 5,500 miles of paved roads, 17,000 miles of trails and 24,000 buildings that service national park visitors. In 2018, more than 318 million people visited the 418 national parks across the country. The NPS retired more than $600 million in maintenance and repair work in FY 2018, but aging facilities, high visitation, and resource constraints have kept the maintenance backlog between $11 and $12 billion since 2010.
The President’s budget provides $246.3 million to fund construction projects, equipment replacement, project planning and management, and special projects. This includes $152.7 million for specific line-item construction projects like rehabilitating the Eagle Lake Carriage road at Acadia National Park in Maine, and rehabilitating the Kennecott Leach Plant foundation at Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It also includes $4.0 million for demolition and disposal of obsolete facilities, and another $4.0 million to implement safety and environmental mitigation or remediation of abandoned mines.
For other facility maintenance and improvement needs, the budget proposes $134.1 million for cyclic maintenance projects to ensure maintenance is done in a timely manner and does not become “deferred”. To address other facility needs such as deferred maintenance and code compliance, the budget proposes an additional $132.0 million for repair and rehabilitation projects.
These discretionary fund sources are critical to help address the deferred maintenance backlog in the NPS. Additionally, the recreation fee program allows the NPS to collect recreation fees at selected parks to improve visitor services and enhance the visitor experience. In 2018, NPS leveraged $148.7 million in recreation fees to address priority maintenance projects to improve the visitor experience. The NPS estimates that in both FY 2019 and FY 2020, $165.8 million in fee revenues will be available for similar deferred maintenance projects.
Park Operations – The FY 2020 NPS budget requests $2.4 billion for park operations, which includes $5.7 million for NPS’s role in the Department of the Interior’s reorganization to help implement unified regions to improve service and efficiency. The budget proposes $10.0 million to support and enhance recreational access opportunities, including building accessible hunting blinds and fishing piers, and establishing a traditional trades apprenticeship program for veterans. The proposed budget also includes $4.0 million for Active Forest Management efforts to mitigate the fire risk to the public and NPS infrastructure assets.
State Assistance – The budget proposes a continued shift to use of the mandatory funding from oil and gas leases for state conservation grants. These grants provide funding to states to acquire open spaces and natural areas for outdoor recreation and access purposes, and develop outdoor recreation facilities. Permanent funding for these grants in FY 2020 is estimated to be $113 million.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Friday, March 8, 2019
$671 million of backlogged maintenance projects completed in national parks during FY18
The National Park Service (NPS) estimates that during Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, over $671 million in needed repair work was completed at national parks across the country, one of the the largest amounts of deferred maintenance needs retired in a single year. This leaves, at the end of FY18, more than $11.9 billion in backlogged maintenance and repair needs for the more than 5,500 miles of paved roads, 17,000 miles of trails and 24,000 buildings that service visitors to America’s 418 national parks.
“Improvements to visitor facilities, campgrounds, trails, and backbone infrastructure are essential to providing a world-class experience to our more than 300 million annual visitors and a safe work environment for our employees, volunteers, and partners,” National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith said. “Addressing the deferred maintenance in our national parks is critical to our core mission and remains a top priority.”
The NPS saw 318.2 million recreation visits in 2018, the third highest total since record keeping began in 1904. The deferred maintenance figure increased by $313 million (2.7 percent) over FY 2017. Aging facilities, increased visitation, and resource constraints have kept the maintenance backlog between $11 billion and $12 billion since 2010.
Among the $671 million of backlogged maintenance projects the NPS successfully completed last year were a new roof over the visitor center at Gateway Arch National Park, a 26-mile pavement preservation project in Yosemite National Park, the restoration of native grasses at Nez Perce National Historical Park, and new paved trail surfaces at Independence National Historical Park.
Fiscal Year 2018 Deferred Maintenance Achievements:
$213 million in transportation DM was retired on over 1,000 transportation assets such as paved and unpaved roads, parking areas, bridges, and tunnels.
$201 million in buildings deferred maintenance (DM) was retired across 272 park units.
$92 million in utility systems, dams, constructed waterways, marinas, aviation systems, railroads, ships, monuments, fortifications, towers, and interpretive media and amphitheaters DM was retired across 169 park units.
$56 million in water and wastewater systems DM was retired across 108 park units.
$52 million in trails DM was retired across 146 park units.
$28 million in maintained landscapes DM was retired across 176 park units.
$18 million in housing DM was retired across 136 park units.
$11 million in campgrounds DM was retired across 57 park units.
Fiscal Year 2018 Reports:
Deferred maintenance and asset inventory reports are available online.
Additional information about NPS deferred maintenance is on NPS.gov.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
“Improvements to visitor facilities, campgrounds, trails, and backbone infrastructure are essential to providing a world-class experience to our more than 300 million annual visitors and a safe work environment for our employees, volunteers, and partners,” National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith said. “Addressing the deferred maintenance in our national parks is critical to our core mission and remains a top priority.”
The NPS saw 318.2 million recreation visits in 2018, the third highest total since record keeping began in 1904. The deferred maintenance figure increased by $313 million (2.7 percent) over FY 2017. Aging facilities, increased visitation, and resource constraints have kept the maintenance backlog between $11 billion and $12 billion since 2010.
Among the $671 million of backlogged maintenance projects the NPS successfully completed last year were a new roof over the visitor center at Gateway Arch National Park, a 26-mile pavement preservation project in Yosemite National Park, the restoration of native grasses at Nez Perce National Historical Park, and new paved trail surfaces at Independence National Historical Park.
Fiscal Year 2018 Deferred Maintenance Achievements:
$213 million in transportation DM was retired on over 1,000 transportation assets such as paved and unpaved roads, parking areas, bridges, and tunnels.
$201 million in buildings deferred maintenance (DM) was retired across 272 park units.
$92 million in utility systems, dams, constructed waterways, marinas, aviation systems, railroads, ships, monuments, fortifications, towers, and interpretive media and amphitheaters DM was retired across 169 park units.
$56 million in water and wastewater systems DM was retired across 108 park units.
$52 million in trails DM was retired across 146 park units.
$28 million in maintained landscapes DM was retired across 176 park units.
$18 million in housing DM was retired across 136 park units.
$11 million in campgrounds DM was retired across 57 park units.
Fiscal Year 2018 Reports:
Deferred maintenance and asset inventory reports are available online.
Additional information about NPS deferred maintenance is on NPS.gov.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Day Four Of Search Efforts For James Pruitt In Glacier Gorge Area
Today marks the fourth day of search efforts for James Pruitt, 70, of Etowah, TN in Rocky Mountain National Park. Today searchers are concentrating their efforts in the Lake Haiyaha area, the Chaos Creek area and in heavily forested areas near Bear Lake and the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Yesterday, search efforts were focused in the Nymph Lake area, Mario’s Gully east of Lake Haiyaha and the Alberta Falls Trail area. A dog team assisted in the search in the Alberta Falls area. A multi-mission aircraft (MMA) from the State of Colorado assisted efforts yesterday with fixed-wing aerial reconnaissance over Sky Pond, Lake Haiyaha, Flattop Mountain and Bierstadt Lake.
The overall search area encompasses approximately 15 square miles and includes the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Approximately 30 people are involved in today’s operations including 16 in the field, yesterday approximately 35 people were in the field. Resource needs change daily based on search areas to be covered and availability of searchers. Off snow packed trails, searchers are encountering chest deep snow in numerous areas. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour are predicated for today as well as additional snowfall. There was more than two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 3. The recent snowfall in this mountainous terrain make finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members today include Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, a dog team from Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. Yesterday, in addition to those listed above, assistance was provided by Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Douglas County Search and Rescue and Alpine Rescue Team.
After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,240 feet) was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am. Pruitt arrived to the area on February 22 and hiked in the Bear Lake area numerous times during the week. This was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years.
Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt during his other hikes leading up to February 28. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
The overall search area encompasses approximately 15 square miles and includes the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Approximately 30 people are involved in today’s operations including 16 in the field, yesterday approximately 35 people were in the field. Resource needs change daily based on search areas to be covered and availability of searchers. Off snow packed trails, searchers are encountering chest deep snow in numerous areas. Wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour are predicated for today as well as additional snowfall. There was more than two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area between Thursday, February 28 and Sunday, March 3. The recent snowfall in this mountainous terrain make finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members today include Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, a dog team from Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. Yesterday, in addition to those listed above, assistance was provided by Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Douglas County Search and Rescue and Alpine Rescue Team.
After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,240 feet) was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am. Pruitt arrived to the area on February 22 and hiked in the Bear Lake area numerous times during the week. This was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years.
Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt during his other hikes leading up to February 28. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
National Park Service visitation tops 318 million in 2018
Visitation to America’s national parks in 2018 exceeded 300 million recreation visits for the fourth consecutive year. The 318.2 million recreation visits total is the third highest since record keeping began in 1904.
“America’s national parks are national treasures that tell the story of our nation and celebrate its beauty, history and culture,” said Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “I am pleased that so many Americans and visitors from around the world continue to take advantage of the affordable and accessible recreational opportunities provided by these sites.”
“The visitation to our national parks continues to affirm that Americans are in love with their public lands and hold dear the stories of our nation embodied in the natural, cultural and historic landscapes we protect in the National Park System,” National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith said.
The 418 national parks throughout the country provide a vast array of opportunities for recreation and inspiration for visitors of all ages. With at least one located in every state, national parks are easily accessible and affordable destinations. In the past five years there have been about 1.6 billion recreational visits to national parks.
In 2018, Golden Gate National Recreation Area reclaimed the top spot for highest visitation in the National Park System from the Blue Ridge Parkway. These two parks have been trading places at one and two since 1979. In the national parks category, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11.4 million) and Grand Canyon National Park (6.4 million) continue to hold the top two spots, as they have since 1990.
Here's a look at the numbers:
By The Numbers around the National Park System
• 318,211,833 recreation visits (385 of 418 parks report visitation figures)
• 1,401,420,191 recreation visitor hours
• 13,950,759 overnight stays
• 28 parks set a new record for visitation (about 7% of reporting parks), including Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park
• 17 parks broke a record they set in 2017
• 3 parks had over 10 million recreation visits – Blue Ridge Parkway, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• 9 parks had over 5 million recreation visits
• 77 parks had over 1 million recreation visits (about 20% of reporting parks)
Top 10 - National Parks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 11,421,200
Grand Canyon National Park - 6,380,495
Rocky Mountain National Park - 4,590,493
Zion National Park - 4,320,033
Yellowstone National Park - 4,115,000
Yosemite National Park - 4,009,436
Acadia National Park - 3,537,575
Grand Teton National Park - 3,491,151
Olympic National Park - 3,104,455
Glacier National Park - 2,965,309
Top 10 - All Parks in the National Park System
Golden Gate National Recreation Area – 15,223,697
Blue Ridge Parkway – 14,690,418
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 11,421,200
Gateway National Recreation Area – 9,243,305
Lincoln Memorial – 7,804,683
Lake Mead National Recreation Area – 7,578,958
George Washington Memorial Parkway – 7,288,623
Grand Canyon National Park – 6,380,495
Natchez Trace Parkway – 6,362,439
Vietnam Veterans Memorial – 4,719,148
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
“America’s national parks are national treasures that tell the story of our nation and celebrate its beauty, history and culture,” said Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “I am pleased that so many Americans and visitors from around the world continue to take advantage of the affordable and accessible recreational opportunities provided by these sites.”
“The visitation to our national parks continues to affirm that Americans are in love with their public lands and hold dear the stories of our nation embodied in the natural, cultural and historic landscapes we protect in the National Park System,” National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith said.
The 418 national parks throughout the country provide a vast array of opportunities for recreation and inspiration for visitors of all ages. With at least one located in every state, national parks are easily accessible and affordable destinations. In the past five years there have been about 1.6 billion recreational visits to national parks.
In 2018, Golden Gate National Recreation Area reclaimed the top spot for highest visitation in the National Park System from the Blue Ridge Parkway. These two parks have been trading places at one and two since 1979. In the national parks category, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11.4 million) and Grand Canyon National Park (6.4 million) continue to hold the top two spots, as they have since 1990.
Here's a look at the numbers:
By The Numbers around the National Park System
• 318,211,833 recreation visits (385 of 418 parks report visitation figures)
• 1,401,420,191 recreation visitor hours
• 13,950,759 overnight stays
• 28 parks set a new record for visitation (about 7% of reporting parks), including Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park
• 17 parks broke a record they set in 2017
• 3 parks had over 10 million recreation visits – Blue Ridge Parkway, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• 9 parks had over 5 million recreation visits
• 77 parks had over 1 million recreation visits (about 20% of reporting parks)
Top 10 - National Parks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 11,421,200
Grand Canyon National Park - 6,380,495
Rocky Mountain National Park - 4,590,493
Zion National Park - 4,320,033
Yellowstone National Park - 4,115,000
Yosemite National Park - 4,009,436
Acadia National Park - 3,537,575
Grand Teton National Park - 3,491,151
Olympic National Park - 3,104,455
Glacier National Park - 2,965,309
Top 10 - All Parks in the National Park System
Golden Gate National Recreation Area – 15,223,697
Blue Ridge Parkway – 14,690,418
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – 11,421,200
Gateway National Recreation Area – 9,243,305
Lincoln Memorial – 7,804,683
Lake Mead National Recreation Area – 7,578,958
George Washington Memorial Parkway – 7,288,623
Grand Canyon National Park – 6,380,495
Natchez Trace Parkway – 6,362,439
Vietnam Veterans Memorial – 4,719,148
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Monday, March 4, 2019
Search Efforts Continued Monday For James Pruitt In Glacier Gorge Area
Search efforts continued in Rocky Mountain National Park today, Monday, March 4, for James Pruitt, 70, of Etowah, TN. Searchers again focused their efforts in the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. The search area included sections of the Glacier Gorge Trail, the North Longs Peak Trail, the Boulder Brook Trail to the Storm Pass Trailhead as well as the drainage east of the Alberta Falls Trail. Teams also searched extensively in the Bear Lake area including the Nymph Lake area, the Dream Lake area and further to Lake Haiyaha and the Loch/Mills Junction. The Glacier Creek Trail was also searched from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead and included terrain to Bear Lake Road. Approximately 40 people were involved in today’s operations including 29 in the field.
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members today included Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, a dog team from LCSAR and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board.
There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, February 28. The recent snowfall in this mountainous terrain make finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,240 feet) was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am. Pruitt arrived to the area on February 22. This was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years.
Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members today included Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, a dog team from LCSAR and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board.
There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, February 28. The recent snowfall in this mountainous terrain make finding clues to Pruitt’s whereabouts even more difficult.
After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead (9,240 feet) was determined to belong to Pruitt Sunday morning, March 3, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am. Pruitt arrived to the area on February 22. This was Pruitt’s third winter visit to Rocky Mountain National Park over the past three years.
Pruitt may be wearing a blue jacket, red or orange hat and microspikes on hiking boots. Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Search Efforts For Man In The Glacier Gorge Area
Yesterday morning, Sunday, March 3, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers began search efforts for James Pruitt, 70, of Etowah, TN. After a vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead was determined to belong to Pruitt, rangers contacted Pruitt’s family in Tennessee. His family confirmed he was in the area and hadn’t been heard from since Thursday morning, February 28, at approximately 10 am.
Members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team searched the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members included Larimer County Search and Rescue Dog Teams, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group. There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, February 28.
Search efforts will resume this morning and include an expanded search area and additional search teams.
Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue team searched the Glacier Gorge drainage, the Loch Vale drainage and the Glacier Creek drainage. Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members included Larimer County Search and Rescue Dog Teams, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group. There has been almost two feet of snow accumulation in the Glacier Gorge area since Thursday, February 28.
Search efforts will resume this morning and include an expanded search area and additional search teams.
Park rangers would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas since Thursday, February 28, or who may have had contact with Pruitt regarding his planned route for Thursday. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Don’t Miss Out on One of the Northeast’s Most Epic Hikes: Franconia Ridge
The following is a guest blog from Max Desmarais, founder of Hiking and Fishing:
New England has some pretty incredible hiking between New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, but there are a few in particular that stand out from the rest. Franconia Ridge is one of those. It features gorgeous waterfalls at the base, easy access from the highway, over 3,700 feet of elevation gain, and 360 degree ridgeline views into the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
The few mountains that make up the ridge are among the most hiked mountains in the northeast, making avoiding the weekend crowds a good idea.
Hikers can take a clockwise, or counter-clockwise approach to the ridge hike, and can make the trip 8.5 to 15 miles, depending on how many mountains you would like to summit.
The trail begins relatively flat during the first quarter mile where hikers make the choice to climb the largest mountain first, or view the gorgeous waterfalls (lets take on the bigger mountain first).
Ascending the Old Bridal Path for just under 3 miles, hikers will experience steep and rugged terrain that ascends to the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut. This steep terrain goes by quick, taking care of heavy elevation gain in a relatively short amount of mileage.
The views become rewarding around 2.5 miles into the hike along the Old Bridal Path where a spur ridge of Lafayette creates beautiful views into the valley below, and towards the ridgeline you're heading towards.
The AMC hut provides food, water, and camping options for backpackers. Hikers will pass right by the hut and descend to a small mountain pond, where you begin the last heavy 1 mile, 1,500-foot ascent to the Mount Lafayette Summit.
Quickly above treeline, hikers are exposed to incredible views of Franconia Notch, but also the weather, which in winter months, or storms, can be brutal. The climb passes over a well traveled rocky path to the summit.
The summit features incredible views year round of the Pemi Wilderness, Mount Washington, Franconia Ridge, and a vast portion of the White Mountains. Here you will begin your exposed ridge walk for 1.6 miles - ascending and descending Mount Lincoln, and heading over to Little Haystack Mountain. You will not want to leave this ridge, it is stunning from all angles.
Finally reaching Little Haystack Mountain, hikers can choose to further their hike, or head back down via the Falling Waters Trail (rightfully named so).
The trail descending Lincoln is technical, steep, a little dangerous on the legs and knees, but an absolute blast. Descending quickly, hikers begin to parallel streams that create gorgeous waterfalls, and eventually encounter the largest of the waterfalls near the base, which attracts large amounts of visitors on warm days.
From here, it's only a short trip back out to the parking lot, where you can quickly access the highway, and on to your next trek.
If you are headed to the northeast, and looking for all the information you need to hike Franconia Ridge, simply click this link.
For another outstanding hike option in NH, you may also want to check out this video of the popular Mt. Lincoln / Mt. Lafayette loop:
Author Bio:
Max DesMarais is the founder of Hiking and Fishing, a website aimed to provide individuals with useful information to enjoy outdoor experiences in New Hampshire and beyond.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
New England has some pretty incredible hiking between New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, but there are a few in particular that stand out from the rest. Franconia Ridge is one of those. It features gorgeous waterfalls at the base, easy access from the highway, over 3,700 feet of elevation gain, and 360 degree ridgeline views into the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
The few mountains that make up the ridge are among the most hiked mountains in the northeast, making avoiding the weekend crowds a good idea.
Hikers can take a clockwise, or counter-clockwise approach to the ridge hike, and can make the trip 8.5 to 15 miles, depending on how many mountains you would like to summit.
The trail begins relatively flat during the first quarter mile where hikers make the choice to climb the largest mountain first, or view the gorgeous waterfalls (lets take on the bigger mountain first).
Ascending the Old Bridal Path for just under 3 miles, hikers will experience steep and rugged terrain that ascends to the AMC’s Greenleaf Hut. This steep terrain goes by quick, taking care of heavy elevation gain in a relatively short amount of mileage.
The views become rewarding around 2.5 miles into the hike along the Old Bridal Path where a spur ridge of Lafayette creates beautiful views into the valley below, and towards the ridgeline you're heading towards.
The AMC hut provides food, water, and camping options for backpackers. Hikers will pass right by the hut and descend to a small mountain pond, where you begin the last heavy 1 mile, 1,500-foot ascent to the Mount Lafayette Summit.
Quickly above treeline, hikers are exposed to incredible views of Franconia Notch, but also the weather, which in winter months, or storms, can be brutal. The climb passes over a well traveled rocky path to the summit.
The summit features incredible views year round of the Pemi Wilderness, Mount Washington, Franconia Ridge, and a vast portion of the White Mountains. Here you will begin your exposed ridge walk for 1.6 miles - ascending and descending Mount Lincoln, and heading over to Little Haystack Mountain. You will not want to leave this ridge, it is stunning from all angles.
Finally reaching Little Haystack Mountain, hikers can choose to further their hike, or head back down via the Falling Waters Trail (rightfully named so).
The trail descending Lincoln is technical, steep, a little dangerous on the legs and knees, but an absolute blast. Descending quickly, hikers begin to parallel streams that create gorgeous waterfalls, and eventually encounter the largest of the waterfalls near the base, which attracts large amounts of visitors on warm days.
From here, it's only a short trip back out to the parking lot, where you can quickly access the highway, and on to your next trek.
If you are headed to the northeast, and looking for all the information you need to hike Franconia Ridge, simply click this link.
For another outstanding hike option in NH, you may also want to check out this video of the popular Mt. Lincoln / Mt. Lafayette loop:
Author Bio:
Max DesMarais is the founder of Hiking and Fishing, a website aimed to provide individuals with useful information to enjoy outdoor experiences in New Hampshire and beyond.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking
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