The last gasps of winter in the Yosemite Valley....
Check out this amazing video showing the "giant slurpee" that forms when "frazil ice" collects on Yosemite Falls, and flows down Yosemite Creek each spring like a lava flow.
As you might expect, the scenery in this film is quite awesome:
My wife and I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past fall. We did quite a bit of hiking while we were out there, and have posted several hike reports and photos on our new Discover the West website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
A Short Walk to the Edge of Life
Over the weekend I finished reading another compelling story of survival, this one fraught with hard lessons every adventurer should learn. Called A Short Walk to the Edge of Life: How My Simple Adventure Became a Dance with Death and Taught Me What Really Matters, it's the first full length book written by Scott Hubbartt, a retired combat veteran and Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. Hubbartt is also an historian, having earned an M.A. in History, with a post-graduate certificate in Latin American Studies. While in the Air Force he meet his wife, Carolina, who happens to be a native of Peru. This background would eventually lead to Scott's five-day "dance with death".
After retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Mr. Hubbartt was now free to spend more time traveling around the world, especially to Peru where he paid visits to his wife's family. As an historian he became quite interested in learning the fate of an old gold mine that was owned by Carolina's grandfather in the 1930s. The mine was located on the isolated Puna, the high plateau grassland region of the central Andes Mountains of Peru. So, with a bit of wanderlust and adventure, Hubbartt set-off on what he thought would be an 8-hour trek from the small mountain town of Chepen de Salpo. From there he intended to descend through steep canyons to a village called Poroto, where he hoped to find some clues as to the whereabouts of the old gold mine.
However, as you might guess from the title of the book, things didn't go quite as planned. As he laid there on the desert floor - exhausted, hungry and completely dehydrated, on perhaps the final night of life - Hubbartt summed it up fairly succinctly when he stated:
I thought A Short Walk to the Edge of Life was a great read. Hubbartt does a great job of moving the story forward, while keeping you eager to turn the next page. My only complaint with the book was with the maps he published. Just as the author was confused with his compass readings, I was confused with the maps that showed his location each day. I think some basic contour lines with elevation readings, as well as distance figures, would've been very helpful to the reader. But this is just nitpicking, and shouldn't prevent you from reading an otherwise great story.
The book is scheduled to be released next week, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. You can click here for more information.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
After retiring from the Air Force in 2004, Mr. Hubbartt was now free to spend more time traveling around the world, especially to Peru where he paid visits to his wife's family. As an historian he became quite interested in learning the fate of an old gold mine that was owned by Carolina's grandfather in the 1930s. The mine was located on the isolated Puna, the high plateau grassland region of the central Andes Mountains of Peru. So, with a bit of wanderlust and adventure, Hubbartt set-off on what he thought would be an 8-hour trek from the small mountain town of Chepen de Salpo. From there he intended to descend through steep canyons to a village called Poroto, where he hoped to find some clues as to the whereabouts of the old gold mine.
However, as you might guess from the title of the book, things didn't go quite as planned. As he laid there on the desert floor - exhausted, hungry and completely dehydrated, on perhaps the final night of life - Hubbartt summed it up fairly succinctly when he stated:
"I knew I had miserably messed up and was a victim of my own undoing. Pride, arrogance, and overconfidence were leading to my demise"The story, and the trajectory of his life, however, took a sharp turn when the author received a strange vision from his deceased brother. Did this, and another unexplainable physical miracle, actually save his life?
I thought A Short Walk to the Edge of Life was a great read. Hubbartt does a great job of moving the story forward, while keeping you eager to turn the next page. My only complaint with the book was with the maps he published. Just as the author was confused with his compass readings, I was confused with the maps that showed his location each day. I think some basic contour lines with elevation readings, as well as distance figures, would've been very helpful to the reader. But this is just nitpicking, and shouldn't prevent you from reading an otherwise great story.
The book is scheduled to be released next week, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. You can click here for more information.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Money allocated to fix flood-damaged roads in RMNP
Mark Udall, chairman of the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, welcomed the U.S. Department of Transportation's decision yesterday to allocate $3.5 million to repair roads in Rocky Mountain National Park damaged by the September 2013 flood. The funds, allocated through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Program, will help fund permanent repairs to Old Fall River Road and for the Alluvial Fan area, and ensure visitors have a safe way to experience our national park heritage.
Udall surveyed roads damaged by the flooding inside Rocky Mountain National Park in November 2013.
"As chairman of the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, I understand firsthand how Rocky Mountain National Park is an economic driver for Estes Park and communities in Larimer and Grand counties. This important investment will ensure that the park is able to rebuild and continue to support mountain communities this year and into the future," Udall said. "I have been proud to lead the effort to help Colorado rebuild smarter and stronger in the wake of the September 2013 flood. These new funds will help Colorado continue down the road to full recovery."
During the historic storm of September 9th thru September 15th, the town of Estes Park received 9.43 inches of rain, while a rain gauge just south of Marys Lake reported 11.54 inches of rain.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
"As chairman of the U.S. Senate National Parks Subcommittee, I understand firsthand how Rocky Mountain National Park is an economic driver for Estes Park and communities in Larimer and Grand counties. This important investment will ensure that the park is able to rebuild and continue to support mountain communities this year and into the future," Udall said. "I have been proud to lead the effort to help Colorado rebuild smarter and stronger in the wake of the September 2013 flood. These new funds will help Colorado continue down the road to full recovery."
During the historic storm of September 9th thru September 15th, the town of Estes Park received 9.43 inches of rain, while a rain gauge just south of Marys Lake reported 11.54 inches of rain.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Canoeist Breaks 20-Year-Old Record for Highest Waterfall Drop
Last fall, Jim Coffey from Canada paddled over the 60-foot La Cascada de Truchas on the Alseseca River in Mexico. In doing so, he broke a record for the highest waterfall drop in a canoe that had stood for almost 20 years.
The previous record was held by Steve Frazier when he went over the 55-foot Compression Falls on the Elk River in Tennessee in 1994.
Although Coffey broke the record last fall, this video showing his amazing feat was only published two weeks ago:
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
The previous record was held by Steve Frazier when he went over the 55-foot Compression Falls on the Elk River in Tennessee in 1994.
Although Coffey broke the record last fall, this video showing his amazing feat was only published two weeks ago:
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
Monday, April 21, 2014
Injured Elk Threatened by Onlookers: People Putting Arms Around Animal's Neck to Pose for Pictures!
Due to concerns about people approaching, feeding and harassing an injured cow elk grazing in a field near East Vail, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is issuing stern warnings about the dangers of approaching wild animals.
In recent days, local police and state wildlife officers have received calls from the public reporting that they have witnessed large crowds walking up to the animal. In some instances, a few people have been seen putting their arms around the animal's neck as they pose for pictures.
"It is not only extremely irresponsible and unethical to harass and feed wildlife, it is also illegal and they will be fined if caught," said Northwest Regional Manager Ron Velarde. "These people are essentially condemning the animal to death and putting our officers in the position of having to carry out the sentence."
Velarde warns that despite initial appearances, wild animals instinctively have little tolerance for humans. He adds that it is likely only a matter of time before the cow elk becomes agitated to the point of charging and injuring a person that gets too close.
Because human health and safety is a priority, animals that injure a human are often killed by wildlife officers out of an abundance of caution, regardless of the circumstances.
Area wildlife officials report that the elk appears to have an injured rear leg, possibly limiting its ability to move away from onlookers. They warn that the injury is an additional stressor that could lead to a physical reaction from the animal.
"We continuously provide guidance to the public about the best way to enjoy wildlife, and this is definitely not the way to do it," added Velarde. "We are appealing to the public to leave this animal alone immediately."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises the public to watch wildlife from a distance with binoculars, a camera or spotting scope. In addition, the public is advised to keep dogs on leashes in areas where encounters with wildlife are likely. Because dogs are a serious threat to wild animals, any law enforcement official is authorized to use lethal force to stop a dog that is chasing or injuring wildlife.
"If a wild animal reacts to you or your dog, you are too close," said Velarde. "Keep your distance, keep dogs on a leash and remember to use good judgement around wildlife."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises the public to report illegal activity to the nearest CPW office, State Patrol or call Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648 if you wish to remain anonymous. Rewards may be available if the report leads to a citation.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
In recent days, local police and state wildlife officers have received calls from the public reporting that they have witnessed large crowds walking up to the animal. In some instances, a few people have been seen putting their arms around the animal's neck as they pose for pictures.
Velarde warns that despite initial appearances, wild animals instinctively have little tolerance for humans. He adds that it is likely only a matter of time before the cow elk becomes agitated to the point of charging and injuring a person that gets too close.
Because human health and safety is a priority, animals that injure a human are often killed by wildlife officers out of an abundance of caution, regardless of the circumstances.
Area wildlife officials report that the elk appears to have an injured rear leg, possibly limiting its ability to move away from onlookers. They warn that the injury is an additional stressor that could lead to a physical reaction from the animal.
"We continuously provide guidance to the public about the best way to enjoy wildlife, and this is definitely not the way to do it," added Velarde. "We are appealing to the public to leave this animal alone immediately."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises the public to watch wildlife from a distance with binoculars, a camera or spotting scope. In addition, the public is advised to keep dogs on leashes in areas where encounters with wildlife are likely. Because dogs are a serious threat to wild animals, any law enforcement official is authorized to use lethal force to stop a dog that is chasing or injuring wildlife.
"If a wild animal reacts to you or your dog, you are too close," said Velarde. "Keep your distance, keep dogs on a leash and remember to use good judgement around wildlife."
Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises the public to report illegal activity to the nearest CPW office, State Patrol or call Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648 if you wish to remain anonymous. Rewards may be available if the report leads to a citation.
Jeff
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails
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