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Written by DeeCeeM
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Tuesday, 22 September 2009 10:19 |
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Fire managers from Rocky Mountain National Park plan to take advantage of any upcoming wet or winter weather conditions to burn piles of slash from several forest thinning and hazard tree mitigation projects. Exclusion of fire for the past century has resulted in unnatural forest conditions in some areas, with significant accumulations of forest fuels and an increased risk of a wildfire. In addition, park crews have been cutting hazard trees for mitigation of the effects of beetles. Slash from these projects has been cut and piled by park fire crews and contractors during the last two years. Pile burning operations may began as early as September 25 and continue through April as weather permits. The piles, which are now dry enough to burn, are located in a variety of locations on both the east and west sides of the park. Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality and environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation. For more information please contact the park’s information office at 970-586-1206. |
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Written by DeeCeeM
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Tuesday, 15 September 2009 13:56 |
Rocky Mountain National Park will host the second annual Mycoblitz on Friday and Saturday, September 18 and 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is a collaborative effort with the Colorado Mycological Society to survey the park’s fungal distribution. Last year was the first ever mycoblitz survey and about 90 participants were involved. The survey last year significantly increased the known number of mushrooms that grow in the park. There were 280 collections of approximately 200 distinct species.
This year’s quick biodiversity assessment is designed to sample fungi from habitats throughout the park at a different time of the year to help expand our understanding of fungal distribution and biodiversity. Last year the collection took place on August 23 and 24. Rocky Mountain National Park is typical of most national parks with a good inventory of its animals and flowering plants, but with little knowledge of its fungal biota. The goal of the Fungal Foray is to address this need and produce a useful database for ecologists and park managers while making basic knowledge of the region’s fungi publicly accessible. Park staff and volunteers will participate in the study with experts from the Colorado Mycological Society.
Those participating will be targeting only macrofungi (i.e., those that produce macroscopic fruiting structures such as mushrooms). Identifications of the collections will be done in two steps; 1) sorting into major groups, and identification of the most common and easily recognized species and 2) more careful scrutiny of the specimens in a lab where microscopes and reference books will be available.
Fungi are important components of the park’s environment. They are the primary recyclers of wood and other lignified plant material; they are typically the most abundant and important group of plant pathogens; they form mutualistic interactions with most plants; they are crucial components in soil food webs; they associate with insects in a huge diversity of symbiotic interactions.
Macrofungi are a group of organisms that inspires much interest from the public for their unusual and diverse forms. However, park staff remind visitors that collecting fungi, and other items from the park, is not allowed without a research permit. Mushroom collecting for personal consumption is not allowed within the park. |
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Written by Aaron
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Friday, 11 September 2009 18:15 |
A body of an unidentified male was found below the False Keyhole this morning at 10:15 a.m. by an off duty park employee. It appears that his fatal injuries were a result of a significant fall on the north side of Longs Peak.
Rangers are investigating the incident and working with the Boulder County Coroner to identify the man. His body was flown from the Boulderfield at 4:30 p.m.
Last night park staff were notified of an overdue party. John Bramley, a 55-year-old man from Littleton, Colorado, had not returned from his hike to Longs Peak on Thursday, September 10. This morning, September 11, 2009, a search began. It has not yet been determined if the two incidents are related.
The Boulder County Coroner’s office will confirm the identification of the man and determine cause of death. |
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Written by DeeCeeM
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Wednesday, 09 September 2009 14:15 |
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A number of projects are underway or soon to begin in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park staff will utilize a helicopter, beginning next week, for four of these projects. These projects include:
- Transporting a mini-excavator into and out of the Lulu City wetlands to dig between 50 and 100 soil pits to assess the depth and particle sizes of sediments deposited by the 2003 Grand Ditch Breach
- Importing trail tread material to the North Inlet Trail above treeline to finish a multi-year effort to reconstruct the trail from the July backcountry campsite area to near the Flattop Mountain Junction
- Transporting materials to replace a bridge on the Little Yellowstone Trail
- Demobilizing from the reconstruction of the patrol cabin near Chasm Lake that was destroyed by an avalanche in 2003
No trails will be closed during these projects. While the helicopter is flying over work areas, park staff may temporarily delay hikers. The Colorado River Trailhead parking area will be closed for two days during the Lulu City project for staging of materials. This project will likely occur on September 14 and September 15, weather and resources permitting. The Timber Lake Trailhead parking area across the road will remain open.
Hazard tree mitigation will take place near the North Inlet Trailhead the week of September 14. During the project the access road to the North Inlet Trail as well as the lower and upper parking areas will be closed. Temporary work stoppages can occur, on occasion, to allow hikers through. However, vehicles will not be allowed.
The Alpine Ridge Trail, commonly referred to as Huffer Hill, across from the Alpine Visitor Center, is closed through next year for major reconstruction. By removing the old trail structure this fall, trail crews can get a head start on the reconstruction for next summer. This popular trail climbs over 200 feet, has steep grades, and provides incredible views. The condition of the trail has significantly deteriorated resulting in erosion around the log steps and unlevel stepping surfaces, contributing to safety concerns and resource impacts to the tundra.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 15:14 |
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Written by DeeCeeM
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Saturday, 05 September 2009 07:16 |
At 12:30 p.m. today, September 4, 2009, a 62-year-old woman from Boulder, Colorado, fell between 25 to 50 feet on the Fern Lake Trail near
Odessa Lake, landing in a creek. Other hikers contacted park dispatch by cell phone about the incident around 1:00 p.m. but it was unclear from
initial cell phone calls as to where the incident occurred and the extent of injuries. A hasty team of two rangers left the Fern Lake Trailhead at
1:56 p.m. The hasty team traveled roughly 5.5 miles reaching the patient near Odessa Lake at 3:41 p.m. It is unclear how long the victim was in
the water. As more calls came in the location was determined and other rangers were dispatched from the Bear Lake Trailhead to the location,
roughly 3.5 miles. Upon the initial rangers’ arrival the victim was hypothermic and her level of consciousness had decreased. Other rangers began to arrive on scene. CPR was initiated and performed at 4:56 p.m. for over an hour. Cardiac medications were administered and an Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) was used. She was pronounced dead at 5:56 p.m. The body recovery is ongoing and next of kin are being contacted. She was
hiking with a friend. The Larimer County Coroner’s office will determine cause of death. Twenty-two people were involved in the field, including a team from Larimer County Search and Rescue. |
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