Trail Ridge Road Opens For The Season - Night Closures Are In Place

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened today, Friday, May 29. Due to heavy melting on the road during the day and freezing temperatures at night, visitors should plan for night closures occurring at 8:00 p.m. until conditions change. This May's snowy and wet weather patterns hampered this year's efforts to get the road open by Memorial Day. Road crews and rangers will reassess conditions each morning and reopen the road when and if conditions allow. Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store are expected to open soon.

Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 23. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on November 4.

National Park Service plow operators normally begin clearing the snow in the middle of April. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center. The visitor center is the highest in the National Park Service, sitting at 11,796 feet above sea level. Spring storms often impact plowing activities. This year, plow operators encountered average snow drifts from 18 to 22 feet. Significant storms on the east side of the divide in May provided additional challenges for park snowplow operators.

Because weather conditions may change rapidly, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly and are encouraged to call the park's Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at (970) 586-1222.

Park staff will update the recorded line during and after regular office hours, when the road status changes. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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Rocky Mountain National Park Will Increase Entrance And Camping Fees Beginning October 1st

Starting on October 1st, Rocky Mountain National Park will increase entrance fees in order to fund important maintenance and improvement projects within the park. Because of Rocky's proximity to the populated Colorado Front Range, the park will be adding a single day pass to the existing option of fees. This "Day Use Pass" will be $20 while the weekly pass will increase to $30 for those visitors who intend to enjoy the park for multiple days. The annual park pass will increase to $50 and eventually increase to $60 by 2017. Campground fees will increase to $26 a night in 2016. Campground fees are based on comparable fees for similar services in nearby campgrounds.

"We are committed to keeping Rocky Mountain National Park affordable and we also want to provide visitors with the best possible experience," said Baker. "We feel this modest fee increase is still an incredible value when considering other family and recreational experiences one can enjoy. Plus, 80 percent of those funds stay right here in Rocky to benefit visitors. As we celebrate Rocky's Centennial, these funds will be critical as we move forward into the next one hundred years."

While basic operations of the park are funded by direct appropriations from Congress, the fee program is intended to provide for various enhancements to visitor services and facilities.

Entrance fees have supported a wide range of projects that improve the park and visitor experiences, including renovating all campground restroom facilities, rehabilitating and maintaining approximately 100 of the park's 350 miles of trails, replacing trailhead signs, replacing picnic tables throughout the park, mitigating hazard trees in or near park facilities such as campgrounds, parking lots, road corridors and visitor centers, and operating the park's visitor shuttle bus system.

In the fall of 2014, the National Park Service conducted a nationwide review of entrance fees. Rocky Mountain National Park staff solicited public input beginning in October 2014. During the public comment period, the park received 95 formal comments that were related to the park's proposed fee changes. Based on comments received, there was significantly more support for the proposed fee rate changes than opposed. Park visitors seem to be highly supportive of fees in general and making the connection with the park's effort in providing tangible benefits to visitors through fee revenue.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation under which the park currently collects entrance and amenity fees. This law allows parks to retain 80 percent of the fees collected for use on projects that directly benefit visitors. The remaining 20 percent is distributed throughout the National Park System. Since the beginning of FLREA and its predecessor program Fee Demo, the park has spent over $66 million in repairs, renovations, improvements and resource restoration.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2014, more than 3.4 million park visitors spent $217 million and supported 3,382 jobs, which had a cumulative benefit to the economy of $329 million.

In January 2005, Rocky Mountain National Park was the last of the larger size parks in the Intermountain Region to adopt the $20 per vehicle weekly rate. That same year the annual pass increased to $35, and to $40 in 2009, the last year of any increase in fees. Last year, Rocky Mountain National Park was the fifth most visited national park in the United States.



Jeff
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Climbing Longs Peak

It dominates the horizon in northern Colorado. It's been photographed by Ansel Adams, has been featured on the Colorado state quarter, and is the most-climbed fourteener in Colorado. At 14,259 feet Longs Peak is also the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park, and is the only mountain in the park to exceed 14,000 feet.

I once "attempted" to summit Longs Peak. I got about two hundred yards or so above The Keyhole and discovered that I really wasn't a mountaineer. I thought the sheer drop-offs from the trail along that narrow stretch were downright frightening. Although many people summit the mountain each summer, many others are satisfied just to reach The Keyhole. Although a very tough day hike, the views are quite spectacular along the way, as well as from The Keyhole itself. Moreover, hikers don't have to worry about falling off the mountain to get there!

In the video below the editors of Backpacker Magazine take viewers on a vicarious climb to the top of Longs Peak. You be the judge - would you do this?





Jeff
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Gear Review: The New Dare 2B Stalwart Jacket

This morning I finally had the opportunity to test the Stalwart Jacket, a new line of outdoor apparel from Dare 2B, an outdoor clothing company out of the United Kingdom. In addition to cycling, running and snow sports, the clothing company also focuses on apparel for hikers.

And, just in time for the spring and summer season, Dare 2B has launched a new line of active wear which now includes its new Body Seamless technology, which is designed to reduce friction in critical areas during active sports, while ensuring that you'll have maximum comfort at all times and at all levels of activity. As part of this new line is the brand new Stalwart Jacket.

Dare 2B touts the jacket as "the ultimate fast and light defense from the elements". This 4-way stretch shell is waterproof, breathable and is super lightweight. The jacket features taped seams, has a full front zip and underarm zips for ventilation, an adjustable shockcord hem system, multiple pockets, adjustable cuffs, a shaped hood with a technical wired peak to keep the rain out, and has a roll away hood function.

So after hanging in my closet for a couple of weeks, I finally had the opportunity to give the jacket a real live field test this morning. I was waiting for the opportunity to take a walk in the rain to see if the jacket lived up to its billing. Overall I was very pleased.

During my somewhat brisk half-hour walk around the neighborhood in a steady rain, the jacket kept me completely dry. Moreover, at 65 degrees, I worried that I was going to overheat inside the jacket. To my surprise this didn't happen. In fact, I felt completely comfortable during the entire circuit. This surprised me because the jacket is thicker than a standard shell, and even has a light lining. Now, if I had to climb some substantial elevation in these same conditions, the result might be a little different. That, however, remains to be seen.

I also thought that the wired peak feature on the hood was a plus, acting similarly to that of a baseball cap.

My only real complaint with the Stalwart Jacket is with the design of the hood. When turning my head from side to side, the hood wouldn't move. To remedy this I had to pull the hood with my hand in order to see on either side of me.

Americans will also have to get used to the zipper being switched to the opposite side. Maybe its because I'm left-handed, but it takes a little practice to get used to the English/European version. Potential customers should also note that the Stalwart Jacket is cut a little more slimmer than their American cousins.

All in all I thought this was a great jacket, and look forward to using it in the mountains when the weather turns sour.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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Visitors Should Expect Wet, Snowy Conditions and Closed Roads on National Forests This Weekend

Memorial Day weekend brings many visitors to the Roosevelt and Arapaho National Forests west of Boulder and Denver. While this holiday weekend is traditionally the kick-off to the camping season, please be aware that snow lingers and continues to accumulate at the higher elevations. Spring rains and snowmelt have made some roads too snowy, wet and muddy for driving. Even lower elevation hiking trails may have mud and snow patches. Many higher elevation trails will remain snow packed until later in June.

Four campgrounds near Boulder are open: Kelly Dahl, Camp Dick, Peaceful Valley and Olive Ridge. Although many campsites are already booked, first come, first served spots are available at these campgrounds. Meeker Park Campground is scheduled to open June 12. Rainbow Lakes and Pawnee Campgrounds will not open until later in June. For a full list of campgrounds and opening dates please click here.

Three campgrounds off Highway 119 (Peak to Peak) are open: Cold Springs, Columbine and Pickle Gulch Group Campground. Although many campsites are already booked, Cold Springs and Columbine have some first come, first served spots. Water is not yet available at any of these campgrounds. West Chicago Creek Campground will not open this weekend due to snow and is tentatively scheduled to open May 28. The higher elevation campgrounds of Clear Lake, Guanella Pass and Echo Lake open in June. For a full list of campgrounds and opening dates please click here.

Eight National Forest campgrounds in Grand County will be open for Memorial Day weekend, including all five campgrounds in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. In the Winter Park/Fraser area, St. Louis Creek and Idlewild campgrounds will open Friday. Denver Creek Campground on Colo. Highway 125 will also be open. Water may not be available in all campgrounds, so be sure to call ahead or check here.

Most National Forest System roads west of Boulder remain closed due to mud or snow. This includes motorized access into the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. This road is not scheduled to open until June 12. This also includes the road to Mount Evans. For more information on the status of Mount Evans, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation website. Forest visitors should note that the Boulder area still has road and trail closures due to flood damage. Detailed information can be found online here. According to the Sulphur Ranger District's Motor Vehicle Use Map, which can be found online, the majority of National Forest roads become available for use around June 15, if conditions allow.

Be cautious when driving down forest roads. Turn around if the road becomes muddy or snow packed. This spring, visitors should check the latest road information before heading out.

Lower elevation hiking, including trails located along and east of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway (Highways 119, 72 and 7), have mud and snow patches. Most trails west of these routes will remain snow packed until later in June

The trails around Monarch Lake make a very popular loop hike in the early season. Portions of those trails, as well as many others on the district, are still snowy or muddy, so if you plan to hike the entire loop, be sure to wear appropriate footwear.

The Idaho Springs visitor center is open seven days a week with summer hours starting Memorial Day Weekend from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call the Visitor Center at 303-567-4382 for more information.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Grand Teton Hiking
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