Rocky Mountain Journal: May 2020

Sunday, May 31, 2020

National Trails Day® 2020 Goes Virtual

Each year people all across the country unite on the first Saturday of June to celebrate American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, events won’t be held in person this year on June 6, but American Hiking is still fighting for trail preservation and equitable access to the outdoors. On National Trails Day® 2020 American Hiking Society will partner with land managers, volunteers, and the public to take actions from home that preserve trails and public lands and help ensure access for all to quality natural spaces.

“While the COVID-19 quarantines have put into sharp focus how much our minds and bodies need time outside every day, the trails and parks we value are under-resourced and not everyone has easy access to quality green space,” explains Kate Van Waes, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “In honor of National Trails Day®, we are encouraging everyone to take American Hiking’s #NationalTrailsDay Pledge to preserve trails and parks and fight for equitable access.”

In addition to taking the #NationalTrailsDay Pledge, American Hiking is encouraging the public to join the National Trails Day® digital movement and share on social media why access to trails and natural space are important to them. Tag photos with #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking to be entered into a photo contest with a chance to win one of multiple prize packages of outdoor gear.

In the upcoming weeks, American Hiking will provide easy actions the public can take to preserve trails and fight for equitable access to the outdoors, even while social-distancing.

American Hiking’s National Trails Day® is made possible by the generous support of Corporate Sponsors – Athletic Brewing Co., Merrell, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., REI Co-Op, Popular Mechanics, Adventure Medical Kits. Federal Partners include the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, and U.S. Forest Service.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com

Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Supports Longs Peak Trail Work in 2020

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy recently announced that they will be spearheading a multi-year project to rehabilitate the popular Longs Peak Trail. Here's the announcement:

The park is moving forward with plans to refurbish the popular ascent trail on the Longs Peak trail, Colorado Front Range’s most prominent 14’er. Technical rockwork is planned on this iconic trail to support a large volume of visitor usage, custodial operations and SAR operations – and help protect the sensitive tundra ecosystem.

This first season is part of a multi‐year project to refurbish the trails on the mountain above tree line. The high volume of users each year widens the trail which encroaches ever more into the delicate tundra. The RMNP Trails crew hopes the improvements will not only provide users with a better outdoor experience, but guide hikers through the landscape in a more sustainable way.

Much of the work in 2020 will be trail construction from native rock. The goal is to create a beautiful and sustainable trail system to guide users up the mountain. Next year, in 2021, trail crews will be focusing on building European paver‐style trails – an elegant and long‐lasting solution – from Granite Pass to the Boulder Field. Two trails crews will spend much of the season at elevation, living and working on the trail.

This trail project will have a lot of logistics and heavy stonework, but the extensive project will serve to represent the area’s status as one of the most prominent backcountry trails on the Front Range. Thanks to the generosity of long‐time Conservancy supporter Richard Hoffman of Denver, Colorado, the Conservancy was able to provide $50,000 to help fund labor, logistics, materials and equipment toward this incredible backcountry project. The entire project is estimated to be a 3‐5 ‐year venture.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Mesa Verde National Park is Beginning to Increase Recreational Access

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Mesa Verde National Park is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning Sunday, May 24, 2020, Mesa Verde will reopen access to:

• Mesa Top Loop Drive
• Far View Sites
• Cliff Palace driving loop
• Park hiking trails
• Park restrooms
• Chapin picnic area

The park’s concessions facilities will also be open, including Morefield Campground, Far View Lodge, Far View Terrace, and Spruce Tree Terrace. For information on concessions, visit https://www.visitmesaverde.com.

Entrance fees will resume at the park’s winter rates, which can be found at https://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisit/fees.htm. Only credit cards will be accepted. Mesa Verde’s annual pass and all federal passes will also be available. A virtual ranger station will be open at the Visitor and Research Center parking lot and roving interpretation staff will be on site at that location.

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

• Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Long House, and Step House cliff dwellings
• Wetherill Mesa Road
• Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum
• Visitor and Research Center building

"We welcome you back to Mesa Verde and ask for your patience and understanding with our reduced services. Recreate safely and strive to maintain 6 feet spacing between you and others," said Superintendent Cliff Spencer.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Mesa Verde our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. Conditions may change quickly, which could affect facilities and services. As Mesa Verde continues to have limited operations due to COVID-19, some facilities may not be available, and staffing may be limited. Visitors should adjust their expectations accordingly and should practice social distancing, personal hygiene, and other behaviors to avoid infection in public areas. Visitors should not rely upon site staff to ensure their protection from contagious disease.

When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders http://montezumacounty.org/web/covid19/, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

Visitors traveling from outside the state of Colorado should be aware that they may be traveling through the Navajo Nation on their journey. Due to the significant impact the pandemic has had on residents, there are curfews in place and services may be limited; especially for those traveling at night. Please be respectful of these residents and plan accordingly prior to passing through Navajo Nation lands.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on the park website and social media channels.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland officials announce temporary restrictions will remain in effect through May 31

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland officials have announced that temporary developed recreation site closures and fire restrictions will remain in place through May 31 to allow employees to prepare facilities, as well as time to ensure the necessary personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies are readily available. Trails and general forest areas will remain accessible for public use.

The value of nature to promote mental and physical health comes at a time when access is vital to the American public. We are working diligently to open the trails for full access and ask that visitors be patient during this transition period. Be prepared for other options if your trail is closed, and whenever possible, recreate locally. Local county restrictions may also limit access to National Forest System lands, so check with local jurisdictions for any county road closures.

If you do plan on visiting the national forest, please recreate responsibly by adhering to the following safety and responsibility guidelines:

* Stay close to home to keep other communities safe.
* Stay 6 feet apart from others.
* Avoid crowding in parking lots, trails, scenic overlooks and other areas.
* Take CDC precautions to prevent illnesses like COVID-19.
* Prepare for limited or no services, such as restroom facilities and garbage collection.
* Prepare to pack out trash and human waste.

Fire restrictions are in place through May 31 to enhance public safety, protect natural and cultural resources, and help minimize human-caused wildfires.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Great Sand Dunes to Begin Phased Reopening on June 3

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve will increase recreational access through a phased approach following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities. A phased approach will allow the park to adhere to all guidance, reduce risks to visitors and staff, and promote safe recreational opportunities. Great Sand Dunes continues to follow the State of Colorado “Safer at Home” guidance and to work with county and local officials as these changes are implemented. Great Sand Dunes is in Alamosa and Saguache counties.

This summer’s operation will look different. The park has implemented many strategies to ensure that visitors can still enjoy the park while also minimizing potential risks.

Beginning June 3, Great Sand Dunes will implement Phase 1 and reopen access to:

* Main park road

* Dunes parking area and dunefield

* Medano Pass Primitive Road (if road conditions allow), including established campsites on a first-come, first-served basis

* All trails: Mosca Pass, Montville Nature, Sand Sheet Loop, Wellington Ditch, Dunes Overlook, Sand Ramp, Medano Lake, and Music Pass

* All picnic areas: Mosca Creek, Sand Pit, and Castle Creek

* Entrance Station, including the collection of fees if authorized

With public health in mind, the following facilities or areas remain closed until further notice:

* Visitor Center

* South Ramada group picnic site in the Mosca Creek Picnic Area

* Pinon Flats Campground

* Overnight backcountry access in the National Park, including the dune field and sites along the Sand Ramp Trail

While the visitor center remains closed, the park will provide limited visitor services outside at the visitor center, including park information.

Great Sand Dunes plans to reopen the Pinon Flats Campground and begin issuing backcountry permits for both the Park and Preserve in mid-June as part of Phase 2; however, Phase 2 is contingent upon successful implementation of Phase 1, sufficient staff capacity and supplies, and current local and state guidance.

Alamosa County Public Health Director Della Cox-Vieira stated, “I have confidence in the plan for reopening the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The Park has done a great job balancing the public health needs of their visitors and staff as they increase public access to the national treasure in our backyard. I remind all visitors to practice social distancing, frequent hand washing, and face covering in the common areas of the Park.”

Upon re-opening, business practices will be put into place to ensure the safety of visitors and staff when interacting at the entrance station, campground, visitor center and public restroom facilities. When recreating, we encourage the public to follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, practice proper hand washing, avoid high-risk outdoor activities, and wear cloth face masks in crowded areas, especially around the visitor center and restroom facilities.

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Great Sand Dunes, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public facilities and staff workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website, www.nps.gov/grsa, and social media channels.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Rocky Mountain National Park Will Begin a Phased Reopening on May 27

In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health authorities, RMNP plans to increase recreational access and services. RMNP continues to work with the State of Colorado to follow the “Safer at Home” guidance as well as with county and local officials as these changes are implemented. RMNP stretches across Larimer, Grand and Boulder counties.

The current Safer at Home guidance for the State of Colorado encourages Colorado residents to “limit activities to your immediate community, not travel more than 10 miles from your home to recreate or vacation and not travel to mountain areas.” The Colorado Tourism Office is currently discouraging vacations to Colorado to limit community spread of COVID-19. The Executive Order from the State of Colorado is set to expire on May 26 and can be amended or extended at any time.

The health and safety of park visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. RMNP staff continue to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. Park staff continue to conduct a decision and planning process to coordinate a phased reopening of the Park.

Park operations and services will look much different this year. Here is a list of the biggest changes:

Campgrounds:

Portions of Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds will open on June 4.

The park’s three reservation campgrounds; Moraine Park, Glacier Basin and Aspenglen Campgrounds were originally scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend. Park staff have contacted those campers to cancel those reservations.

Only Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds will partially open on June 4, with approximately half of the campsites available for reservations. Aspenglen, Timber Creek and Longs Peak Campgrounds will remain closed.

Wilderness Backcountry Campsites:

Wilderness camping permits will be issued beginning May 27 through the autumn. In early May, park staff began contacting wilderness campers who had existing permits for the month of May to reschedule, if possible, their wilderness camping permits for later in the summer.

Shuttle Bus Operations:

Shuttle bus operations within the Bear Lake Road corridor will begin on May 27. It is unknown at this time whether the Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center will be operating this summer. In order to practice proper social distancing to minimize community spread of Covid-19, the capacity of the shuttle buses in the Bear Lake Corridor will be limited to 15 passengers per trip.

Park staff are still determining the feasibility and timing of park visitor center operations as well as other services.

As more information becomes available we will post it here. For further information on RMNP, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

With more than 350 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, the park offers a wide variety of outstanding hikes that take-in the best scenery the park has to offer. If you do plan to visit Rocky Mountain this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your trip planning.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com

Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Monday, May 11, 2020

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin to reopen campgrounds around the state

At a COVID-19 response update at the state capitol today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis indicated Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin working to reopen campgrounds at its state parks, phasing in available sites by park in coordination with counties.

“Today, I am proud to announce that Colorado State Parks and State Wildlife Areas will be open to camping starting May 12. I am proud of Colorado Parks and Wildlife for keeping our state parks open during this entire period to help Coloradans be safe outdoors. We know Coloradans have been anxious to get back to extended stays in our beautiful state parks, but it’s important to be able to open camping safely,” said Gov. Jared Polis.

“Working with CDPHE and our counties, and taking into account the applicable local public health orders, we can now begin implementing reopening plans for camping and taking reservations at our state parks. We ask that campers be very mindful that camping today may look very different from what you might be used to, but we are excited for people to be able to begin planning their next camping trip in Colorado.”

Per the Governor’s guidance, CPW will begin working immediately with counties that are open and willing to receive visitors. CPW campgrounds will be opening to camping at many state parks beginning Tuesday, May 12. This will be a phased approach to reopening campgrounds with county coordination, some parks may have limited opportunity and others may remain closed for a few more days based on local needs. Agency staff is finalizing reopening plans, and asks visitors to state parks to remain flexible in their travel plans as we work with counties and local public health orders to open safely and cooperatively.

Coloradans hoping to camp must do so by reservation. Visit cpwshop.com to make your camping reservation and be sure to check for the latest updates and campground openings on CPW’s COVID-19 Information page.

Important points about the reopening process:

* The reopening process will be in coordination with local counties and will take into account any local restrictions that are in place. CPW staff will also maintain communication with local officials following reopening.

* Campers will need to make sure they respect local community restrictions: http://counties.coloradogeodev.com/safer.html.

* The reopening of camping will closely abide by all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidance and recommendations.

* Campers should also follow best practices for recreational travel, including bringing your meals with you, filling up on gas prior to leaving home, bringing cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items and remembering to wear masks when out in public. See below for additional best practices for those planning recreational travel.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Camping at Colorado State Parks and State Wildlife Areas will remain Closed until Further Notice

Camping at Colorado state parks and State Wildlife Areas will remain closed until further notice, as Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) works to implement system-wide safety protocols related to social distancing in campgrounds.

Customer, volunteer, and employee safety remain a top priority. CPW is committed to providing park services at the highest level possible while also ensuring public safety. System camping cancellations will be sent via email. Currently, no definitive date is known for when sites will reopen.

“We understand the strain these continued closures put on all of us, and we appreciate the public’s flexibility as we work through the process of reopening,” says Dan Prenzlow, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Our staff is working hard to make sure we can provide safe and enjoyable experiences for everyone.”

CPW is working with federal and local municipal partners as well as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to determine a timeline for camping. This coordination can make predicting definitive opening dates difficult as each county faces its own unique circumstances.

State Park Rangers remain on duty protecting the parks and normal rules and regulations still apply. Park trail closures due to visitation or crowding will be reported on the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) App and the CPW website.

Colorado counties, municipalities, and land management agencies continue to update their COVID-19 guidance including travel restrictions, road closures, and access limitations on the Colorado Counties Inc. Safer-At-Home map. Outdoor recreationists are responsible for researching and understanding park and county closures before participating in any planned local recreational activities. CPW encourages park visitors to follow trail safety etiquette and visit parks responsibly.

CPW asks all Coloradans to respect safer-at-home orders and stay close to your home and use local trails and parks for outdoor recreation. Limiting travel for recreation helps minimize the strain of visitors on small mountain communities and creates less burden for our search and rescue and emergency responders.

For more information, visit the CPW COVID-19 Response website for updates on park closures, permits and licenses, and outdoor recreation policies.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Bear sought after pouncing on tent where couple was sleeping

A couple sleeping in a tent in a private campground southwest of Colorado Springs was startled early Monday when a small bear pounced on their tent.

Though neither of the people inside was injured in the incident, it is classified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as an attack because the bear contacted a human. A trap has been set by wildlife officers in hopes of catching the bear. A small brown-colored bear has been seen wandering the campground in recent weeks and it is suspected in this incident.

If caught, CPW does not plan to euthanize the bear because it was not aggressive toward the people. Also, it would be impossible to positively identify the bear without hair or tissue samples for comparisons. So wildlife officers intend to haze or release the bear in a more remote region.

The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. as the couple was staying at the Golden Eagle Campground off Colorado Highway 115, about five miles southwest of the city. The couple was awakened by the sound of the bear rustling around their campsite. They told CPW Officer Aaron Berscheid the bear knocked clean plates and a cooking stove off the table. Then it apparently stood on its back legs and put its paws on the tent, as if investigating it, causing the tent to collapse.

The resulting commotion caused the bear to run off a ways, turn and huff at them. They shouted and ultimately turned on their car’s alarm to scare it away.

“By the descriptions of the bear and by studying its footprints, it appears to be a juvenile bear,” Berscheid said. “Its behavior sounds more as if it was just curious rather than aggressive. There were no food attractants at the campsite. I think it was just a curious young bear.”

Berscheid said the woman in the tent reported being scratched on her head, but no sign of the scratch was visible later Monday when they contacted CPW to report the incident. There was a rip on the rainfly protecting the tent but the tent was not damaged.

The incident is an important reminder of the need to observe Bear Aware rules, especially when camping in bear country. Never keep food in a tent or eat in a tent. Store food and anything with an odor, including toiletries and clothes you cook in, in a bear-resistant container or suspended from a tree at least 10 feet above ground.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Leadville Ranger District will begin work to re-route popular FS road

Construction work is expected to begin today, May 4, to re-route NFSR 390, also known as Clear Creek Road, at the Forest Service boundary in Lake County.

NFSR 390 is currently in a seasonal closure that normally lasts until mid-May, depending on snowpack; however, it may remain closed until after the new road construction is completed depending on the road conditions. If opened, the current road will be limited to one lane of traffic for the duration of the project.

Clear Creek Road provides access to Huron Peak and other 14ers in the area.

The U.S. Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forests Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Leadville Ranger District determined a need to re-route the access road that was damaged with high water flows in Spring 2019. The condition of the road has remained unstable and may to continue to erode, preventing access to private properties and public lands along the road.

A Forest Service Road Crew will begin major earthwork as soon conditions allow. The new road will be completed under contract including establishing ditches, installing culverts, and applying road base to match the existing road template. Work on the new road will be adjacent to the existing road and traffic may occasionally be disrupted by moving equipment in the area. When the new road is complete, traffic will be switched to the new road and the old road will be decommissioned.

The Leadville District Ranger may order the operating status of the road to be changed if further degradation forces a full closure for safety reasons. You can find the latest status updates for this project here.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com

Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Friday, May 1, 2020

NPS to Begin Phased Reopening of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area

National Park Service (NPS) staff at Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park are working with state and local health officials, and with NPS offices regionally and nationally, to plan for a phased reopening of both areas.

Plans are underway to safely open boating at Blue Mesa, and other reservoir areas, as well as some aspects of Black Canyon. In our preparations, we must take every precaution to provide for the safety of our staff and our visitors. This gradual, phased reopening will begin within the next two weeks.

Thank you for your patience as we transition to reopening these important recreation assets.

You can watch their websites (nps.gov/blca and nps.gov/cure) as well as their Facebook pages for more information.