Avalanche danger in Rocky Mountain National Park remains considerable in areas near and above treeline

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this warning on their social media yesterday:

Avalanche danger in Rocky Mountain National Park remains considerable in areas near and above treeline. The danger is moderate in areas below treeline.

When avalanche conditions are considerable, this means that avalanche conditions are dangerous and changing. Avalanches can be triggered by snowshoers, winter hikers, backcountry skiers, and even wildlife. Before heading out into the backcountry, make sure that everyone in your group is avalanche aware. All members of your party should have rescue equipment, education, and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain.

Backcountry travelers are urged to check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center's avalanche forecast frequently and be prepared to adjust plans.

Visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at https://avalanche.state.co.us/ and follow them on social media.

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new and improved edition on hiking history is now available on Amazon

The first female on record to walk for pleasure?

The following an excerpt from my new book, Ramble On: A History of Hiking:

One of the first females on record to walk for pleasure and the enjoyment of nature was Elizabeth Carter. Born in 1717, Carter began roaming the coastal lands near her home in Deal, England, as a youth. She would continue this pursuit throughout her entire life, in an age when women didn’t walk alone. During her lifetime, it's believed she walked thousands of miles, mostly alone, but occasionally with her sister or a friend. Many of those walks and extended rambles were documented in correspondences she exchanged with friends. Carter gained national fame as a writer and poet, and would eventually become associated with a literary, educational and social movement known as the Bluestocking Circle.

The first mountains ascended by a female on record

The following an excerpt from my new book, Ramble On: A History of Hiking:

Though likely not for any form of earthly pleasure, one of the more significant mountain excursions during the classical age was taken by a pilgrim. What makes this particular trek noteworthy is that these are the first mountains to be ascended by a female on record. Between 381 and 384, a woman now known to history as Egeria took an extended pilgrimage to see the Holy Land. The details of her travels survive in the form of a letter she wrote to acquaintances back home, either in present-day France or, more likely, northern Spain. Some scholars believe she was a nun who was writing to the sisters in her convent. Others suggest that she may have been a woman of wealth, and was communicating with a circle of pious friends. In addition to observations made during her travels, Egeria described two pedestrian excursions she took, which included ascents of Mount Sinai, Mount Horeb and Mount Nebo.

On This Date: Yellowstone National Park is established

On this date in 1872, Yellowstone was established as the world’s first national park. Prior to the mid-1800s, trappers and mountain men recounted “wild” stories of seeing spouting geysers, multicolored hot springs, boiling rivers, bubbling mud, noxious fumes and hissing earth while roaming through the future park. These reports were largely dismissed as delusions or tall tales before formal expeditions of the region began in 1869. In that year, the first of three expeditions to explore and document the region were launched, culminating with the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871. After Thomas Moran’s artwork and William H. Jackson’s photographs provided proof that Yellowstone’s geothermal and geologic features were indeed real, Congress was convinced they needed to protect this unique landscape from development. Less than six months after the conclusion of the Hayden Geological Survey, Yellowstone became a national park.

There are many histories and videos about Yellowstone; however, I found a short clip about the park that I thought was quite interesting. This is a public service announcement created by Wilding Picture Productions for the Ford Motor Company - likely in the 1950s, but possibly from the late 1940s. In addition to its age, what makes this clip remarkable is the advertisement of the "bear feeding grounds" in the park. Obviously, bear management practices have improved a little since then!



The video clip also mentions that Yellowstone’s buffalo were “a symbol of our vanished frontier.” Ramble On: A History of Hiking discusses the remarkable story of how George Bird Grinnell saved the buffalo, as Yellowstone was its last refuge.

Designated dispersed campsite layout is underway on the Salida and Leadville ranger districts

Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) Forest and Grassland Supervisor Ryan Nehl signed the final decision for improved camping management on Leadville and Salida ranger districts, near Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida. Decision documents and maps are available on the project webpage in the “final decision” folder.

The first phases of implementation are slated for the Browns Creek area of the Salida Ranger District, west of U.S. Highway 285 and County Road 270, and for the Clear Creek corridor on the Leadville Ranger District, west of Clear Creek Reservoir. This spring and summer, an interdisciplinary team of Forest Service staff will review a variety of resource conditions to determine the location of designated dispersed campsites.

With an emphasis on maximizing camping opportunities, initial project discussions have focused on prior and projected future camping use to sustainably continue camping in the same or similar locations.

In the Browns Creek area, designated dispersed camping management will limit the spread of bare ground, protect the banks of Browns Creek, minimize cultural resource impacts and minimize damage to fences and corrals. Within the steeper country along the Clear Creek corridor, this summer’s layout efforts will focus on camping locations near water and access to campsites, while considering the cultural, biological and other resource values.

The public may see new barriers and signs, with new vault toilets in some locations. Prior to final site designation and other related changes, another public news release will be issued to increase camper awareness. Until that time, regular dispersed camping opportunities will continue in both areas.

The Forest Service will provide more information regarding future phases of this project.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on the history of hiking is now available on Amazon