Winter 2011 $2.00 QUARTERLY

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURE ASSOCIATION Winter 2011 $2.00 QUARTERLY BEST KEPT SECRETS and spiders, grizzly bears and glaciers are by C.W. Buchholtz revealed for all to see. “He who knows the most, he who While the fields of both science and knows what sweets and virtues are in communication have grown more the ground, the waters, the plants, the sophisticated, the question remains heavens, and how to come at these whether today’s readers appreciate enchantments, is the rich and royal Emerson’s use of the term man,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson in “enchantments.” Personally, I applaud his his essay, Nature. use of that catchy word. “Enchantment” Still worth pondering, Emerson’s carries with it a connection to the thoughts echo through time. Today, not magical—sometimes difficult to many people would disagree with comprehend, hardly scientific in the efforts to understand the workings of modern sense. Quite the opposite, to be the natural world. Since Emerson’s day enchanted introduces allied concepts like (Nature was published in 1836), several fascination, captivation, bewitchings, or generations worth of research by spells. Such terms suggest that the biologists, ecologists, geologists, and a studious objectivity attributed to science is host of similar scholars have easily paired with subjective concepts like enlightened the world about nature, its charm or pleasure. contents and mysteries. Just bouncing around these ideas What Emerson could hardly have served as a prelude to my meeting last imagined, however, were the expanded summer with some “rich and royal” dimensions of art and communication, people. As readers may recall, in light of specifically in publishing, photography, the national recession, last year we began film, video and computers, all enabling a luncheon series called “Brown Bag ordinary citizens to learn more about Lunch with Curt.” It developed into a nature and natural phenomena. Now, pleasant opportunity to chat with friends. anyone with a television or access to the Unlike conventional rich or royal folk, Internet can explore—albeit vicariously everyone attending brought their own — a world of natural wonders virtually snacks. Each session hosted a surprise unknown just a short time ago. Here, guest speaker. Each session had a slightly the secret lives of bees and birds, snakes (Secrets, continued on page 2 ) 2 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly (Secrets, continued) J.C. was more specific, identifying hike here almost all year around.” Upper Beaver Meadows as his own Perhaps his comment caused G.F. to say, different theme, with a dozen people favorite place. B.S., with the mind of a “Boulder Creek,” and not much attending on average. scientist and the heart of a philosopher, explanation was needed. Everyone agreed Over the course of two summers, said the Best Kept Secret was the it was lesser-known and assumed it was these luncheons taught me a few lessons combination of climate and scenery found his favorite trail. about what impressed people about the here. That comment triggered a brief, but “Hikes to lakes,” was H.F.’s Best Kept park. The wealth of people’s experiences friendly, debate about wind and wintertime Secret, although he confessed that maybe in Rocky Mountain National Park could in the Rockies. too many people already knew that secret. be measured in decades, if not lifetimes. Sounding much like an artist, E.S. Everyone chuckled. “Wintertime Using Emerson’s terms, I was among “He said simply, “Early morning clouds.” activities,” said R.P. rather quickly, “Like who knows the most, he who knows what Building on his spouse’s theme, G.S. cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.” sweets and virtues are in the ground…” added “Alpine glow.” “Birds,” said V.P., “and especially For the most part, these participants were As the conversation moved around the hummingbirds. I think they’re secretive not scientists. Rather, these were people circle, our group’s Best Kept Secrets grew and not many people look for them.” B.K. who loved the park and were unafraid to larger in scope. “The tundra,” said S.K. added, “Along with the subalpine forests, speak from the heart. Just for fun, at one Nearby sat K.K., pensive at first, but then with all its flowers and wildlife.” luncheon we asked: “What is the Best adding, “The sky.” That comment might Each outpouring of Secrets came with Kept Secret about Rocky Mountain have sparked T.A.’s effusive observation, explanation, not just the phrases I’ve National Park?” “The Park is one big scene that constantly recalled. Those ideals reveal more than Here you must forgive me, dear changes.” S.P. acknowledged her mere imagination. For what this group reader, for I neither took copious notes, affection for the night sky, saying, “The was exploring were the realms of nor obtained permission to quote anyone stars.” enchantment. Here were minds with a publicly. So I must resort to a nineteenth “I know this isn’t really much of a wealth of experience, voicing wit and century literary trick, using initials, upon secret,” smiled S.S., straying from the affection, attachment and emotion. Here which I’ll base the credibility of this rules of the game, “but I think Alberta were people enriched by nature—they report. Here were their Best Kept Secrets: Falls is pretty special. So are all the themselves a Best Kept Secret – a part of A.M.B. believed that “Sunsets on trails.” Everyone agreed. Rocky Mountain National Park that Trail Ridge Road” were little known and M.C. turned the focus to “Wildlife.” scientific research has largely ignored. underappreciated, especially when “This park is just perfect for wildlife “The difference between landscape compared to the way sunset-watching has sightings,” he explained, with others and landscape is small,” said Emerson, become an evening ritual at the Grand chiming in, offering quick comments “but there is great difference in the Canyon. about moose and beaver. beholders.” Another specific place was named by J.K., Curt Buchholtz is the Executive “This is not exactly secret either,” he said, Director of the Rocky Mountain Nature Association. “but Endovalley Picnic Area is a very beautiful place and not that many people know about it.” Rocky Mountain’s were much “Winter trails!” said J.F., adding, more spectacular, she claimed. K.L. was “People just don’t know that you can less verbose, telling of “Rainbows seen after a shower’s passing.” A.C. said the Best Kept Secret was “the untold number of scenes to paint.” Photo: Dean Martinson Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 3 New RMNA Publication: Ask Nancy [RMNA Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson will attempt to Guide to Trail unearth answers to any questions asked by RMNA Ridge Road members and park visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the park, write: Nancy Wilson, Brings Depth to RMNA, PO Box 3100, Estes Park, CO 80517. Or email her at [email protected] ] Park’s Scenic What is the current status of mountain lion in the park and is there any research being conducted? No mountain lion research Highway is being conducted specific to Rocky, but a large-scale project is being conducted along the Front Range by Mat Aldredge of the We are pleased to promote one of the newest Colorado Division of Wildlife (http://wildlife.state.co.us/Research/ publications of the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, Mammal) which should provide valuable information on how the Guide to Trail Ridge Road. mountain lions and humans interact, and how we can ensure those The new $2.00 road guide was developed interactions minimize risks to both Puma concolor and Homo sapiens. It’s likely (Ask Nancy: Mountain Lion continued on p. 5) cooperatively with national park staff to update and expand the .50 cent brochure that has been available in With all the fatalities that occurred on Longs Peak this past RMNA bookstores for more than 20 years. summer, does the park have any plans to address this concern, and if so, what are they? Per National Park Service Policy, Originally written by Chief Park Naturalist Glenn RMNP is required to convene a “Board of Review” after each Kaye, this self-guided tour visits 12 marked stops along visitor fatality. The primary purpose of the Board is to examine Trail Ridge Road, North America’s highest continuous and evaluate all of the available facts relating to the accident to paved road and one of the most popular features of the determine causal factors contributing to the mishap and to park. recommend actions (e.g. policies, procedures) to prevent recurrences. Usually, there is little if anything the NPS can do to This 24-page booklet now features expanded prevent recurrences, as most fatalities are accidents that involve information highlighting the four ecosystems the road circumstances and/or individual decisions over which we have no travels through, in addition to other sites and areas of control. While looking for “correctable opportunities,” however, interest along the way. More than 75 stunning images of we often focus on the safety information that we currently provide wildlife, wildflowers and scenery illustrate the text, many to the public. For example, we offer information on hazards and suggested mitigations on trailhead bulletin boards, in the park of which were donated by RMNA Members and RMNA newspaper, in the RMNA Guide, via our new podcast on climbing supporters. Informative sidebars also provide answers to the Keyhole route, on (Ask Nancy: Longs Peak continued on p. 11) many of the questions travelers frequently ask park I understand that the combination of blister rust and mountain rangers. bark beetle are threats to limber pine in Rocky.

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