Search Efforts Ongoing For Missing Man In Rocky Mountain National Park

Today, September 29, Rocky Mountain National Park rangers continued search efforts for Chad Pallansch, 49, of Fort Collins, Colorado. He was reported overdue yesterday, September 28, and park rangers confirmed his vehicle was still parked at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Pallansch was last heard from around noon on Wednesday, September 27.

Pallansch started from the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake on Wednesday, September 27. His reported itinerary was an expansive 28-mile route which included crossing the Continental Divide and traveling on established trails as well as off trail travel through steep talus slopes. Potential travel areas include Lake Verna, Mount Alice, Chiefs Head Peak, Black Lake, Mills Lake, and Flattop Mountain.

Pallansch is described as 5’7,” 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is described as a fit runner with both trail running and marathon experience. He is likely wearing a black ultralight jacket, black running shorts or leggings and a grey fanny pack.

Search efforts yesterday afternoon included air reconnaissance as well as ground crews on the North Inlet and East Inlet Trails and east of the divide near Mount Alice. Search efforts today include air recon and ground teams searching the Black Lake and Upper Glacier Gorge area, Thunder Lake as well as the North Inlet Trail to Solitude Lake. Park rangers are also continuing investigations.

If you have information that could help investigators, if you may have seen Chad Pallansch, or if you were in the areas listed above on September 27, please contact us. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. CALL or TEXT the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE form www.nps.gov/ISB or EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Trail Updates in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park has posted a couple of trail updates in recent days. They include:

The Sprague Lake Boardwalk Replacement project in Rocky Mountain National Park is complete and the Sprague Lake Loop Trail has reopened to all users.

Rocky's Trail Crew has been hard at work since July 31 replacing 230-linear feet of the old boardwalk. Trail improvements include constructing a new steel frame, laying down new boards, and widening the boardwalk to improve accessibility for visitors who use wheelchairs and strollers. This project has also improved two scenic viewing platforms.

And this:

To celebrate National Public Lands Day, on September 23, Rocky Mountain National Park joined with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and other local partners to facilitate three different volunteer projects within the park. Volunteer projects were held on both the west and east sides of Rocky.

40 people participated in one of three projects in Rocky Mountain National Park. Volunteers joined park staff to complete trail maintenance projects on the Green Mountain and Longs Peak trails. At Bear Lake, a team of volunteers picked up 63 pounds of trash from the parking area and surrounding trails. Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to join us last Saturday!

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Annual Elk Fest in Estes Park is This Weekend

To celebrate the annual elk rut and learn about the "wapiti," the Native American name for elk, the city of Estes Park will be hosting the annual Elk Fest this weekend, Sept 30-Oct 1.

Elk Fest offers visitors a chance to safely view elk during the rutting season in the wild, as well as expand their knowledge of elk and its habitat.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will have a booth to promote the message of how to view wildlife responsibly, will have a kids craft table, general showcases on elk and hunting information from CPW’s hunter outreach program.

Held in Bond Park, located in downtown Estes Park, the free festival will offer:

• Bugling competitions
• Elk exhibits and seminars
• Elk-inspired arts and crafts
• Education areas
• The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
• Native American music
• Dancing and storytelling
• Children's area with elk-themed activities
• Craft beer garden

Vendors will display artwork, handmade elk-ivory jewelry and will offer distinctive elk cuisine. Mountain men from around the country will gather at the Mountain Man Rendezvous to sell their wares and demonstrate their skills.

For a complete schedule of events, please click here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

30th Annual National Public Lands Day Will Enlist Thousands of Volunteers to Restore Public Lands Across US

On Saturday, September 23, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), in collaboration with federal, state, and nonprofit partners, will present the 30th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) celebration—the largest single-day volunteer event for America’s public lands.

Over the last decade, more than one million volunteers have donated nearly 5 million hours of their time for public lands on National Public Lands Day, worth an estimated $133 million. Typical NPLD events include a mix of volunteer, education, health, and recreation activities taking place on public lands all over the country, from state and local parks to land managed by federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and USDA Forest Service.

The theme for this year’s NPLD is “30 Years of Care and Community.” To honor and celebrate the rich history of environmental stewardship on NPLD, NEEF is planning a social media and storytelling campaign to showcase the unwavering commitment of long-time event organizers, site managers, and volunteers. The “Champions of Public Lands: Care and Commitment” series will debut on NEEF’s social media channels in July.

“NPLD is an integral part of NEEF's mission to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives. It provides an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to collaborate towards a shared objective, connect with new communities, and use public lands for education, recreation, and overall well-being,” said Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of NEEF. "We are excited to see how NPLD has grown over the past three decades, welcoming more people and a diverse range of activities."

With over 500 nationwide volunteer events currently registered on NEEF’s website—and more being added each day—there will be no shortage of opportunities for the thousands of expected volunteers to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on improvement projects in their communities.

NPLD is also designated as a Fee-Free Day, granting free admission for visitors at all national parks, as well as sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and other participating federal agencies.

In years past the National Park Service has hosted nearly 100 events on National Public Lands Day to encourage people to discover, visit and interact with their public lands.

For more information, please click here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

National Park Visitation Sets New Record as Economic Engines

Last month the Department of the Interior announced that visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2022 resulted in a record high $50.3 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 378,400 jobs.

The National Park Service report, 2022 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that nearly 312 million visitors spent $23.9 billion in communities within 60 miles of a national park. Of the 378,400 jobs supported by visitor spending, 314,600 jobs were in park gateway communities.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year. The impact of tourism to national parks is undeniable: bringing jobs and revenue to communities in every state in the country and making national parks an essential driver to the national economy,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.

Annual appropriations for the NPS totaled $3.3 billion in fiscal year 2022, effectively turning a $1 investment in national parks into a more than $10 boost to the nation’s economy.

The latest report is informed by new socioeconomic monitoring survey data, which greatly increases the accuracy of spending estimates for each park and helps the National Park Service learn more about park visitors. This advanced monitoring also delivers a more accurate estimate of the economic contributions of parks to communities.

Results from the Visitor Spending Effects report series are available online via an interactive tool. Users can view year-by-year trend data and explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value-added, and economic output effects by sector for national, state and local economies. The interactive tool is available on the Visitor Spending Effects webpage.

Below is data from a few select parks for 2022. You can click here to view all national park units.


Park / Total Recreation Visits / Total Visitor Spending / Jobs / Economic Output

Glacier / 2,908,458 / $367,589,000 / 5,691 / $548,417,000

Grand Teton / 2,806,223 / $597,470,000 / 7,608 / $757,041,000

Rocky Mountain / 4,300,424 / $583,794,000 / 8,082 / $911,894,000



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Celebrate Dark Skies at AstroFest 2023 on September 14 through 16

The National Park Service (NPS) is excited to join with numerous partners to celebrate the region’s dark skies at the 2023 AstroFest. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, Black Canyon Astronomical Society, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Dark Sky International, Western National Parks Association, and Colorado Canyons Association are partnering to offer free fun and educational astronomy programs to the public. Park entrance and camping fees apply.

Activities will occur in and around Montrose, Colorado on Thursday, September 14; at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park on Friday, September 15; and at Curecanti National Recreation Area on Saturday, September 16. Programs will include daytime solar viewing, special guest speakers, and nighttime telescope viewing at different locations. Refer to the park website for details, times, and locations.

“The Black Canyon region has precious dark skies, and we encourage locals and visitors to enjoy the night skies and this year’s festival” says Superintendent Stuart West. Agencies, advocates, and enthusiasts can help protect this region’s rare resource by reducing light pollution. Reduce impacts by using shielded and motion sensing lights, warm color bulbs, and turning off light when not in use to enjoy the resource we share.

Black Canyon and Curecanti are certified International Dark Sky Parks with the Dark Sky International Association. Gunnison Gorge is delighted to be working on certification. The three protected areas are making positive efforts to protect the dark skies over Black Canyon and the Gunnison River in western Colorado for this and future generations.

More information about the 2023 AstoFest and schedules can be found at https://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/astrofest.htm



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Daily Hiker Shuttle Ends This Weekend

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media:

Are you interested in visiting the Bear Lake Road Corridor? The Hiker Shuttle provides transportation from the Estes Park Visitor Center to RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub.

After arriving at the Park & Ride Transit Hub, riders can transfer to the park's free Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles to access destinations like Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Moraine Park.

The Hiker Shuttle operates 7-days a week through Monday, September 4. Beginning on September 9, the Hiker Shuttle will operate on Saturdays & Sundays only through October 22, 2023. Shuttle service is not available to any areas of the park located outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor.

As part of Rocky's overall pilot timed entry system, Hiker Shuttle riders will need two things: a reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets and a valid park entrance pass. Reservations for Hiker Shuttle Tickets are available at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088647. There is a $2 processing fee.

One reservation is good for up to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets per party.

Additional reservations will be released on Recreation.gov beginning at 5 p.m. the night before a chosen arrival date. Seating capacity is limited; please only reserve the number of Hiker Shuttle Tickets needed for your party. For more information on the park's shuttles, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses-and-public-transit.htm

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park