Florissant Fossil Beds to Host Hikes for Your Health Program

Is getting more exercise one of your New Year’s Resolutions? Want to avoid crowds at the gym, and would rather exercise outdoors, hiking and snowshoeing?

On Wednesday, January 15th, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will launch a new community health program called, “Hikes for Your Health”. This new program will run every Wednesday and Saturday from January 15th to March 15th, 2014. These ranger-led hikes will vary in length from 2 – 5 miles. Depending on conditions, the hikes may either be on foot or by snowshoe. The Monument offers free snowshoes if needed. Participants must provide all other equipment and safety gear such as layered clothing, appropriate footwear, water, and snacks. Trekking or ski poles are recommended. Participants must be 10 years or older.

The first hike will begin at the visitor center at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15th and will hike along the Sawmill Trail (2.3 miles). The Hikes for Your Health program will be offered in partnership with Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, the Teller County Community Partnership Family Resource Center, and the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds. This hiking program is part of the National Park Service’s Healthy Parks, Healthy People US initiative working to reintegrate human, environmental, and ecological health into the mission of public parks and public lands.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The entrance fee for the park is $3.00 per adult (16 years or older) or free with one of the many federal land passes. For more information please call the Monument at (719) 748 – 3253 ext. 122 or 202 or visit the park website.






Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails

New Program Provides Recreation For Military Families

On Sunday, January 13th, 20 military and veteran family members from across the country were treated to a guided interpretive snowshoe hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The adventure started with a short safety briefing and the distribution of free National Park Active Duty and Access passes. The active duty military, veterans, and their families braved single digit temperatures and an elevation of 8,470 feet above sea level to snowshoe to a frozen waterfall. The East Inlet Trail took the group to a Adams Falls and farther up to a meadow with spectacular views of snow covered peaks. Before heading back to the trailhead and hot chocolate, the group had a chance to try out different snowshoe techniques and play in the snow.

For many in the group, it was a new experience. Most of the participants had never been snowshoeing or been to Rocky Mountain National Park. The trip was made possible through a unique partnership. Project Sanctuary, a non-profit, sponsored the event and partnered with rangers from Florissant Fossil Beds and Rocky Mountain to coordinate the logistics for the trip.

Project Sanctuary’s mission is to provide therapeutic, curative, supportive and recreational activities to veterans, active military personnel, their spouses and children in a leisure environment. Florissant Fossil Beds, through its military outreach program called “Post to Parks,” helped connect the organization and parks.

“Although the weather was extremely cold, the families had a great time,” said Florissant Fossil Beds ranger and program coordinator Scott Harper. “Park rangers Rebecca Roland and Sarah Hershfelt did an outstanding job of leading the hike and explaining the wonders of Rocky Mountain. The folks were delighted when we handed out the free passes and said they had no idea they were eligible to receive them. This hike was an outstanding way to connect our military and veterans to the National Parks and the outdoors.”

Monthly trips to Rocky Mountain are planned throughout the upcoming year to coincide with Project Sanctuary retreats. The idea is to help connect the military with the lands they protect and to encourage them to enjoy and be stewards of our public lands.

For more information about this program and/or outreach to the military community please contact Scott Harper at Florissant Fossil Beds at 719-748-3253.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com