Update on Big Meadows Fire - 2 More Trails Closed

The Big Meadows Fire remained at 400 acres overnight. Firefighters are planning an indirect attack today due to the high number of beetle killed trees that make moving through the area very difficult and dangerous. The plan is to hold the fire east of Trail Ridge Road (Highway 34), west of the Continental Divide, and north of Tonahutu Creek. There are no structures or communities at risk.

A map published today on InciWeb shows the fire is currently located just north of Granite Falls, and towards the east of Big Meadows, roughly 4.5 miles from the Green Mountain Trailhead.

There are now seven trails that have been temporarily closed in the area - the Onahu Trail, the Green Mountain Trail, the lower Tonahutu Trail, the Tonahutu Spur Trail, the Grand Lake Lodge Spur Trail, the Timber Lake Trail and the trail which branches toward Mount Ida from Milner Pass.

All major roads and facilities in Rocky Mountain National Park are open as are the neighboring communities of Grand Lake and Estes Park.

As of this morning there were 97 personnel fighting the fire. More resources are arriving and are anticipating around 130 personnel tonight.

In addition to trail closures, InciWeb is also reporting that campgrounds have been evacuated, and 2 hikers had to be removed via helicopter.

The park has set up a recorded Fire Information Line at (970) 586-1381 which will be updated when new information on the Big Meadows Fire is available.

The weather forecast for today for the Grand Lake area calls for more warm weather, with winds expected to be around 14 mph. There's a 30% chance for an afternoon thunderstorm after 2:00 p.m.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Rocky Mountain National Park Spring Newspaper Now Online

This week Rocky Mountain National Park published the spring edition of their park newspaper. In addition to some key information concerning the Bear Lake Road reconstruction project this summer, the newspaper highlights all of the free ranger-led programs happening this spring.

For hikers, there will be 1.5-hour spring bird walks starting from the Alluvial Fan several days a week throughout the spring. On the west side of the park, in late May and early June, rangers will lead participants on the Coyote Valley River Walk, as well as pleasant strolls to Adams Falls, which includes a spectacular view just beyond the falls.

On June 14th the park will be hosting a program called Astronomy in the Park, which will be held in the Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead parking area. During this program you'll have a chance to observe the night sky with the help of a park ranger and expert volunteer astronomers.

On June 8th RMNP will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with a ranger-led birding excursion that will visit multiple locations.

The newspaper also offers suggestions on some early season hiking trails, such as Granite Falls and Cascade Falls on the west side of the park, or Alberta Falls and Cub Lake on the east side.

To download the entire newspaper (1.8M PDF), please click here.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com