Mushroom-tripping hikers mistakenly report companion's death

Well, here's something you don't see very often. This is from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation:

On May 24 at 9 a.m., Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded to a call for a reportedly deceased hiker on Cascade Mountain. Two hikers had called 911 to report the third member of their hiking party had died. When the hikers encountered the Cascade Summit Steward, the pair also advised that they were lost. The steward determined the hikers were in an altered mental state. The third member of their party called and was not injured. Ranger Praczkajlo escorted the two hikers, who had ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms, to a waiting ambulance and New York State Police unit. Ranger Praczkajlo escorted the third hiker back to their campsite.

Here's a little more information from NBC News.


Check out my new book on The Dark Side of Oz theory!



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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

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season!

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season. Timed Entry Reservations are required for Trail Ridge Road from 9 am to 2 pm.

Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. At this time, nightly closures will not be implemented. However, because weather conditions may change rapidly at higher elevations, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly at any time and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded status phone line at (970) 586-1222. Park staff will update the recorded line when/if the road status changes.

Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store are currently closed to all uses. Visitors must adhere to any barricades. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝.

Rocky Mountain National Park has a timed entry reservation system in place during certain times of day. There are two types of reservations available: Timed Entry and Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park. To learn more, visit http://go.nps.gov/romo/timedentry

Trail Ridge Road historically opens in late May; last year the road opened on May 31. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Winter conditions persist on Longs Peak

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media:

Spring is finally arriving in the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park, but winter conditions persist on Longs Peak. All major routes on Longs Peak are fully snow and ice covered, and any venture beyond the trailhead will require proper winter equipment, routefinding skills, and knowledge of winter travel.

Travelers should expect to encounter snow and ice, extremely cold temperatures, avalanche hazards, and high winds. The trail is beginning to melt out at the lowest elevations, but remains snow covered from the switchbacks below Lightning Bridge. Avalanche hazards will persist along the Keyhole Route for the remainder of the spring. Thin layers of snow on the surface can hide thicker layers of ice underneath, creating an enormous potential for slips and falls.

Remember, your safety is in your hands.

Extra warm clothes, waterproof layers, extra food and water, a headlamp, personal first aid kit, and a cell phone are all strongly recommended. Also consider traction devices such as Microspikes or crampons and an ice axe for any travel in the alpine. If you are traveling alone, please tell a friend or family member your plans and take extra care with decision making. Even a minor accident while traveling alone on the mountain can quickly turn into a serious situation. As always, please be prepared to turn around when conditions exceed your abilities.

The Keyhole Route to the summit of Longs Peak is NOT a hike. This is a challenging climb that crosses vertical rock faces and requires scrambling. Advanced planning and preparation are critical.

🧭 Know your route
🌦 Know the weather forecast
🥾 Know your limits and the limits of everyone in your group - Be prepared to turn around when conditions exceed your abilities.
📱 Share your plans with a friend or family member - Tell them when you plan to start your trip, what route you are taking, and when you plan to return.

For more details and photos of current conditions on Longs Peak, visit https://go.nps.gov/romo/longspeakconditions

Trail Ridge Road likely not to open this weekend

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media:

Trail Ridge Road is not anticipated to open over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. Over the last week, RMNP snowplow operators have faced setbacks from previous progress.

Wind has been the main challenge since last week, causing low visibility, snow drifting back over cleared areas, and a thick ice layer beneath drifted snow. Snow and overnight freezing temperatures are forecast above 10,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park over the weekend.

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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

Public input sought on dispersed camping on Leadville and Salida ranger districts

The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) announces the availability of a preliminary environmental assessment, and welcomes public comment, for improved camping management on Leadville and Salida ranger districts near Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida.

The new dispersed camping management plan benefits and enhances public recreation by maximizing vehicle-based camping opportunities next to forest roads, commonly known as car-camping, and reduces impacts to local resources. The project would designate and broaden access to certain areas for better parking and camping opportunities, helping to continue this popular use of public lands well into the future.

No one-size-fits-all approach to camping management exists. Each piece of ground offers something different. To account for this, some designated campsites may vary in size and could be located up to 300 feet from forest roads. Individual layout of sites would prevent further degradation of natural resources including habitat, waterways and native plants and physical features such as livestock water sources and corrals, signs and roadways.

For an added benefit to the public, certain unauthorized routes accessing campsites could be officially adopted to help maximize camping opportunities. No fees or reservations are proposed, and several forest roads that experience low impacts from traditional vehicle-based dispersed camping would not be managed as designated dispersed camping unless conditions drastically change.

Specialists analyzed all forest roads within the Leadville and Salida ranger districts and proposed an “adaptive management strategy” to respond to future needs. This strategy helps the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service respond quickly to many different conditions on the ground.

The project proposal was refined based on previous public comment and input from local and state officials. The Forest Service now welcomes public review of and comments on the environmental assessment.

A legal notice published in the Pueblo Chieftain started the 30-day public comment period. The preliminary environmental assessment, including maps and supporting documents, as well as instructions for submitting comments, are available on the project website. Please note that comments, including names and addresses of the commenter, become part of the project record.



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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

Occupancy and use regulations updated for Collegiate Peaks Wilderness area

The Gunnison Ranger District with the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests announce updated occupancy and use regulations for the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness area. The district would like to highlight, in addition to the original regulations, campfires are now prohibited above 11,000 feet in elevation.

These regulations will protect wilderness resources and character, manage recreational use, and comply with U.S. Forest Service policy and the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas provide a natural environment for plant and animal species and offer opportunities for solitude and recreation in a place mostly undisturbed by modern human development. In addition, wilderness areas protect watersheds that provide clean drinking water to surrounding communities, filter and clean the air, and sequester carbon.

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness regulations are now consistent with the regulations currently in place for the Holy Cross and Mount Massive Wilderness areas on the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. These three congressionally designated wilderness areas are located within the Sawatch Mountain Range. This consistency in management is anticipated to lead to increased understanding and compliance by the visiting public, further protecting wilderness resources from damage caused by high elevation campfires and wood gathering.

Along with management consistency, these regulations will help to protect the sensitive soils and krummholz, which is a term used for trees that grow in the transition zone between forest and alpine vegetation. Trees in this zone grow slowly over hundreds of years due to the harsh weather conditions and can be severely damaged and perish if branches are cut or broken for firewood.

“Protecting sensitive alpine wilderness resources is the point of the regulations. These resources are extremely slow to recover from high intensity disturbance,” said Gunnison District Ranger Dayle Funka. “Fire scars can last generations because campfires burn up the organic matter in the alpine soils that take a long time to get to a place where things can grow. These regulations are really geared toward long-term wilderness preservation.”

Forest Order # 02-12-00-24-18 detailing the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness regulations can be found here.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day at Colorado state parks

Colorado public lands provide a variety of outdoor spaces that enrich our lives. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with several local, state and federal partner agencies, invites you to join us outdoors to celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day on Saturday, May 17.

Colorado Public Lands Day is an annual opportunity to celebrate Colorado’s outdoor heritage, diverse landscapes, and bring people from all Colorado communities together to enjoy our public lands.

In May 2016, Colorado became the first state in the nation to establish a state holiday for our public lands. The third Saturday in May is now recognized as Colorado Public Lands Day, a day to celebrate how our public lands are central to our economy and our quality of life.

The adoption of the holiday was championed by Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, to encourage Coloradans to learn about and appreciate the abundance of outdoor opportunities and stewardship responsibilities.

Colorado is home to 22 million acres of public lands to explore, including 43 state parks, more than 350 state wildlife areas, 13 National Park Service units, 11 national forests, two national grasslands and a variety of additional local and federal lands and open spaces.

“Our public lands play an essential role in what makes Colorado such a spectacular place to live and visit,” said CPW Deputy Director Heather Disney Dugan. “Spending time in nature is good for us. It helps teach us, inspire us and nourishes our bodies and minds. Colorado Public Lands Day gives all of us a chance to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions that our public lands make to our quality of life.”

In honor of Colorado Public Lands Day, CPW is hosting several events, which can be found here.



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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

American Hiking Society Applauds Bipartisan Introduction of the America the Beautiful Act, Legislation to Extend National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund

American Hiking Society and the 59 million-strong hiking community applaud the bipartisan leadership of U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Sheehy (R-WY), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) for introducing the America the Beautiful for All Act, which would extend the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) for an additional eight years.

“American Hiking Society and the hiking community applaud the introduction of legislation by Senator Daines and Senator King to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “This legislation will continue the success of the program, which has restored access to our public lands across 1,500 projects, generated $4.5 billion in economic impact, and supports 20,000 jobs annually. The Legacy Restoration Fund both enhances the hiking experience across public lands and drives economic growth. It’s a win for all.”

This critical bill would extend the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund for an additional eight years. In 2020, Congress passed and the President signed into law landmark legislation creating this program that unlocked a new way to address the extensive backlog of maintenance across our public lands. This backlog resulted in cut off access to trails, visitor centers, campgrounds, roads, and other critical resources that are needed to ensure that everyone has access to our nation’s public lands.

Over the last five years, the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), across 1,500 projects and 11,300 improved assets, the LRF is setting out to accomplish what Congress intended it to do. The work can’t stop here though and this critical program needs to continue!

American Hiking Society encourages hikers, trail users, and all who care about public lands to urge their senators to co-sponsor the America the Beautiful for All Act. Take action here.



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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

GMUG plans partial, temporary closure of Bear Creek National Recreation Trail

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests announce temporary closure of Bear Creek National Recreation Trail for reconstruction efforts from May through October. The trail will be closed Monday through Friday but will remain open on weekends.

Crews will resume work to reconstruct portions of the trail between the trailhead and Yellow Jacket Mine, including extensive construction of stone retaining walls, drainage structures and low water crossings.

The upper sections of Bear Creek Trail will remain open and are accessible via Engineer Pass and Horsethief Trail.

“The safety of the public and the workers involved in the trail reconstruction project is our top priority,” said Dana Gardunio, district ranger for the Ouray Ranger District. “By closing the affected section of the trail, we aim to complete reconstruction work efficiently and mitigate potential hazards during the construction process.”

The work to reconstruct the trail is using funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and is being completed through a partnership with the National Forest Foundation.

For current road conditions and closures, visitors can contact the Ouray Ranger District at 970-240-5300.



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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

Avalanche danger in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media earlier today:

Avalanche danger in Rocky Mountain National Park for Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9, ranges from Low below treeline, to Moderate near treeline, and to Considerable above treeline. For detailed information, visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center - CAIC at https://avalanche.state.co.us/ and follow them on social media.

Before heading out into the backcountry, make sure that everyone in your group is avalanche aware. If recreating in these areas, all members of your party are advised to have rescue equipment, education and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain.

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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

Work near Sprague Lake

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media the other day:

Beginning on Monday, May 5, RMNP Trail Crews will be working near the Sprague Lake Trailhead to repair and replace bridges. This project will take approximately 2-weeks to complete.

During this time, those planning to visit Sprague Lake and walk around the Sprague Lake Loop Trail will need to use the temporary access trailhead and the Sprague Lake Stock Trail, located in Sprague Lake Parking Area near the Restroom building.

While this project is underway, Sprague Lake Trail, Picnic and Parking Areas will remain open.

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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

American Hiking Society is Celebrating Their 33rd Annual National Trails Day

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, American Hiking Society invites trail lovers across the country to celebrate the 33rd annual National Trails Day® by giving back to the trails and public lands that give us so much.

National Trails Day® is a powerful call to action for all outdoor lovers to give back to the places that give us so much. Thousands of people across the country will lace up their boots, grab their trail work gear, and head outdoors to explore, enjoy, and share these natural spaces with their local communities.

With the 2025 theme, “Any Trail, Anywhere, Leave It Better,” American Hiking Society invites everyone — whether it’s your first hike or your hundredth — to join the nationwide movement of trail stewards committed to protecting and improving trails and public lands to ensure everyone has access to enjoy these natural spaces.

“Trails give us so much — mental wellness, physical health, and a sense of connection to the outdoors and to each other,” said Heather Klein Olson, Executive Director of American Hiking Society. “On National Trails Day®, we honor that by giving back. Everyone deserves safe, welcoming, and accessible trails, and as trail users, we all have a responsibility to care for these spaces. National Trails Day® empowers everyone to take meaningful action in their communities, turning their love for the outdoors into lasting impact. Let’s ensure these places remain protected and cared for, now and for future generations.”

In 2024, thousands of volunteers improved more than 450 miles of trails in a single day. In 2025, American Hiking Society is calling on even more people to step up, pledge to leave the trails better than they found them, and take action in their communities. For more information, please click here.



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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

GMUG National Forests to temporarily close Blue Lakes area

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests announce temporary closure of Blue Lakes area for trailhead construction and restoration efforts, beginning June 2. The closure is expected to remain through August 2025 and will be lifted as soon as it is safe to access the area.

These efforts kickoff the first phase of the Blue Lakes visitor use management plan, aimed at improving visitor experiences and ensuring long-term sustainability of the site’s natural resources.

“We are looking forward to putting this plan into motion,” said Dana Gardunio, district ranger for the Ouray District. “While we understand, having a temporary closure is an inconvenience, the outcome will vastly improve the parking and public health and safety issue in the area. We appreciate the public’s cooperation in respecting the closure.”

The work includes reconstruction of the trailhead parking area and the installation of two new vault restrooms. These projects will use funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).

In addition to site improvements, the forest will be installing kiosks and interpretive panels, cataloging invasive plants, installing signage, developing outreach campaigns, installing temporary fences to preserve restored areas, and developing a monitoring plan for improved visitor use metrics.

The Forest Service will also begin work to establish designated camping areas and complete restoration work on social trails and impacted sites, through partnerships with the National Forest Foundation and Southwest Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy.

The Blue Lakes Trailhead is accessed from County Road 7, approximately 12 miles southwest of Ridgway. The closure area includes the road starting at the Forest Service boundary at the end of County Road 7 and extends to the Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundary on the Blue Lakes Trail. Portions of the Dallas and Wilson Creek trails, adjacent to the trailhead, will also be closed. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of visitors and workers during the construction period.  

For more information on the Blue Lakes Visitor Use Management Plan, visit the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/projects/61979



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies: