Beginning Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14, and then again Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, trail access will be closed above Nymph Lake to the Dream Lake/Lake Haiyaha junction for a bridge replacement project. This popular trail section will reopen Friday through Sunday (May 15 through May 17) and close again on Monday, May 18 to reopen by May 21.
Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha will only be accessible from the Lake Haiyaha Trail during this temporary closure. Park visitors should plan ahead for the additional distance to reach those destinations. All other trails in the Bear Lake area will remain open.
Trail conditions can vary greatly in the spring. Be prepared for cool temperatures and varying conditions. Trails in lower elevation areas can be icy. In higher elevation areas of the park, be prepared for walking on snow and ice. Traction devices are advised in higher elevations.
Several years ago, the Appalachian Trail Museum published this historic instructional trail construction footage from the early 1930s. The video was taken by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, likely within the boundaries of the future Shenandoah National Park. It shows how the trail was marked, cleared, measured, signed and blazed. It also shows the construction of the Sexton Shelter. The AT Museum published the video in a three-part series.
Mills Lake is among the most popular hiking destinations in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. It's named for Enos Mills, the man commonly referred to as the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park." Mills became the area's first naturalist, and made great contributions to the field that would eventually lead to the profession of interpretive park rangers. He also established a guide service that led tourists to the summit of Longs Peak. At the age of 15 he made his first ascent of the park's highest peak, and over the course of his life, would make the trip 40 times by himself, and nearly 300 times as a guide. The photo below shows a very young Mills (on the right) making his first ascent in 1885.
Mills most significant contribution, however, was spending numerous years lecturing across the nation, lobbying Congress, and writing thousands of letters and articles that would eventually lead to the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. By the early 1900s, Mills was beginning to worry about the increasing number of visitors in the Rocky Mountains, many of whom were not respecting the natural environment. His advocacy for protection of nature and wilderness eventually caught the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who appointed him to the position of Government Lecturer on Forestry. During his tenure in this position, between 1907 to 1909, he gave 2118 addresses!
Although he advocated for a national park that would extend from Wyoming to Pikes Peak, covering roughly 1000 square miles, the original park that was authorized on January 26, 1915, protected only 358 square miles. Today, the park protects roughly 415 square miles.
Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure?Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.
Okay, this might not be for everyone, but I took this online course almost a decade ago and thought it was outstanding. In my view, it definitely enhanced my visits to the mountains. The really great part about it is that it’s totally free!
The twelve 60-minute lessons in this course are provided by the University of Alberta, in partnership with Parks Canada, The Alpine Club of Canada and the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC).
The courses focus on the physical, biological, and human dimensions of mountain places in Alberta and other ranges around the world. More specifically, you’ll learn about the origins of mountains, climate and weather, flora and fauna, the effects of altitude on humans, and hazards, among many other topics. According to the University of Alberta, “We’ll be delivering your lessons from valley bottoms to mountaintops, from museums and labs, to alpine huts and other spectacular alpine sites, and we’ll do so with the help of a whole host of experts.”
“This class consists of twelve 60-minute lessons, each with a series interactive lecture videos, a set of course notes and course glossary, and recommended readings and additional resources. Each lesson also includes a short summative quiz to test your understanding.”
Moreover, you can take the lessons at your own leisure. Here’s a short overview video:
During the early 20th Century, Abercrombie & Fitch was considered to be the preeminent outdoor goods retailer in America. Founded in New York City in 1892, the merchant retailer began selling high-end outdoor gear and apparel through extensive catalogs in 1903. By 1907, their catalog featured a portable water filter system that's fairly similar to what backpackers use today. This particular pump was invented in 1891 by the Berkefeld Filter Company out of Hanover, Germany. It weighed 3 pounds, was 14 inches long and 3 inches wide, and could produce a quart of drinking water in one minute. Abercrombie & Fitch also sold a pocket filter made by Dr. Stebbins. This option weighed only 4 ounces, was less than 5 inches in length, and was only 1.5 inches in diameter. While the larger filter used “infusorial earth” to filter contaminates out of backcountry water, the smaller filter used chemical filter paper.
Before the Common Era, however, ancient Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and Mayans were already using filtration methods to produce better tasting water. By the mid-1700s, scientists began experimenting with various filtration methods to remove microorganisms in water.
A couple of historical references cite the invention of the Katadyn Pocket Filter in 1929 as being the first true backcountry water filter. However, it’s not known if this device was smaller, weighed less, or was more effective than the Dr. Stebbins filter.
Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure?Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.
