Middle St Vrain, Coney Flats roads to close temporarily for bridge replacement project

Due to a critical bridge replacement project several campgrounds and roads on the Roosevelt National Forest’s Boulder Ranger District will close for the season on Sept. 3, 2019.

The closures include:

* Peaceful Valley and Camp Dick campgrounds;
* Middle St. Vrain Road (Forest Service Road 114.1) at Colo. Higway 72;
* Coney Flats Road (Forest Service Road 507.1) at Beaver Creek Reservoir Trailhead;
* Bunce School Road (Forest Service Road 105) at junction with Park Creek Road (202.1)

The closure applies to all motor vehicle traffic. Walking and biking on the closed roads is allowed, however stay clear of construction equipment. See a map of the planned closure area.



Jeff
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Safety Checkpoint On West Side Of Rocky Mountain National Park

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable stay for park visitors, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers will be increasing Law Enforcement Patrols and conducting a Safety Checkpoint on Friday, August 30. Rangers will be looking for traffic violations, safety violations, and impaired drivers.

Park staff members are committed to safety and safe driving in the park. With more than 100 miles of roads, Rocky’s unique driving conditions can be extremely challenging due to high traffic volume, rapidly-changing weather conditions, and wildlife on roadways. Visitors are reminded that federal law requires the occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts when driving on all park roads.

The checkpoints are being conducted in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.



Jeff
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Red Flag Warning - High fire danger across north central Colorado

The National Weather Service in Denver issued a Red Flag Warning for north central Colorado today:

Low relative humidity combined with gusty winds to 35 mph will result in high fire danger across the north central mountains Wednesday afternoon and evening. Therefore, the National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday from noon until 8 pm.

Also, Rocky Mountain National Park published this on Twitter:

In #RMNP, fire danger is Very High parkwide. Please be careful now - and always - with fire. In RMNP, fires are ONLY allowed in fire grates in campgrounds and in some picnic areas.

Jeff
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Pavement Preservation Project Continues With Night Work On Bear Lake Road And Trail Ridge Road - Micro Sealing On West Side Begins

Night work will occur for road striping on Bear Lake Road Monday night, August 26, and Tuesday night, August 27, and on Trail Ridge Road between Forest Canyon and Lava Cliffs on Wednesday night, August 28. The night work will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. on these three nights. On August 26, work will take place on the road section from Park and Ride up to Bear Lake and on August 27, work will take place on the section below Park and Ride to the Trail Ridge Road junction.

Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road will remain open. Expect extreme delays on the roads during these days and time periods, as traffic will not be allowed to pass the painting operation. Park visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid these areas during these time periods.

As previously released, beginning August 22, micro resurfacing will begin from the Colorado River Trailhead to the Grand Lake Entrance and last approximately two to three weeks, weather and conditions permitting. Single lane closures of 2 miles will exist with pilot car operations and wait times of 20 minutes. Delays could extend beyond 20 minutes depending on the volume of vehicles. Adjacent parking lots will be closed for the day prior to work passing that area, to allow parking lots and pullouts to be resurfaced and to avoid vehicles being trapped behind fresh micro seal.

This important project is critical for the long term protection of park roads and parking areas. Due to the elevation of Rocky Mountain National Park and temperatures, resurfacing pavement projects can only take place in the summer. Work will not take place during the weekends or holidays.



Jeff
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Third bear attack this year in Aspen highlights serious concerns about bears roaming populated areas looking for easy meals

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Aspen Police officers responded to the 300 block of East Hopkins Avenue in Aspen at 11:30 last night after a large black bear bit a local restaurant manager, resulting in four deep puncture wounds to the man's leg.

According to CPW Area Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita, the man was attempting to scare a bear out of a dumpster after his employees refused to throw away trash due to fear of the bear. While the manager stood next to the dumpster, the bear climbed out and bit the man on the leg, then ran off.

"By attempting to scare the bear out of a dumpster, the man exposed himself to significant danger," said Yamashita. "It is likely the bear felt cornered and it reacted aggressively. As we have warned over and over again, this is the exact scenario that can happen when people and bears interact, and why it is so dangerous for bears to be around people."

Yamashita questioned why the dumpster was open in the first place, allowing the bear to find an easy meal.

The victim described the black bear as approximately 350-400 lbs, considered large for the species. According to the CPW officer that examined the bite, the dimensions of the puncture wounds on the man's leg confirmed the bite came from a large animal.

In the hours after the attack, Yamashita and local CPW officer Kurtis Tesch searched the alley for any additional physical evidence, as well as worked with the Aspen Police Department to search the area for signs of the bear. As part of the ongoing investigation, CPW officers will attempt to collect DNA samples from the man's clothing to help identify the correct, offending animal.

"It's unfortunate, but this bear will be put down when we find it," said Yamashita. "We've told people over and over, this is what typically happens when bears get comfortable around humans. We are going to act to protect people, but if some folks can't be bothered to protect themselves, we hope they at least act to protect bears."

Prior to this incident, a 230 lb bear bit a woman as she hiked on the Hunter Creek Trail, May 27. CPW officers killed the bear several days later. A necropsy revealed the bear's stomach was full of birdseed obtained from backyard bird feeders. On July 27, an approximately 500 lb bear swiped at a man at the Aspen Meadows Resort resulting in torn clothing and a scratched arm. Several witnesses reported that the bear had previously approached several people, exhibiting no fear. CPW officers are still looking for that bear.

"In Pitkin County, every single night there are reports of bears in occupied homes, or attempting to break into homes or cars, in dumpsters, in downtown areas, alleys and backyards, the middle of the street, in trees, porches, breaking into businesses, approaching people, and so on," said Yamashita. "This is extremely worrisome. If people do not take this issue seriously, I believe it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. We as a community have been lucky that injuries to humans this summer have been relatively minor, but these attacks should be taken as a serious warning to take action now."

For more information about being bear aware, visit www.cpw.state.co.us/bears



Jeff
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Hiker Struck By Lightning in Rocky Mountain National Park

Yesterday afternoon, Saturday, August 17, a 31-year-old man from Thornton, Colorado, suffered numerous serious injuries as a result of a lighting strike. It’s unknown whether he was directly struck by lightning. He was hiking below tree line, between Dream Lake and Lake Haiyaha, when the lightning strike occurred. Other hikers found him injured along the trail and called park rangers.

Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members reached the man and provided advanced medical care. Team members brought him down the trail in a wheeled litter to the Bear Lake Trailhead. He was taken by Estes Park Health ambulance to Glacier Basin Campground. Due to ongoing storms along the Front Range, Classic Air Medical from Steamboat Springs flew from west of the Continental Divide to a large meadow near the Glacier Basin Campground. The man was then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies.

No further information is available at this time.



Jeff
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Safety Checkpoint Saturday In Rocky Mountain National Park

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable stay for park visitors, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers will be increasing Law Enforcement Patrols and conducting a Safety Checkpoint on Saturday, August 17. Rangers will be looking for traffic violations, safety violations, and impaired drivers.

Park staff members are committed to safety and safe driving in the park. With more than 100 miles of roads, Rocky’s unique driving conditions can be extremely challenging due to high traffic volume, rapidly-changing weather conditions, and wildlife on roadways. Visitors are reminded that federal law requires the occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts when driving on all park roads.

The checkpoints are being conducted in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.



Jeff
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USDA Forest Service extends comment period for draft regulations on management of national forests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is extending the public comment period on proposed changes to modernize how the agency complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed rule would give the Forest Service the tools and flexibility to manage land and tackle critical challenges like wildfire, insects and disease while improving service to the American people. Based on the importance of the proposed rule, the Forest Service is extending the comment period by 14 days to allow more time for public review and comment.

The proposed rule was published June 13, 2019, and the public comment period was originally set to end on August 12, 2019. With the extension, the comment period now ends on August 26, 2019.

Revising the rule will improve forest conditions and make it simpler for people to use and enjoy their national forests and grasslands at lower cost to the taxpayer. The revised rule will also make it easier to maintain the roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities people need to use and enjoy their public lands.

This announcement will also be published in the Federal Register. Public comments are reviewed and considered when developing the final rule. Instructions on how to provide comments are included in the online notice.

More information is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/revisions/index.shtml.

Comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov by searching docket number FS-2019-0010. Comments can also be submitted by mail to NEPA Services Group, care of Amy Barker, USDA Forest Service, 125 South State Street, Suite 1705, Salt Lake City, UT 84138; or by email at nepa-procedures-revision@fs.fed.us



Jeff
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife search for bear after aggressive confrontation with hiker and his two dogs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded Thursday afternoon to a report of an aggressive bear after a hiker said it confronted him on a popular trail on the west side of Colorado Springs in the Red Rock Canyon Open Space.

The hiker said he and his two dogs were just 100 yards up the trail at the start of his midday hike when the confrontation occurred.

He said one dog, a Labrador, alerted at something in the thick scrub oak brush that surrounds the trail and it bolted, pulling its leash out of the hiker's grasp, to go investigate. Soon, the hiker said he and his other dog, a Puggle mix breed, were confronted by a cinnamon-colored bear he estimated at 150 pounds.

He said the bear showed no fear of him or the dogs. In fact, he said the bear aggressively pursued the smaller dog, which was still on its leash. The hiker said he kicked the bear in the head to stop it from attacking his pet.

In the chaos, the hiker fell in gravel and suffered minor scratches on his legs. Again, he said, he kicked the bear in the head to prevent it from attacking his dog. The hiker said he was able to regain his footing and throw rocks at the bear, which turned and walked down the trail and disappeared. The bear never bit or clawed the hiker or his dogs.

The hiker was treated at the scene for minor scrapes on his legs by CPW officers, gave an account of the incident and left the scene. The City of Colorado Springs closed all nearby trails at the suggestion of CPW officers.

CPW also called in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) team, which helps CPW manage conflicts caused by wildlife for the protection of public health and safety. They intend to track the bear. If it is found, the bear will be euthanized because it poses an imminent threat to human health and safety. The public is asked to avoid the area until the search ends.

The incident is an important reminder of the need to observe Bear Aware rules, especially when hiking in bear country. It’s best not to hike alone. Keep pets leashed. Carry a “rattle can” filled with rocks, or carry a can of bear spray to use if confronted by a bear.

Research indicates that half of all bear-human conflicts involve the presence of dogs.



Jeff
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Smokey Bear turns 75 today!

Happy Birthday to Smokey Bear, the mascot of the U. S. Forest Service created to educate the public on the dangers of forest fires.

Smokey Bear's famous message "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" was created in 1944 by the Ad Council, making it the longest running Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign in U.S. history.

Smokey's correct full name is Smokey Bear. In 1952, the songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins had a hit with "Smokey the Bear". The pair said that "the" was added to Smokey's name to keep the song's rhythm. This small change has caused confusion among Smokey fans ever since.

The U.S. Forest Service authorized the creation of Smokey Bear on August 9, 1944. Smokey's debut poster (see picture above - on right) was delivered on October 10 of that year by artist Albert Staehle.

Be sure to check out the Smokey Bear website to see the history of the AD campaign. The site includes an interactive trail by decade with an extensive collection of old posters, TV/radio spots (including the famous Bambi TV spot), and other memorabilia.



Jeff
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Body of Missing Hiker Located in Mirror Lake Area of Rocky Mountain National Park

Yesterday morning, Tuesday, August 6, a body believed to be that of Aragorn Spaulding, 37, of Greeley, Colorado, was located by aerial searchers in a steep, scree area above Mirror Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Late Sunday night, August 4, park rangers were notified that Spaulding was overdue.

Search efforts began early Monday morning, August 5. Spaulding’s vehicle was located on the road near the Corral Creek Trailhead in the northwest portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members began ground search efforts and a Flight For Life Air Ambulance assisted with aerial reconnaissance. This morning, search efforts continued and Larimer County Search and Rescue assisted with SAR dog teams. A Colorado National Guard helicopter, assisting with aerial reconnaissance, located the deceased man below a large cliff band in a steep, scree area.

Rocky Mountain National Park rangers completed an on scene investigation and recovery operations took place by helicopter. His body was flown to Harbison Meadows on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office. Larimer County Coroner’s office will not release positive identification until completion of an autopsy.

Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members yesterday were the Colorado National Guard from Buckley Air Force Base, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group based in Boulder County and Larimer County Search and Rescue including SAR dog teams. Flight For Life has also assisted with aerial search efforts.

The cause is under investigation. No further information is available at this time.



Jeff
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Senate Committee Introduces Bill to Increase Funding for National Park Roadways

Last week the United States Senate introduced a bill that includes a 21 percent increase in funding for national parks. America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, a surface transportation bill, would be used to repair and update roads, bridges, and transportation systems in national parks across the country. National park provisions are an important, but small portion of this nearly 500-page surface transportation bill.

“This legislation comes at a critical time for the country and our national parks,” said Emily Douce Director of Operations and Park Funding for the National Parks Conservation Association. “There are crumbling roads along the Blue Ridge Parkway, aging bridges in Great Smoky Mountains and outdated shuttle buses in Zion. Our national parks are scraping by on shoestring budgets, while facing billions of dollars in needed repairs and updates to their aging infrastructure and transportation systems. In fact, more than half of the Park Service’s $11.9 billion maintenance backlog is comprised of transportation needs. This bill is a big step in the right direction. If enacted, this would provide critical funding to repair important roads, bridges and park transit systems to ensure millions of visitors can continue to experience and enjoy national parks now and for years to come.”

The National Park System is second only to the Department of Defense in the amount of federal infrastructure it manages, including 10,000 miles of publicly accessible roads and 1,440 bridges. The America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act would authorize federal highway programs that provide $287 billion over five years.

Key park provisions included in the bill:

• Guarantees an increase in annual funding to the Park Service – an additional $310 million over the span of the five-year bill – through the Federal Lands Transportation Program, which provides funds to improve roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure in parks.

• Dedicates $50 million a year and authorizes $100 million a year for the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program designed to address exceptionally large repair projects in our parks, such as the reconstruction of the Tamiami Trail in the Everglades and a portion of the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone.

• Provides measures to improve the resiliency of roads and bridges to natural disasters and extreme weather events.

• Encourages innovative solutions to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, establishing a program that would support projects that protect motorist and wildlife through improved transportation infrastructure.

“Our park infrastructure is in bad shape, and the problem will only get worse if the chronic underfunding continues. We commend Chairman Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member Carper (D-DE) and the rest of the Environment and Public Works Committee for leading the effort to address the costly backlog of transportation projects throughout our country. Now, the other Senate committees and the House of Representatives must finish the work and pass final legislation to fix our country’s infrastructure, including our parks, and doing so without compromising public input and protections for our nation’s air, water and wildlife,” said Douce.



Jeff
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Special Thursday Evening Program on Climbing Longs Peak

Join Rocky Mountain National Park's Climbing Rangers on Thursday, August 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to learn about climbing Longs Peak. This presentation will discuss various climbing routes and lessons learned, with a focus on how to prepare for and manage risks for a successful ascent and descent of the classic Keyhole Route.

Day hikers may want to note that it's possible for them to hike to the Keyhole itself, before encountering more technical terrain.

The Rocky Mountain National Park Climbing Rangers are experienced climbers and search and rescue professionals who patrol technical climbing and hiking routes on Longs Peak and elsewhere throughout the park. With decades of cumulative climbing, mountaineering, guiding, and search and rescue experience between them, they are excited to share their experience and help the public learn about the high mountain environment of Rocky Mountain National Park.

At 14,259 feet, Longs Peak towers above all other summits in Rocky Mountain National Park. The flat-topped monarch is seen from almost anywhere in the park. Different angles show the great mountain's unique profiles. Changing weather reflects Longs Peak's many moods.

This program is free and open to the public. For further information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or contact the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206.

On a related note, several months ago I published a statistical analysis on fatalities while climbing Longs Peak, which I wrote to point out that this is no walk in the park, and is fraught with danger for anyone who lacks true mountaineering experience.



Jeff
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