On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 30 filmmakers converged in Yosemite to document one day in the life of the national park. Viewers of the film see the park through the eyes of rangers, park employees, sight-seers, hikers, painters, climbers and even hang-gliders. The park published this wonderful film late last month, and called it One Day in Yosemite:
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Search Efforts for Missing Man in Rocky Mountain National Park Have Been Scaled Back
On Sunday, February 3rd, the backcountry surrounding the Bear Lake area where Troy Green was last seen was again heavily used by park visitors who were snowshoeing and skiing. The saturation of this area by searchers, dog teams, a helicopter, and large numbers of recreational users provided a great deal of coverage but again with no clues.
Search teams on Sunday encountered deep snow and pockets of considerable avalanche conditions. The depth of snow since Thursday has hampered search operations. Aerial searching detected several large slab avalanches on the northeast aspects of peaks along the Divide but with no evidence that they were human triggered.
Last night the park reported that rangers heard from two witnesses who indicated they spoke with Mr. Green at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31st, at the Bear Lake Trailhead but did not see what direction he went from there. Between witness reports and park rangers' investigation, it is now known that Mr. Green purchased additional gear after he arrived in Colorado. It is possible that he was wearing black snow pants, a black puffy down jacket, black gloves and a black balaclava. He also was seen wearing hiking boots and a royal blue and grey camelback. At the time the two witnesses spoke with him, it was snowing and there were high winds.
Today, search managers are scaling back efforts due to concerns about safety of Search and Rescue personnel and lack of clues and new information. The incident management team is evaluating new search tactics at this time. In the coming days, a small team of rangers will focus their search on pockets of challenging terrain in the Bear Lake and lower Tyndall Gorge areas.
The investigation in ongoing. If anyone was visiting the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, January 31, or Friday, February 1, park rangers would like to hear from you. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Last night the park reported that rangers heard from two witnesses who indicated they spoke with Mr. Green at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31st, at the Bear Lake Trailhead but did not see what direction he went from there. Between witness reports and park rangers' investigation, it is now known that Mr. Green purchased additional gear after he arrived in Colorado. It is possible that he was wearing black snow pants, a black puffy down jacket, black gloves and a black balaclava. He also was seen wearing hiking boots and a royal blue and grey camelback. At the time the two witnesses spoke with him, it was snowing and there were high winds.
Today, search managers are scaling back efforts due to concerns about safety of Search and Rescue personnel and lack of clues and new information. The incident management team is evaluating new search tactics at this time. In the coming days, a small team of rangers will focus their search on pockets of challenging terrain in the Bear Lake and lower Tyndall Gorge areas.
The investigation in ongoing. If anyone was visiting the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, January 31, or Friday, February 1, park rangers would like to hear from you. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Colorado Avalanche Information Center Issues Special Advisory Statement
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued a Special Advisory Statement that is in effect through 02/06/2013 12:00 PM:
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
On Saturday February 2nd there were at least five avalanche incidents across the state from the Wyoming border to Silverton in southern Colorado. There was one fatality, and several people with reported injuries.The avalanche danger for most of the state is considerable (Level 3). To read the entire report, please click here.
The current snowpack across Colorado is in a delicate state of balance. Before the last storm cycle moved across the state the base layers of the snow were exceptionally weak. The new snow during the storm came in with significant wind and a high water content, meaning the new snow was heavy, and developed quickly into dangerous slabs.
It is taking little additional stress to trigger large, deep and dangerous avalanches. These conditions will linger for some time into the future. Backcountry riders are advised to use extra caution if traveling in or around avalanche terrain today.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service May Propose to Reintroduce Wolverines to Colorado
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced last week that it is seeking information from the scientific community and the public on a proposal to protect the North American wolverine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service is also seeking comment on two proposed special rules designed to facilitate management and recovery of the species should it receive protection.
An estimated 250 to 300 wolverines now occur in the lower 48 states, where the species has rebounded after broad-scale predator trapping and poisoning programs led to its near extinction in the early 1900s. According to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, most are believed to inhabit Montana.
Extensive climate modeling indicates that the wolverine’s snowpack habitat will be greatly reduced and fragmented in the coming years due to climate warming, thereby threatening the species with extinction. Wolverines are dependent on areas in high mountains, near the tree-line, where conditions are cold year-round and snow cover persists well into the month of May.
The Service does not consider most activities occurring within the high elevation habitat of the wolverine, including snowmobiling and backcountry skiing, and land management activities like timber harvesting and infrastructure development, to constitute significant threats to the wolverine. As a result, the Service is proposing a special rule under Section 4(d) of the ESA that, should the species be listed, would allow these types of activities to continue.
Under the proposed 4(d) rule, take of wolverines associated with hunting and trapping would be prohibited if the species is listed. The Service is seeking input on the appropriateness of prohibiting incidental take of wolverine in the course of legal trapping activities directed at other species.
In support of ongoing federal and state agencies to protect the wolverine from extinction, the Service is also simultaneously proposing a special rule under Section 10(j) of the ESA to facilitate potential reintroduction of the species to its historical range in Colorado. The reintroduction effort, which is still under consideration, would be led by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Currently, wolverines occur within the North Cascades Range in Washington and the Northern Rockies of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and a small portion of Oregon (Wallowa Range). Populations once existed in the Sierra Nevada of California and the southern Rocky Mountains in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Currently, one individual male wolverine is known to inhabit the Sierra Nevada and one male wolverine resides in the southern Rocky Mountains. Both are recent migrants to these areas.
Most wolverine habitat in the contiguous U.S. – more than 90 percent – is located on federally-owned land, with the remainder being state, private or tribally owned.
If the proposed listing rule is finalized, the Service will add the wolverine to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The listing would protect the wolverine as a threatened species in the contiguous (or lower 48) states as a distinct population segment (DPS) under the ESA.
The Service will open a 90-day comment period beginning February 4, 2013, to allow the public and stakeholders an opportunity to provide information or comments regarding the proposed listing and 4(d) rule and the proposed 10(j) rule. A draft Recovery Outline will also be available for comments. During that time, the agency will also seek peer review of the proposed listing and proposed rules from the scientific community. Comments will be accepted until May 6, 2013.
Last year, the President directed that any future designations of critical habitat carefully consider all public comments on relevant science and economic impact, including those that suggest methods for minimizing regulatory burdens. If the listing is finalized, any potential critical habitat designation will include a full analysis of economic impact, including impact on jobs, and will strive, to the extent permitted by law, to avoid unnecessary burdens and costs on states, tribes, localities and the private sector.
At this time, the Service finds that critical habitat is not determinable, as the agency needs additional time to assess the potential impact of a critical habitat designation and to identify specific areas that may be appropriate for critical habitat designation. The Service seeks comments on the reasons they should or should not designate critical habitat for the wolverine, and what specific areas might be considered for designation.
For more information about wolverine conservation, copies of the proposals, and details on public meetings and hearings, visit the Service’s website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Extensive climate modeling indicates that the wolverine’s snowpack habitat will be greatly reduced and fragmented in the coming years due to climate warming, thereby threatening the species with extinction. Wolverines are dependent on areas in high mountains, near the tree-line, where conditions are cold year-round and snow cover persists well into the month of May.
The Service does not consider most activities occurring within the high elevation habitat of the wolverine, including snowmobiling and backcountry skiing, and land management activities like timber harvesting and infrastructure development, to constitute significant threats to the wolverine. As a result, the Service is proposing a special rule under Section 4(d) of the ESA that, should the species be listed, would allow these types of activities to continue.
Under the proposed 4(d) rule, take of wolverines associated with hunting and trapping would be prohibited if the species is listed. The Service is seeking input on the appropriateness of prohibiting incidental take of wolverine in the course of legal trapping activities directed at other species.
In support of ongoing federal and state agencies to protect the wolverine from extinction, the Service is also simultaneously proposing a special rule under Section 10(j) of the ESA to facilitate potential reintroduction of the species to its historical range in Colorado. The reintroduction effort, which is still under consideration, would be led by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Currently, wolverines occur within the North Cascades Range in Washington and the Northern Rockies of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and a small portion of Oregon (Wallowa Range). Populations once existed in the Sierra Nevada of California and the southern Rocky Mountains in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Currently, one individual male wolverine is known to inhabit the Sierra Nevada and one male wolverine resides in the southern Rocky Mountains. Both are recent migrants to these areas.
Most wolverine habitat in the contiguous U.S. – more than 90 percent – is located on federally-owned land, with the remainder being state, private or tribally owned.
If the proposed listing rule is finalized, the Service will add the wolverine to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The listing would protect the wolverine as a threatened species in the contiguous (or lower 48) states as a distinct population segment (DPS) under the ESA.
The Service will open a 90-day comment period beginning February 4, 2013, to allow the public and stakeholders an opportunity to provide information or comments regarding the proposed listing and 4(d) rule and the proposed 10(j) rule. A draft Recovery Outline will also be available for comments. During that time, the agency will also seek peer review of the proposed listing and proposed rules from the scientific community. Comments will be accepted until May 6, 2013.
Last year, the President directed that any future designations of critical habitat carefully consider all public comments on relevant science and economic impact, including those that suggest methods for minimizing regulatory burdens. If the listing is finalized, any potential critical habitat designation will include a full analysis of economic impact, including impact on jobs, and will strive, to the extent permitted by law, to avoid unnecessary burdens and costs on states, tribes, localities and the private sector.
At this time, the Service finds that critical habitat is not determinable, as the agency needs additional time to assess the potential impact of a critical habitat designation and to identify specific areas that may be appropriate for critical habitat designation. The Service seeks comments on the reasons they should or should not designate critical habitat for the wolverine, and what specific areas might be considered for designation.
For more information about wolverine conservation, copies of the proposals, and details on public meetings and hearings, visit the Service’s website.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Third Day Of Searching Begins For Missing Man In Bear Lake Area
The third day of search efforts began early this morning, Sunday, February 3rd, for a missing man from San Antonio, Texas. Troy Green was reported missing Friday afternoon. Yesterday, thirty-five searchers were involved and recon flights occurred over the search area. Today, forty-five searchers are involved plus a number of search dogs. Park rangers are being assisted by Larimer County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, and Summit County Rescue. Searchers continue to concentrate their efforts on the popular Bear Lake system of trails; focusing on off trail areas particularly in the Mill Creek Drainage and in the Flattop Mountain area. Intensive search efforts will occur in the area between Bear Lake and Dream Lake. Aerial search will continue over this entire area.
There was no new snowfall in the Bear Lake area overnight. Snow depths and conditions vary in the area depending on the elevation. At Bear Lake, located at 9,475 feet, there was 9 inches of new snow from Wednesday through Friday. There are numerous trails that leave from the Bear Lake area. It is unknown where Mr. Green's destination was or what kind of clothing he was wearing. Searchers continue to face winter conditions with deep snow, winds and drifting snow.
The Bear Lake area is a popular winter recreation destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. The fresh snow and blue skies drew hundreds of winter enthusiasts yesterday to snowshoe and backcountry ski in the area; serving as more eyes and ears to aid search efforts. High visitation is expected again today.
Mr. Green was planning to attend a conference in Denver. When his wife did not hear from him on Thursday, January 31, she contacted the Denver Police Department. He did not arrive at the conference on Friday. On Friday afternoon, an advisory was given for his rental car that matched a vehicle found early Friday morning by park rangers at the Bear Lake parking lot.
If anyone was visiting the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, January 31, or Friday, February 1, park rangers would like to hear from you. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
The Bear Lake area is a popular winter recreation destination in Rocky Mountain National Park. The fresh snow and blue skies drew hundreds of winter enthusiasts yesterday to snowshoe and backcountry ski in the area; serving as more eyes and ears to aid search efforts. High visitation is expected again today.
Mr. Green was planning to attend a conference in Denver. When his wife did not hear from him on Thursday, January 31, she contacted the Denver Police Department. He did not arrive at the conference on Friday. On Friday afternoon, an advisory was given for his rental car that matched a vehicle found early Friday morning by park rangers at the Bear Lake parking lot.
If anyone was visiting the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, January 31, or Friday, February 1, park rangers would like to hear from you. Please call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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