Numerous Swift Water Incidents Last Week in Rocky Mountain National Park

It’s summer in Rocky Mountain National Park and all rivers, creeks, and streams are flowing high and fast this time of year. Moving water is beautiful, it can also be very dangerous. Don’t underestimate the power of water. Over the past week, park rangers and other swift water rescue personnel have responded to three separate swift water rescue incidents inside Rocky Mountain National Park. These incidents involved both adults and children and all occurred in the St. Vrain River in the Wild Basin area.

Park visitors are reminded to view moving water from a distance. Rocks and logs along the banks of rivers, streams and waterfalls can be deceptively slippery. Stay at least one body length back from the edge of riverbanks and waterfalls. Always provide proper supervision for children, who by nature, tend to be attracted to water. Make sure children stay back from the water’s edge. If you see swift water moving across a hiking trail, stop. Don’t try to cross – the water could be deeper than you think. Be prepared to turn back to alternate hiking routes and complete your hike another day.

If you see someone slip into swift moving water, take the following steps:

* Stay calm and try to keep the person in sight

* Do not enter the water and try to rescue them yourself. This could place you in a life-threatening position as well as the person you are trying to help

* Look around and see if a branch, rope, or throw bag can be used to help the person in the water

* Call 911 and report the location and share that someone has fallen into swift-moving water

Even a few inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet. Powerful currents can quickly pull a person underwater.

Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members greatly appreciate the assistance from Estes Valley Fire Protection District - Dive and Swiftwater Rescue Team on these incidents.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

The Dark Side of the Rainbow

Is it real, a cosmic coincidence, an ingenious marketing ploy, or just another conspiracy theory?

What are the chances that one of the most beloved movies of all time is artistically linked to one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded? For the uninitiated, the “Dark Side of the Rainbow” theory (also known as “The Dark Side of Oz”) asserts that Pink Floyd purposely synchronized The Dark Side of the Moon to The Wizard of Oz. For those who have seen it, the mashup produces dozens of striking coincidences between the film and the album, where actions on the screen seemingly correspond to the lyrics, chords and musical moods of the Dark Side tracks.

In addition to a complete viewing guide for the synchronicities, the book explores an explanation for their existence:

* Pink Floyd had the means: they already had ample experience scoring films.

* They had the motivation: the band continuously sought visual presentations of their songs during concerts.

* In the late 1990s, mainstream media outlets published reports that Pink Floyd had been threatened with a lawsuit by MGM if they used clips of The Wizard of Oz during concerts.

* Did Pink Floyd leave veiled clues on subsequent albums?

The Dark Side of the Rainbow. is currently available in both paperback and eBook on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0DXVND79V

White-nose syndrome detected in bats at Rocky Mountain National Park

Park staff have confirmed the presence of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in three bats at Rocky Mountain National Park; two bats on the west side and one bat on the east side of the park. All three bats were long-legged bats (Myotis volans). With these new findings, white-nose syndrome has now been detected on both sides of the continental divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the first documented case of WNS in Grand County, Colorado.

This is an unfortunate but not a surprise finding after laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in April, confirmed that the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) had been positively detected in bats found in the Holzwarth Historic Site area located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the first confirmed detection of Pd in Grand County, Colorado.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is often fatal in bats. Pd, the fungus that causes WNS, can spread rapidly, primarily through bat-to-bat contact.

WNS does not cause illness in humans, but humans are able to spread the fungus to new places. To protect yourselves and conserve bat populations, we recommend visitors:

Report dead/injured bats to park personnel. To protect yourself and bats, never touch or pick up a bat. Although WNS does not cause illness in humans, a small percentage of bats can be infected with other dangerous diseases, such as rabies.

Decontaminate. Ensure you properly decontaminate your gear and outerwear after visiting a cave or other bat habitat.

Any new detection of Pd and WNS is worrisome because bats are vital for healthy ecosystems. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to nine known species of bats, five of which have been found living in areas above 11,000 feet. To learn more about bats at Rocky Mountain National Park, click here.

WNS has been blamed for millions of bat deaths nationwide since its initial detection in New York State in 2006. In July 2022, the first confirmed case of WNS was reported in Southeastern Colorado. Pd and WNS have also been confirmed in Larimer County, Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the USGS, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, have been conducting WNS surveys for over a decade, monitoring bats for presence of Pd. Rocky Mountain Conservancy has assisted with funding for monitoring and education in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado is home to 19 native bat species, at least 13 of which may be susceptible to this disease. Colorado's native bats are all insect eaters and use various habitat types across the state. They are most active during the summer months and spend the winter either hibernating in underground roosts throughout the state or migrating south. The National Park Service and other state and federal agencies will continue to monitor bats throughout Colorado.

GMUG highlights Great American Outdoor Act projects

Visitors to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests should be aware of temporary recreation area closures due to ongoing Great American Outdoor Act (GAOA) construction projects designed to improve facilities and visitor access.

The GAOA, signed into law by President Donald Trump on August 4, 2020, is a historic conservation effort that continues to provide new opportunities for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in infrastructure, recreation facilities, public lands access, and land and water conservation.

The GAOA dedicated $1.9 billion per year for five years starting in 2020. The GMUG continues to benefit from these funds with the following projects planned for summer 2025:

* Blue Lakes Trailhead Reconstruction - Trailhead parking area reconstruction and installation of new vault restroom and signage. Site will be closed while construction is taking place.

* Trail reconstruction projects: Bear Creek National Recreation Trail (Ouray RD), Wetterhorn Trail (Ouray RD) and Crags Crest Trail (Grand Valley RD). Wetterhorn and Crags Crest Trails will remain open to the public during construction, but users should expect to see crews on the trail working. Bear Creek National Recreation Trail will be closed Monday through Friday while construction is taking place.

* Forest wide trail maintenance: Lamborn, Big Blue, Curecanti, West Bench, Lowline, and Mt. Lamborn trails. These trails will remain open to the public during construction, but users should expect to see crews on the trail working.

For updates on all closures, road conditions and forest news, please visit the official GMUG website.

Human Remains Found In Alpine Ridge Trail Area Of Rocky Mountain National Park

Late last Wednesday afternoon, human remains were found in an area near the Alpine Ridge Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. This area is near the Alpine Visitor Center, which is located along Trail Ridge Road.

Park Law Enforcement Rangers responded and are leading an ongoing investigation.

The Larimer County Coroner’s Office will confirm positive identification of the individual and release additional information when the next-of-kin is identified and have been notified.

No further information is available at this time.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com