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RMNP Guide
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Written by Aaron
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:35 |
Rocky Mountain National Park’s 2010 Biennial Research Conference will be held on March 30, and 31, in the Estes Park Town Board Room. The park hosts one of the largest research programs in the National Park System, with more than 100 research permits active each year. Park partners in research come from other federal agencies, the State of Colorado, and universities around the world. Last year, citizen scientists volunteered just over 7,000 hours to research projects. In addition, hundreds of students participate in field data collections and lab analysis. More than one-hundred scientists, social scientists, and historians are expected to attend this two-day meeting to discuss a variety of research projects.
Researchers will present for 20 minutes each. Talks are organized into sessions covering related subjects. Tuesday’s sessions will focus on Social Science, Forest Health, Water and Air. Morning sessions in social science will include melting glaciers and bison bones, human connections to Longs Peak, and the history of the Little Buckaroo Ranch barn in the Kawuneeche Valley. Morning forest health presentations will explore
conserving the genetic diversity of limber pines, forest regeneration in beetle disturbed areas, the fungus among us and the implication of managing natural disturbances in Rocky Mountain National Park’s sister park, Tatra National Park. Tuesday afternoon will focus on water and air topics including nitrogen deposition and ozone health warnings. A highlight of this session will be results of the annual park wide water quality snapshot
survey, dubbed the waterblitz.
Wednesday will include an all day session on wildlife research, including research on butterflies, bighorn sheep, pika, beaver, amphibians and elk. One project focuses on the family relationships among migrating
broad-tailed hummingbirds. Another will feature the anatomy of elk bugling. Wednesday morning’s vegetation topics will cover the invasion and expansion of cheatgrass, restoring the Lulu City wetland, and vital sign monitoring of the park’s wetlands and alpine tundra.
In addition to presentations, twenty posters will be presented during lunch on Wednesday. A multi-disciplinary study of the park’s shuttle bus system along the Bear lake corridor will be presented on Wednesday afternoon. The study looked at noise levels, visitor impacts to vegetation and timing of the buses.
The conference is free and open to all interested members of the community. No registration is required. The conference begins on Tuesday, March 30, at 8:00 a.m. Sessions will end by 4:00 p.m. each day. A complete schedule is available at: www.nps.gov/romo/parkmgmt/research_conference.htm
The Town Board Room is in the Estes Park Municipal Building, 170 MacGregor Avenue. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park’s information office at (970) 586-1206. |
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Written by Aaron
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:31 |
Each year to protect raptor nesting sites, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in the Lumpy Ridge and SheepMountain areas of the park. To ensure that raptors can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife managers. All closures went in to effect on March 1 and will continue through July 31, if appropriate. These closures may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on nesting activity.
Closures include Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Alligator Rock, Sheep Mountain, and Twin Owls, Rock One. These closures include the named formations as well as areas extending 100 yards surrounding the base of the formation. The perimeter around Alligator Rock extends for 200 yards in all directions. Closures include all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber access trails to the named rock formations. Check the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/area_closures.htm for updated information on raptor closures.
The National Park Service is committed to preserving birds of prey. The same cliffs that are critical for raptors also appeal to climbers. The cooperation of climbing organizations and individuals is essential to the successful nesting of raptors in the park. |
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Written by DeeCeeM
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Saturday, 13 February 2010 11:33 |
For some vacationers, planning a trip involves making reservations and packing up the car and kids or grandkids then heading out on the road. A
traveler with a disability needs to know more about an actual destination and accommodations before starting their trip. Though many destinations
indicate that they are “accessible,” it may not mean that they are “functional,” which is what Ron and Kay Wilmers of Michigan discovered over
thirty-plus years of traveling to national parks and surrounding areas. Ron, who is in a wheelchair, and his wife Kay, a Registered Nurse, would
like to provide travel information for people with accessibility needs and increase tourism in national parks for this segment of travelers. As part
of their strategy, they have created a website called “The Disabled Traveler’s Companion.” The website can be accessed through Rocky Mountain
National Park’s website at www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm
What makes this website unique are the site-specific photographs and information they have provided. The website shows what accessible features currently exist at Rocky Mountain National Park. The website highlights the beautiful accessible trails, the parking areas and the accessible
campsites in the park. Removing “the unknown” with accessible information allows the traveler to decide whether or not a location works for them,
prior to traveling. The Wilmers have worked with three other national parks so far including Glacier National Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National
Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Rocky Mountain National Park hopes that the Disabled Traveler’s Companion website will be an excellent source of information between the
national park and individuals with a disability. |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 13:38 |
 Join a Park Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park for a kid-friendly snowshoe adventure on the west side of the park. Snowshoeing is a fun way to experience the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park and is a great family activity! The programs will be held on Saturdays; January 9, February 6 and March 6 at 10:30 a.m. Ages 6-12 are welcome with an adult. Participants should dress warmly, in layers and furnish their own equipment. All snowshoe walks require reservations. Reservations can be made in advance, seven days or less prior to the desired walk. To make reservations for west side snowshoe walks, call the Kawuneeche Visitor Center at (970) 627-3471 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. Come enjoy the winter magic of Rocky Mountain National Park. |
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Written by Aaron
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Friday, 18 December 2009 12:48 |
 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.
On the east side of the park: Winter Storytime – Read with a Ranger! December 26 at 10:30 a.m., December 27 at 2:00 p.m., and daily from December 28 through January 2 at 10:30 a.m. Hear stories about the wonders of the winter season. Meet at Fall River Visitor Center.
Skins and Skulls – Learn about Rocky’s wildlife! Daily from December 26 through January 2 at 3:00 p.m. Come to the Skins and Skulls program at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center for a hands-on experience.
Snowshoe Ecology Walks – Beginner- level snowshoe tour with a ranger to explore the natural world of a subalpine forest. December 30, January 1 and January 2 at 12:30 p.m. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required - call (970) 586-1223 beginning
December 23.
Full Moon Walk – Explore the wintery world of Rocky Mountain National Park under the light of a full moon. December 30. Traction devices or poles required. Dress in warm layers and wear waterproof boots. Reservations required - call (970) 586-1223 beginning December 23.
On the west side of the park: Ski the Wilderness – Join a park ranger for this 1.5 hour cross-country ski tour of the Kawuneeche Valley. For ages 8 and above. December 26 and January 2 at 9:30 a.m. Reservations required - call (970) 627-3471 no more than seven days in advance.
Snowshoe in the Kawuneeche – Beginner-level snowshoe tour with a ranger. December 26 and January 2 at 1:00 p.m. Intermediate-level snowshoe tours held December 27 and January 3 at 1:00 p.m. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required - call (970) 627-3471 no more than seven days in advance.
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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