Over 70 miles of Medicine Bow National Forest trails cleared this past summer; wilderness solitude monitoring underway

The USDA Forest Service, in conjunction with Wyoming Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience, and Wilderness Outreach, was able to commit resources to improving trails on the Laramie and Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger Districts over the course of the summer. With a focus on trails within wilderness, the Forest Service and trail crews were able to clear over 70 miles of trail this season in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Accomplishments include clearing fallen trees from the entirety of system trails within the Savage Run Wilderness and Encampment River Wilderness, including clearing over 800 trees along the Encampment River Trail (470). Most trails in the Platte River Wilderness and Huston Park Wilderness have also been improved – including the complete clearing of Douglas Creek Trail (506), Platte River Trail (473), and Baby Lakes Trail (859). There are plans to continue trail maintenance and improvements in the 2020 season, dependent on funding.

The Forest Service would like to thank American Conservation Experience and Wyoming Conservation Corps for their combined 7,680 hours of work to clear trails, as well as Wilderness Outreach for their 960 total hours of work on the Douglas Creek Trail. Thanks to Common Outdoor Ground (COG) for collecting valuable planning information, such as the location and number of downed trees, through the Rapid Trail Assessment Project.

The Forest Service has partnered with COG, a community organization in southeast Wyoming, to monitor solitude conditions in the Huston Park and Encampment River wilderness areas. This partnership is possible in part thanks to the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, for the Wilderness Stewardship Performance grant awarded to COG.

Solitude monitoring includes recording encounters within wilderness areas during at least a four-hour period. Those interested in assisting with the solitude monitoring program may participate individually or through an organized group. Signage for the solitude monitoring program as well as monitoring handouts will be available at major trailheads of the Huston Park and Encampment River wilderness.

For more information about volunteering for the wilderness solitude monitoring program, contact: Meghan Kent, Wilderness Solitude Lead for COG, mghnkent@gmail.com

For more information regarding the wilderness solitude monitoring program and wilderness stewardship, contact: Rhaude Dahlinghaus, Forest Service Recreation Assistant, sarah.dahlinghuas@usda.gov



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Tour of the Moon Bicycle Tour to Travel through Colorado National Monument

On Saturday, September 28, 2019, the Tour of the Moon recreational bicycle ride will travel through Colorado National Monument. The touring cyclists will travel over Rim Rock Drive, entering the monument at the east entrance off of Monument Road near Grand Junction and exiting at the west entrance onto Highway 340 near Fruita. Cyclists will be limited to the west bound lane.

Colorado National Monument and all facilities will remain open to the public during the cycling event. In order to provide safety for the cyclists, the west bound lane of Rim Rock Drive from the east (Grand Junction) entrance to DS Road will be closed from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Throughout the morning the monument staff is recommending vehicle traffic enter the monument at the west (Fruita) entrance and travel in the opposite direction from the bicyclists.

Event organizers are anticipating the 2,000 cyclists will be riding in the monument from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monument staff are encouraging all other visitors to tour the park in the afternoon.

Safety Advisory: All vehicle traffic is asked to travel west to east on Rim Rock Drive to avoid congestion. Motorists and bicyclists are strongly advised to travel cautiously around curves and always obey the speed limit.

For additional information regarding the Tour of the Moon recreational bicycle ride, please visit http://www.tourofthemoon.com

The visitor center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information, please visit www.nps.gov/colm or call 970-858-3617, ext. 360. For information on a select handful of hikes we covered in Colorado National Monument, please click here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Annual Elk Fest in Estes Park coming up this weekend

To celebrate the annual elk rut and learn about the "wapiti," the Native American name for elk, the city of Estes Park hosts the annual Elk Fest this weekend, Sept. 28-29.

Elk Fest offers visitors a chance to safely view elk during the rutting season in the wild, as well as expand their knowledge of elk and its habitat.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will have a booth to promote the message of how to view wildlife responsibly, will have a kids craft table, general showcases on elk and hunting information from CPW’s hunter outreach program.

Held in Bond Park, located in downtown Estes Park, the free festival will offer:

• Bugling competitions
• Elk exhibits and seminars
• Elk-inspired arts and crafts
• Education areas
• The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
• Native American music
• Dancing and storytelling
• Children's area with elk-themed activities
• Craft beer garden

Vendors will display artwork, handmade elk-ivory jewelry and will offer distinctive elk cuisine. Mountain men from around the country will gather at the Mountain Man Rendezvous to sell their wares and demonstrate their skills.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, Sept. 28 
• 8:30 a.m. - Rut Run 5k
• 10 a.m. - All Vendors Open
• 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Kids Corral w/ fun activities and crafts
• 10:30-10:50 a.m. - "Elk of Estes Park" film in Town Hall
• 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Native American Storytelling
• 12:15-1 p.m. - Bugling Contest • 1-1:20 p.m. - "Elk of Estes Park" film in Town Hall
• 1:30-3 p.m. - Live Music from Avenhart
• 3-5 p.m. - Native American Music, Dancing & Storytelling

Sunday, Sept. 29 
• 10 a.m. - All Vendors Open
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Kids Corral w/ fun activities and crafts
• 10:30-10:50 a.m. - "Elk of Estes Park" film in Town Hall
• 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Live Music from Cass Clayton (blues)
• 12:45-1:45 p.m. - Rocky Mountain Raptors, educational performance
• 2-4 p.m. - Native American Music, Dancing & Storytelling
• 2:30-2:50 p.m. - "Elk of Estes Park" film in Town Hall

You can visit the Elk Fest web page for more information by clicking here.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Hazard Tree Mitigation Work Continues On Trail Ridge Road In Rocky Mountain National Park

Park staff will be removing hazard trees in late September through October along Trail Ridge Road through Upper Hidden Valley as part of ongoing bark beetle mitigation work. Temporary traffic control will be implemented above Many Parks Curve during tree falling operations.

Work will begin on September 30 and continue through October 22, weather and resources permitting. Traffic delays of 15 minutes, in both uphill and downhill directions should be expected on Monday through Thursdays between 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Delays could extend beyond 15 minutes depending on the volume of vehicles. Work on this project will not take place on Fridays or weekends.

Bark beetles continue to be active within Rocky Mountain National Park, impacting large numbers of conifer trees. The park’s priorities for mitigation of the effects of beetles are focused on removing hazard trees and hazard fuels related to the protection of life and property.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Rocky Mountain National Park Proposes Changes In Camping Fees

Rocky Mountain National Park staff are proposing a change in current campground fees. Campground fees are based on comparable fees for similar services in nearby campgrounds. Park staff are proposing an increase for summer camping from $26 to $30 and winter camping from $18 to $20, per site, per night.

Park staff are proposing a flat rate at group sites at Glacier Basin Campground. Currently the fees are $4 per person, per night. The proposed flat rates would be as follows: small group site (9-15 people) $40; medium group site (16-25 people) $50; and large group site (26-40 people) $60.

Camping is very popular in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are five campgrounds open during the summer, which includes 570 sites. The park’s three reservation campgrounds, Moraine Park, Glacier Basin and Aspenglen, normally fill up six months in advance. The park’s two first-come, first-served campgrounds, Longs Peak and Timber Creek, fill up quickly. Timber Creek Campground, located on the west side of the national park, normally fills up last. Moraine Park Campground remains open during the winter, with 77 sites available.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) is the legislation under which the park currently collects entrance and amenity fees, including camping. This law allows national 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 the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, the park has spent millions of dollars in repairs, renovations, improvements and resource restoration.

People notice! Ninety percent of surveyed park visitors have continually expressed support for this program. Some of the projects funded through these fees at Rocky Mountain National Park include the park’s visitor shuttle system, which last year transported over 700,000 visitors throughout the Bear Lake Road corridor and to and from Estes Park; renovation of all restroom facilities throughout the park’s campgrounds; extensive hazard tree mitigation near facilities such as campgrounds, parking lots, road corridors, housing areas and visitor centers; and hiking trail enhancements including maintenance and reconstruction on much of Rocky’s 350 miles of trails.

“Camping is very popular in Rocky Mountain National Park. We want to keep our campground fees affordable and provide visitors with the best possible experience,” said Darla Sidles, Park Superintendent. “We feel that our proposed campground fee change is an incredible value. Plus, 80 percent of those funds stay right here in Rocky to benefit visitors.”

Park staff are seeking feedback about the proposed fee schedule. Please email comments to e-mail us by September 27, 2019. The current campground fees have been in effect for the past four years. Feedback the park receives will help determine how and when a campground fee increase may be implemented.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking