Rocky Mountain Journal: September 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Old Fall River Road Reopens In Rocky Mountain National Park Will Close For The Season To Vehicles On October 5

Old Fall River Road has reopened in Rocky Mountain National Park. The road has been closed since September 5, due to the Cameron Peak Fire. The trailhead at Chapin Pass has reopened for day use only. Some areas and trails accessed from the Chapin Pass Trailhead are still closed.

Visitors are strongly encouraged to check current weather and fire conditions before going into the backcountry. Conditions can change rapidly. Expect smoke in the area.

Closures still exist in the following locations: Mummy Pass Trail, Commanche Peak Trail, Mirror Lake Trail, Poudre River Trail, Crater Trail, Colorado River Trail, Red Mountain Trail, Grand Ditch Access, Skeleton Gulch Trail, Thunder Pass Trail, Little Yellowstone Trail and Holzwarth Historic Site access beyond the historic site. Closed cross country travel zones include Cascade Creek, Cache La Poudre, South Cache La Poudre, Hague Creek and Mosquito Creek. Numerous wilderness campsites are also included in this closure area.

Old Fall River Road will close to vehicles for the season on Monday, October 5.

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

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

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Driving Through The Thick Of It

This isn't a storm:

From a far-off distance my wife and I both thought we were approaching another storm as we traveled across southeastern Wyoming this past Saturday. Earlier that morning we had left Grand Teton National Park for our long drive home. We knew a few storms were passing across the state. The night before winds from an approaching front howled over our condo near Teton Village. The next morning saw thick fog and rain throughout the mountains.

After seeing several warnings along the highway regarding high winds in the area, I began to suspect that maybe we were witnessing a major dust storm. However, as we approached Laramie, it became clear that what we were actually seeing was thick smoke pouring out of the Medicine Bow Mountains just east of town. This was confirmed as we got to the outskirts of town when we could smell the smoke, a result of the Mullen Fire, now listed as being 78,000 acres in size.

Due to extreme winds that day, thick smoke was blowing directly eastward, which meant it followed along the I-80 corridor from Laramie to well-past Cheyenne. As a result, we drove through smoke for more than 75 miles. We later learned that the wind-driven fire forced authorities to issue evacuation orders for both residents and recreationists in the mountains.

Although driving in the smoke for that long was pretty bad, the favorable winds throughout most of the day resulted in almost 4 more miles per gallon to our gas mileage!

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, September 28, 2020

Major Road Work In Rocky Mountain National Park On 3 Mile Section Of Road

As temperatures begin to drop at night, road construction operations on a 3-mile section of US 36, just west of Bear Lake Road junction to east of Deer Ridge Junction, will expand into the day. This section of road will remain closed nightly from 9 pm to 7 am, Sunday nights through Friday mornings.

The contractor has begun paving operations. There will be a partial road closure during the paving work. When the road reopens each morning at 7 am, two-way traffic will be allowed until noon through this section.

Beginning at noon, Mondays through Thursdays, only one lane of west bound traffic will be open. Eastbound traffic will not be allowed through this section of construction from noon to 9 pm. On Fridays, this closure will be in place from noon to 5 pm. During these time periods, visitors coming east on Trail Ridge Road from Hidden Valley will be diverted through the Fall River Entrance. Visitors travelling from the Fall River Entrance will be unable to travel through this section to exit through the Beaver Meadows Entrance.

Visitors entering at the Beaver Meadows Entrance will be permitted to travel westbound through the construction zone during the day with up to 15 minutes delays.

No detours or delays will take place on this section of road from Fridays at 5 pm through Sundays at 9 pm.

This road construction project has encompassed removing an entire depth of asphalt and installing a new surface. Many curves have been reconstructed to bring them into compliance with federal highway standards. Visitor pull offs are being formalized and curbing will be added where necessary to protect vegetation.

Upper Beaver Meadows Road will also be inaccessible during nightly closures.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

How Wolves Change Rivers

Although this short video is a little dated (from 2014), it still highlights an important lesson that continues to be valid today. The video discusses how the introduction of wolves in Yellowstone have alterred the food chain, created opportunities for other wildlife, and have changed the geography of the park itself. Moreover, it shows the importance of having a complete ecosystem in places like Yellowstone:

Monday, September 21, 2020

Forest Service charts new path for Warren Gulch Trail

The Forest Service has completed its environmental review of a proposed new alignment for the Warren Gulch Trail on the Clear Creek Ranger District. Work on the reroute is expected to begin in the coming month, although the trail won’t be ready to reopen until sometime next year.

The trail closed last summer after conflicts between trail users and private landowners, and downed trees across the trail caused safety concerns. The historic route, which had gained popularity with mountain bikers in recent years, begins near Echo Mountain on Colo. Highway 103, heads north, and then runs steeply downhill.

The lower third of the trail previously crossed 18 mining claims, many of which have been developed, before terminating near Idaho Springs. The reroute will navigate users entirely across public lands, providing a more sustainable and enjoyable experience while minimizing user-landowner conflicts.

Approximately 1.7 miles of the former trail will be decommissioned. The new reroute will be 1.4 miles long, making the entire trail just under 4 miles long. The new trail will be designed to Forest Service mountain bike standards with a 12-24 inch width, but will also be open to other non-motorized users.

The Front Range Trail Stewardship Strike Team, a partnership between the National Forest Foundation, VF Foundation, and Mile High Youth Corps, will help scratch out the new trail alignment this fall, preparing the route for more contoured and refined finish work to be completed by COMBA and other partners in the spring.

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, September 16, 2020

Lend a Hand on National Public Lands Day

September 26th is your chance to be a part of the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended many aspects of daily life in this country, and our public lands are no exception. Due to social distancing requirements remaining in place for the foreseeable future, many public lands sites will be unable to host large, in-person NPLD events. With this in mind, NEEF has announced that they will be expanding the available options for volunteers during this year’s NPLD on September 26, 2020.

Virtual and In-Person Events for NPLD 2020 The theme for NPLD 2020 is "More Ways to Connect to Nature." In addition to the standard NPLD programming, this year's celebration will include virtual events designed to connect the public to iconic parks, national forests, marine estuaries, and other public lands sites. These online events will serve as an alternative for NPLD site managers who are uncomfortable with or are not allowed to host in-person events due to local regulations.

This does not mean there won't be any in-person events. Public land sites that wish to host in-person events—in accordance with local rules and regulations regarding COVID-19—will still be able to register their event on the NEEF website.

Please click here to check out the official National Public Lands Day event map, which makes it easy to find all of the events that will be available later this month.

Friday, September 11, 2020

Enjoy the fall foliage with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Though summer doesn’t officially end until Sept. 22, fall colors are already beginning to appear across the State of Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites you to plan your fall excursions, making the most of those fleeting fall colors. Whether you are looking for wildlife viewing, picturesque hiking trails or a scenic foliage drives, Colorado has got it all.

If you are interested in witnessing the changes to nature autumn brings, Colorado’s 41 state parks are a perfect place to start. With fall bringing dramatic changes to the aspen leaves, as well as unique animal mating rituals such as elk bugling, state parks are a great place to access all that the season brings. Take a weekend away at State Forest State Park to witness a phenomenal showing of changing aspen trees. If you are more interested in elk viewing, head to Mueller State Park to join a group hike to seek out the bugling elk and a chance to witness bull elk competing for females. While making the most of the wildlife viewing opportunities autumn presents, always remember to practice ethical wildlife viewing.

"Autumn is a wonderful time of the year to enjoy Colorado’s state parks. With opportunities to view wildlife and appreciate our fall colors in beautiful settings, our state parks are great places to experience the best aspects of the season. With the potential for fall colors to arrive a bit earlier this year, make sure to get outside and enjoy this special time before it passes for another year," says Julie Arington, Park Manager at Steamboat Lake State Park.

Fall in Colorado provides opportunities for those looking for a solo adventure, as well as those seeking some family fun. With hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding as well as a wide variety of camping options, Colorado’s state parks are sure to have a trail or site to fit every age, ability and interest. Whether you are interested in a nature walk at Barr Lake, a horseback ride at Golden Gate Canyon, a mountain bike ride at Mancos, or a relaxing overnight yurt stay at Pearl Lake, fall in Colorado has something that everyone will enjoy.

As the air becomes brisk, you may find a scenic drive preferable. Begin your drive at Trinidad Lake State Park, and wind your way through the Highway of Legends down to Lathrop State Park. Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with views of mountain peaks and groves of changing aspens. If you’re looking for a new take on fall color viewing, head out to southwest Colorado for a visit to Navajo State Park. You will have a chance to witness the desert mountains, buttes, and mesas while they are highlighted by pockets of colorful brilliance and interest.

To find state parks with fall activities you may be interested in, please visit the Park Finder, as well as the CPW calendar.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Lumpy Ridge and Cow Creek trailheads are closed due to fire

Rocky Mountain N.P. just tweeted this:

Lumpy Ridge and Cow Creek trailheads are closed due to the Cameron Peak fire.

Earlier today the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center tweeted this:

Cameron Peak fire is now fourth largest fire in Colorado history. At 102,596 acres reported this morning (9-8) and 4% contained. Third largest is presently the Spring Creek fire at 108,045 acres.

Hopefully today and tomorrow's snowstorm will allow firefighters to get some of these fires around the state under control.

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, September 7, 2020

Cameron Peak Fire Now 59,000 Acres - Additional Areas Closed on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District

Due to the increased activity of the Cameron Peak Fire burning in the northwest portion of Larimer County on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest, additional areas of the Forest are closing. The area now closed is all National Forest System lands west of the National Forest boundary; east of the Colorado State Forest State Park; south of County Road 80 C; and north of Rocky Mountain Park and Highway 34. Details of the updated closure and a map will be available on the USFS website.

This closure impacts numerous recreation sites, including all campgrounds; many trails, trailheads, and Forest Service Roads; a number of boating and fishing sites; and picnic sites. These are all listed on our website.

This closure is in place for public safety and to support firefighting efforts. These areas are very popular with recreationists but also, in many cases, remote. Roads and trails are greatly interconnected. If and when evacuations are necessary, it can be difficult to reach people and can take emergency responders a great deal of time to make sure everyone is out safely.

The Inciweb website is reporting "Extreme Crowning, Uphill Runs and Long-range Spotting". The fire is moving east toward Pingree Park Road, Grass Lake area and moving toward Comanche Peak Wilderness, Cascade Creek, and Hauges Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park, and advancing toward Trail Ridge Road.

RMNP just posted this on their Twitter account: "Trail Ridge Road will not open today and it is unknown at this time when it will open again. Same for Old Fall River Road."

The National Weather Service for Denver/Boulder tweeted: "Much of the area will be affected by smoke and ash from the Cameron Peak fire until the plume is pushed away by a strong cold front this evening. With the front, most of the plains will see a period of strong gusty winds with blowing dust, ash and smoke."

Please click here for more information concerning the winter storm approaching Colorado.

Winter Storm Warning in Northeastern Colorado

Update from RMNP Twitter: "Trail Ridge Road is closed at Rainbow Curve on the East side and Colorado River Trail on the West side of the park."

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Northeastern Colorado, which includes Rocky Mountain National Park. Here's the latest bulletin:

...MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES WITH HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...

.Winter will make an early arrival as a strong system from the north will bring much colder temperatures as well as accumulating snow to the region. Temperatures will drop quickly behind a cold front Monday evening with snow starting shortly after midnight over the higher terrain and foothills. Snow levels are expected to drop Tuesday morning, with accumulating snow possible for the Front Range, I-25 corridor and Metro areas. Snow falling on trees in full leaf may cause branches to break or other tree damage. Scattered power outages will also be possible. Roadways could become slippery and slushy especially across the higher terrain. The system will move out by late Wednesday with snowfall coming to an end and conditions improving.

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON MDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 9 to 15 inches, with winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Rocky Mountain National Park and the Medicine Bow Range, The Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the Indian Peaks, The Front Range Foothills, and Palmer Divide including Castle Rock, Elbert, and Larkspur.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon MDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Accumulating snow will impact area vegetation causing damage to trees and possible power outages. Roads could be slippery and slushy. Overnight low temperatures Tuesday night will drop into the teens and 20s.

Recommended actions:

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.