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Rocky Mountain National Park Newspaper

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Rocky Mountain National Park Newspaper Inside This Issue Join the Celebration @Rockynps • Important Info This year marks one hundred years since Find us on your favorite social media platform • Staying Safe Rocky was established. See the special insert to join in on special events, photos, videos, and • Centennial Information to learn about 100 years of Wilderness, more! • Ranger-led Programs Wildlife, and Wonder, and the events • Fun Things to Do: Hiking, planned to celebrate the centennial birthday. Camping and More! #rmnp Rocky National Park Service Mountain U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper National of Rocky Mountain National Park Park Park News Summer 2015 June 14, 2015 – September 7, 2015 1st Edition A Year of Celebration Many things happened in 1915. through which to filter the world. Some World War I was in full swing. The have a memory of a snow-covered House of Representatives rejected a peak or a day on the trail to think back proposal to give women the right to on fondly. Others will never set foot vote. The Kiwanis Club was founded. inside Rocky Mountain National Park's Pluto was photographed for the first boundaries yet find great joy in simply time. The Lusitania was sunk, and Billie knowing that it exists. Holiday and Frank Sinatra were born. The celebration of Rocky Mountain The first transcontinental phone call National Park's 100th Anniversary is was made. Ford manufactured its one- for everyone. It is a reminder of all that millionth Model T, and Albert Einstein has happened here. It is a celebration formulated the theory of relativity. of the connections that people have On January 26th, Rocky Mountain made with this place, the things that live National Park was established. here, and those who work diligently to protect it. This celebration is a challenge A lot of history has passed between to us to refresh the values that Rocky 1915 and today. A lot of things Mountain National Park embodies as Never Summer Mountains NPS/Ann Schonlau have changed—music, science, we progress into the next 100 years. It manufacturing, technology, politics. But is a renewal of the vow that was made some things haven’t. to protect this place, so that it can Free Park Movie Rocky Mountain National Park is continue to shelter us and those who still here. After 100 years, despite all come after us. In celebration of Rocky's Centennial, Beaver Meadows has Assisted the history, all the change, and all the You will do many things in 2015. this year both the stunning 23-minute Listening Devices for audio progress, Rocky Mountain National Let the 100th Anniversary of Rocky park movie Spirit of the Mountains, and description and amplification and Park is still important to people. Our Mountain National Park be one that new inspirational 25-minute Centennial induction loops for people with need for mountains and wild places, you remember. film Wilderness, Wildlife, Wonder, are hearing aids. Both visitor centers have beauty and escape is just as strong today shown in Beaver Meadows Visitor a captioned version of the park film. as it was 100 years ago, if not more so. We invite you to join us for the Center and Kawuneeche Visitor Center Beaver Meadows has the park film en celebration. Read on to find out about Some visitors seek out the high country through September. Español. All park visitor centers are the many ways you can get involved! on a regular basis, using it as a portal accessible. Visitor Centers EAST SIDE Near Estes Park WEST SIDE Near Grand Lake Alpine Visitor Center Kawuneeche Visitor Center Open daily (weather permitting) 9 am–5 pm. This highest visitor center in the Open daily 8 am–6 pm on U.S. Hwy. 34 National Park Service is on Trail Ridge Road at 11,796 feet. Extraordinary alpine north of Grand Lake. Park information tundra views, displays, information, a bookstore, an adjacent gift shop and cafe. and maps, free park movie and new Call (970) 586-1222 for Trail Ridge Road status. Centennial movie, exhibits on how to plan your visit, bookstore, and Beaver Meadows Visitor Center backcountry camping permits. Open daily 8 am–6 pm. Near the Beaver Meadows Entrance on U.S. Hwy. 36 west of Estes Park. Park information, bookstore, and two free park movies (see above). Backcountry camping permits are available by following the trail just Park Phone Numbers east of the visitor center to the Backcountry Office. Park Information Fall River Visitor Center (970) 586-1206 Open daily 9 am–5 pm. Near the Fall River Entrance on U.S. Hwy. 34 west of Trail Ridge Road Estes Park. Features life-sized wildlife displays, a book store and the new Arts Status Alive Activity Center and Centennial Art Exhibit. All ages are invited to the (970) 586-1222 park’s drop-in studio for creating your own art starting June 15. Moraine Park Discovery Center TTY for deaf, hard Open daily 9 am–4:30 pm. Located along Bear Lake Road. Interactive exhibits, a of hearing, speech nature trail offering great views of Moraine Park, family friendly activities and a impaired bookstore. (970) 586-1319 Sheep Lakes Information Station Starting May 16, open daily (weather permitting) 9 am–4:30 pm. In Horseshoe Dial 911 to report Park on U.S. Hwy. 34 west of Estes Park. Info and ranger programs. Horseshoe Alpine Visitor Center Plaza Emergencies Park is a good place to look for wildlife, including bighorn sheep and elk. NPS/Peter Biddle Stay Safe You Are Responsible It is your responsibility to be safe and to know and obey park rules. Park safety information, rules, and regulations can be found at visitor centers, entrance stations, on trailhead bulletin boards, and on the park website at www.nps.gov/romo. Altitude Sickness Cell Service Undependable Lightning Rivers and Streams Each year a number of visitors Don’t depend on a cell phone for Lightning can occur daily during the Rivers and streams can be deadly. experience symptoms of altitude emergency help, as many locations in summer season. Before heading out During spring runoff, waterways sickness, including headaches, nausea, this rugged park have no cell service. check a weather forecast. Be observant swell with melting snow from higher fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and in and watch for building storm clouds, elevations. Beside being frigid, the acute situations, even unconsciousness. Falling Trees which are the first sign of a developing water can be swift and strong. Powerful High altitude can also aggrivate Falling trees are an ever-present thunderstorm. Plan your activities so currents can knock a person over preexisting medical conditions such as hazard and can fall without warning. you can return to your car quickly and quickly pull them downstream or heart and lung diseases. Take your time Be particularly watchful around dead if a thunderstorm occurs. When underwater, where they may become and be sure to drink plenty of water, trees when it's windy or following a planning a hiking trip, plan to be back trapped. Rocks at streamside are often eat lightly, and get lots of rest. The only snowstorm when branches are heavy to the trailhead before noon. If you slippery, and the water nearby may cure for altitude sickness is to go down with snow. hear thunder, return to the trailhead be deep. Always closely supervise to a lower elevation. immediately. children around any body of water but particularly near rivers and streams. Firearms Remember there is no safe place in the Backcountry Travel backcountry when lightning strikes. Firearm possession in Rocky Mountain Take Only Pictures Avoid traveling alone in the National Park is permitted for those Marijuana Regulations prohibit taking any backcountry. Leave detailed who are legally authorized to possess Although small amounts of recreational natural features including pinecones, information about your trip itinerary firearms under federal, Colorado, marijuana are legal in Colorado, rocks, antlers, artifacts, or disturbing with a friend so park authorities can be or local laws. However, hunting, possession and use of marijuana soil, rocks, or vegetation—including notified if you fail to return. recreational shooting, and target continue to be illegal in Rocky flowers—in the park. Use of metal practice are illegal. Because weather in Rocky can be so Mountain National Park and all federal detectors is prohibited. changeable and conditions variable, Federal law prohibits firearms in park lands. hikers and climbers need to remain buildings and facilities. Those legally flexible. Be prepared to turn around if Pets Wildlife Encounters: Bears and allowed to carry firearms must comply Mountain Lions conditions are more difficult than with all applicable state and federal PETS ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL Seeing a bear or mountain lion is anticipated. Longs Peak, a popular firearm laws. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL climb in the park, has unavoidable and PARK TRAILS, TUNDRA, AND uncommon, and interactions are even treacherous ice and snow and usually MEADOW AREAS. For the safety of more uncommon. But it's best to keep remains that way until mid-summer. Fishing your pet and the benefit of park wildlife the following in mind: Several species of trout are found in the Travel in groups and make noise Camping is only allowed in designated and other visitors, leashed pets are only park, including brown, brook, rainbow, as you hike closely together. Keep sites and areas (see page 9). allowed in picnic areas, parking lots, and cutthroat (including the protected campgrounds, and along roadsides. children close! A predator does not Colorado River and greenback). distinguish a running child from Pets should never be left unattended Bicycles Not all park lakes have reproducing running prey.
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