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RMNP Guide
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Written by Aaron
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Tuesday, 24 February 2009 19:29 |
Culling operations have concluded at Rocky Mountain National Park for this winter. Forecasts of the number of female elk to be culled last September
suggested that up to 100 animals may be taken to keep the population within historic numbers. Recent modeling of historic data as well as two surveys completed by the park within the last few weeks suggests that 30 to 40 female elk should be culled, and that the park population is likely within the range of 600-800 elk as prescribed in the Elk and Vegetation Management Plan. To date the park has culled 33 (20 in support of research related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and multi-year fertility control research and 13 as part of park culling operations); additionally, there has been one road killed elk. During the culling period, there were two recorded kills by mountain lion(s) as well, that we are aware of.
Park staff will continue to monitor the population to determine what management actions will be needed for next winter.
To recap the numbers:
20 taken in support of the CWD/Multi-year fertility control research/study - these animals were darted and euthanized by researchers
13 were taken by the culling team
First day of the culling operation was January 27, 2009 the last day an elk was culled was February 19, 2009.
CWD testing has been completed on 11 of the 13 animals culled. Eleven tested CWD not detected two tests are pending.
In addition during the culling operation:
One road kill (one female elk)
Two mountain lion kills that we are aware of (one female and one male elk)
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 19 February 2009 23:34 |
Extensive beetle mitigation work continues at a variety of locations in Rocky Mountain National Park, including Glacier Basin Campground, on the east side of the park. Many trees in the Glacier Basin Campground have been killed by the mountain pine beetle epidemic. However, some pockets of trees have been saved by annual spraying. Removal of dead trees and standing lone trees reduce the risk associated with falling trees.
Glacier Basin Campground sits at 8,500 feet, mainly in a lodgepole forest. Bordered by Glacier Creek with west views to the Continental Divide, the campground is located on the Bear Lake Road. Glacier Basin Campground is normally on the national reservation system, along with Moraine Park Campground. Because there will be fewer sites available this summer at Glacier Basin it has been temporarily taken off the reservation system. It will be first come, first serve this summer. As a result, Aspenglen Campground has been put on the reservation system. Therefore, the two reservation campgrounds for this summer at Rocky Mountain National Park are Moraine Park Campground and Aspenglen Campground.
Rocky Mountain National Park has five front country campgrounds. Due to ongoing beetle mitigation work, there will be fewer overall campsites in the park this year. Group camping that normally takes place at Glacier Basin will only be available through reservation at Moraine Park.
Beetle mitigation work will also continue at Timber Creek Campground. Most trees in Timber Creek Campground have been killed by the mountain pine beetle epidemic. One loop was cleared last summer and reopened in early July. The other three loops continue to be temporarily closed until clearing takes place.
There will be other temporary closures in the park this year pertaining to hazard tree removal and mitigation work for pine beetle. Some backcountry campsites, trailhead parking areas and picnic areas may be temporarily closed for additional hazard tree removal. Permits are required to camp in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park and there are 267 backcountry campsites in the park. Updates on the current status of specific backcountry campsites are available through the park’s backcountry office.
Bark beetles are impacting forests from Canada to Mexico and can be found at elevations from sea level to 11,000 feet. The park is just one
small area where beetles are killing trees. Beetle outbreaks have occurred in the past, but since the park was established in 1915, there has never been an outbreak as large as the one currently occurring. In the park’s backcountry, which comprises about 95% of the park, bark beetle populations fluctuate under natural processes with limited mitigation work occurring around some designated backcountry campsites. In addition, there is no effective means of controlling a large beetle outbreak in such a vast area.
Visitors are always cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and manage risk, particularly during times of high wind. 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, 18 February 2009 15:28 |
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Join local landscape photographer Erik Stensland as he shares his love of nature. Enjoy a visual journey through Rocky Mountain National Park with this award-winning photographer, who has spent years exploring the hidden corners of Rocky capturing unique moments of beauty. Through stories and images he will show you a side of the park that few have seen.
Erik and his wife Joanna settled near Rocky Mountain National Park which enabled Erik to pursue his love of nature through photography. Since then he has been systematically trying to cover all 415 square miles of this amazing national treasure. He frequently rises long before dawn to hike to remote lakes or to high peaks to capture the unparalleled beauty of the park in the warm morning light.
Over the years Erik’s photography has been sold in numerous galleries; been on display in the rotunda of the State Capitol; and shown in prestigious art shows. He has won a number of awards, produced a popular book and has a successful gallery of his photographs in downtown Estes Park.
Having spent nearly 15 years working in post-Communist Europe, his photography reflects the pursuit of vibrant natural colors which were sorely lacking during that period of his life. At the same time, he seeks to reflect something of the Celtic understanding of nature as alive and constantly communicating to us on a deep level. |
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Written by Aaron
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Tuesday, 10 February 2009 14:32 |
The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), is proposing to reconstruct a 5-mile section of Bear
Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is Phase 2 of the project and would complete the reconstruction of the entire road. Phase 1
reconstruction, which extended 4.3 miles from the Park & Ride parking lot to Bear Lake, was completed in 2004. Phase 2 reconstruction would extend from the Bear Lake Road intersection at Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 36) to the Park & Ride parking lot.
An Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for Phase 2 reconstruction that examines four alternatives and the consequences of each
alternative on the natural and human environment. We welcome your comments on this project and the EA. If we receive important new information, or if significant new issues are raised during the public comment period, we will revise the EA. Your comments must be received in writing by close of business on March 6, 2009.
If you have internet access, the preferred method for reviewing the EA and submitting comments is to use the NPS Planning, Environment and Public
Comment (PEPC) website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov
From the home page, use the drop down menu to select Rocky Mountain National Park. A list of current planning projects will be displayed, and
you can select “Bear Lake Road Reconstruction Phase 2.” Review comments can be submitted on the PEPC website. If you do not have internet access, you can request a printed copy of the EA by calling Larry Gamble at (970) 586-1320. You can also submit your written comments to us in other ways:
By mail: Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado 80517
By fax: (970) 586-1397 By Express Delivery: Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 U.S. Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Hand deliver: Rocky Mountain National Park Headquarters, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado |
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Written by Aaron
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Tuesday, 03 February 2009 14:30 |
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Saturday, February 7, 7:00 p.m. “The Art of Seeing Rocky Mountain National Park”
Join artist Jim Disney as he presents “The Art of Seeing Rocky Mountain National Park,” a discussion about finding artistic inspiration in the natural beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park combined with a digital presentation of photographs, paintings & drawings. Jim will discuss what has inspired him to create so many incredible images of the park. Jim has a true love of the park and has been a tireless advocate on a variety of park issues.
Jim began his artistic career in 1963. His paintings and drawings are in collections throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. He has twice served as the Artist in Residence in Rocky Mountain National Park. He has also twice served as the Visual Artist of the Year for Larimer County Park & Open Lands.
Jim served two four-year terms as the Larimer County Commissioner from District III from January 1993, to January 2001. As commissioner he played a principal role in developing, a first of a kind, joint Land Use Code between Larimer County and the Town of Estes Park for the Estes Valley. In 1996, he received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Park Service, in Rocky Mountain National Park, for his work with the federal and state government to achieve a permanent ban on commercial sightseeing flights over the park.
In 2007, he created the White House Christmas tree ornament for Rocky Mountain National Park.
Jim is an avid hiker, backpacker, rock climber and mountaineer. He has climbed over 350 peaks in the western United States, and over 500 ascents in Rocky Mountain National Park, including all 126 named summits. Jim has also climbed all 54 fourteen thousand foot peaks in Colorado. |
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