From Denver to Durango, the Colorado Trail travels 567 miles through some of the beautiful terrain the Centennial State has to offer.
In this short video the Colorado Trail Foundation makes an excellent case as to why, mile for mile, "the Colorado Trail is the most beautiful trail in America". Enjoy:
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Friday, December 26, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Programs Offered During The Holidays At Rocky Mountain National Park
The holiday season is a great time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to beautiful scenery, wildlife viewing and a variety of winter recreational activities to do on your own, some fun activities with park rangers are offered. Rocky Mountain National Park has a calendar full of fun family activities for the holidays.
On the east side of the park:
Read with a Ranger! – December 26, 29, 31 and January 1 at 10:30 a.m. daily. Hear stories about the wonders of the winter season. Meet at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (located on Highway 36) for this 30 minute program.
Animals in Winter – December 27, 30, and January 1 and 3 at 10:30 a.m. daily. Meet Rocky's wildlife! Come to this 30-minute program at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (located on Highway 36) for a hands-on experience.
Wild in Winter – December 21, 28, and January 4 at 10:00 a.m. Drop in for an informal chat with a ranger to explore how the park's animals handle the winter season.
Snowshoe Ecology Walks – December 28, 30 and January 2 at 12:30 p.m. Join a ranger for a beginner- level snowshoe tour exploring the natural world of a subalpine forest. Ages 8 years old and above. Participants will need to bring their own snowshoes which can be rented at local sporting goods stores. Reservations required, can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 586-1223.
Full Moon Walk: Sunday, January 4 – Explore the wintery world of Rocky Mountain National Park under the light of a full moon. Join a park ranger on a moderate walk and share stories of the magic of moonlight. Dress in warm layers and wear waterproof boots. Gaitors and traction devices may be helpful. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 28; call (970) 586-1223. Time and location will be given at the time of reservation.
On the west side of the park:
Ski the Wilderness – December 27 and January 3 at 9:30 a.m. Join a park ranger for this 1.5 hour cross-country ski tour of the Kawuneeche Valley. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
Snowshoe in the Kawuneeche – December 27 and January 3 at 1:00 p.m. Beginner-level snowshoe tour with a ranger. For ages 8 and above. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
Intermediate Snowshoe Walk - December 28 and January 4 at 1:00 p.m. A more rigorous tour with elevation gains up to 500 feet. This tour requires the ability to maintain a good pace over uneven terrain at high altitude. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 22; call (970) 627-3471.
On both the east and west side of the park:
Spirit of the Mountains – Park Movie - Shown by request daily. See the stunning 23 minute park film at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (located on Highway 36 west of Estes Park) and the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (located on Highway 34 north of Grand Lake).
Programs continue through the winter. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206. All park visitor centers and the Information Office will be closed on December 25.
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If you do plan on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park this winter, please note that our hiking website offers a wide variety of accommodation listings for both Estes Park and Grand Lake to help with all your vacation planning.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
On the east side of the park:
Read with a Ranger! – December 26, 29, 31 and January 1 at 10:30 a.m. daily. Hear stories about the wonders of the winter season. Meet at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (located on Highway 36) for this 30 minute program.
Wild in Winter – December 21, 28, and January 4 at 10:00 a.m. Drop in for an informal chat with a ranger to explore how the park's animals handle the winter season.
Snowshoe Ecology Walks – December 28, 30 and January 2 at 12:30 p.m. Join a ranger for a beginner- level snowshoe tour exploring the natural world of a subalpine forest. Ages 8 years old and above. Participants will need to bring their own snowshoes which can be rented at local sporting goods stores. Reservations required, can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 586-1223.
Full Moon Walk: Sunday, January 4 – Explore the wintery world of Rocky Mountain National Park under the light of a full moon. Join a park ranger on a moderate walk and share stories of the magic of moonlight. Dress in warm layers and wear waterproof boots. Gaitors and traction devices may be helpful. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 28; call (970) 586-1223. Time and location will be given at the time of reservation.
On the west side of the park:
Ski the Wilderness – December 27 and January 3 at 9:30 a.m. Join a park ranger for this 1.5 hour cross-country ski tour of the Kawuneeche Valley. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
Snowshoe in the Kawuneeche – December 27 and January 3 at 1:00 p.m. Beginner-level snowshoe tour with a ranger. For ages 8 and above. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
Intermediate Snowshoe Walk - December 28 and January 4 at 1:00 p.m. A more rigorous tour with elevation gains up to 500 feet. This tour requires the ability to maintain a good pace over uneven terrain at high altitude. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 22; call (970) 627-3471.
On both the east and west side of the park:
Spirit of the Mountains – Park Movie - Shown by request daily. See the stunning 23 minute park film at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (located on Highway 36 west of Estes Park) and the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (located on Highway 34 north of Grand Lake).
Programs continue through the winter. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206. All park visitor centers and the Information Office will be closed on December 25.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you do plan on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park this winter, please note that our hiking website offers a wide variety of accommodation listings for both Estes Park and Grand Lake to help with all your vacation planning.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Monday, December 15, 2014
Time-lapse Video of Inversion at the Grand Canyon
A rare ground inversion last Thursday filled the Grand Canyon from rim to rim with a sea of clouds.
Ground inversions at Grand Canyon are a sight to behold – clouds fill the canyon with sunny, blue skies above the rims. The topography of Grand Canyon enhances the effect of inversions, creating the dramatic views of a sea of fog and clouds seemingly dense enough to walk out on.
Ground inversions occur when cold air is trapped by a layer of warm air. On clear, cold nights ground temperatures cool rapidly. Air in contact with cold surfaces cools and sinks. At Grand Canyon cold, moist air drops into the canyon forming cascading “waterfalls” of clouds pouring down the rim filling the canyon. Warm air above the rim holds the clouds in place until enough solar radiation is received to warm the surface of the rocks, heating the cold, dense clouds in the canyon and causing them to rise.
Visitors at Grand Canyon during an inversion are challenged to be patient. Waiting out the warming process is well worth the effort; when the clouds start to lift the currents of air swirl and turn on themselves parting like curtains to reveal bursts of color and light, a breathtaking spectacle.
Below is a one minute time-lapse video from the Grand Canyon National Park showing what happened last Thursday:
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ground inversions at Grand Canyon are a sight to behold – clouds fill the canyon with sunny, blue skies above the rims. The topography of Grand Canyon enhances the effect of inversions, creating the dramatic views of a sea of fog and clouds seemingly dense enough to walk out on.
Ground inversions occur when cold air is trapped by a layer of warm air. On clear, cold nights ground temperatures cool rapidly. Air in contact with cold surfaces cools and sinks. At Grand Canyon cold, moist air drops into the canyon forming cascading “waterfalls” of clouds pouring down the rim filling the canyon. Warm air above the rim holds the clouds in place until enough solar radiation is received to warm the surface of the rocks, heating the cold, dense clouds in the canyon and causing them to rise.
Visitors at Grand Canyon during an inversion are challenged to be patient. Waiting out the warming process is well worth the effort; when the clouds start to lift the currents of air swirl and turn on themselves parting like curtains to reveal bursts of color and light, a breathtaking spectacle.
Below is a one minute time-lapse video from the Grand Canyon National Park showing what happened last Thursday:
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Saturday, December 13, 2014
CMC Video: Avalanche Safety and Winter Travel
Planning a trip into the mountains this winter? You should probably watch this video first - as a first step towards building your winter skills set and practicing safety while recreating in the backcountry during the winter. This is the first video in the Colorado Mountain Club's series focused on backcountry education. The series was made possible by the CMC Steve Gladbach Memorial Fund.
Steve Gladbach was a beloved Colorado mountaineer, a long time member of the Colorado Mountain Club, and was a member of the 14ers.com community. He loved climbing. In the summer of 2013 he lost his life while descending Thunder Pyramid Peak.
One of Steve's passions was mountaineering education and safety. Through the generosity of family and friends, the Steve Gladbach Memorial Fund was created to promote Colorado mountaineering education.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Steve Gladbach was a beloved Colorado mountaineer, a long time member of the Colorado Mountain Club, and was a member of the 14ers.com community. He loved climbing. In the summer of 2013 he lost his life while descending Thunder Pyramid Peak.
One of Steve's passions was mountaineering education and safety. Through the generosity of family and friends, the Steve Gladbach Memorial Fund was created to promote Colorado mountaineering education.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Development of Climbing Commercial Services Strategy Continues at Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is currently in the planning phase of developing a Commercial Services Strategy for guided commercial climbing in the park. This summer the park solicited comment and input from a variety of different stakeholders. This feedback was evaluated and is being used to continue to develop the park's strategy. It is estimated that less than 1% of total climbing in the park results from guided climbing; the remainder comes from private, non-commercial use.
During 2015, the park will issue limited-trip Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) for guided technical climbing in the park. These CUAs provide an opportunity for qualified mountaineering companies to access the park on a limited basis. In 2015, the park will issue one limited-trip CUA permit for guided technical climbing per company. Each permit will allow up to three non-consecutive calendar days of guided technical climbing in the park. The maximum number of clients allowed per day will be twelve. Trips will be subject to appropriate guide-to-client ratios as outlined by the park. Post-trip reporting will be required of all permit holders.
To apply for a limited technical climbing CUA permit, a complete application packet must be submitted to the park's concession office a minimum of one month in advance of the first client day. Applications are currently being accepted. These limited guided climbing CUA permits are only for 2015 and companies should only anticipate operating in the park during the 2015 calendar year.
For a limited-trip CUA application packet or for any questions about the permits and the application process, please contact the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
To apply for a limited technical climbing CUA permit, a complete application packet must be submitted to the park's concession office a minimum of one month in advance of the first client day. Applications are currently being accepted. These limited guided climbing CUA permits are only for 2015 and companies should only anticipate operating in the park during the 2015 calendar year.
For a limited-trip CUA application packet or for any questions about the permits and the application process, please contact the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
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