Rocky Mountain National Park Official Newspaper
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Rocky Mountain NATIONAL PARK The Official Newspaper and Trip Planner of Rocky Mountain National Park 2018–2019 Winter | November 4, 2018–March 17, 2019 Sunrise at Chasm Lake. NPS PHOTO / CRYSTAL BRINDLE NPS PHOTO / CRYSTAL BRINDLE Contact Us Help Us Protect Your Park Trail Ridge Road Status Set aside more than 100 years ago, • Be kind to fellow visitors and 970 586-1222 Rocky Mountain National Park park staff. has been entrusted to your care. As Rocky continues to grow in Hidden Valley Snowplay Status Please take pride in your park and popularity, crowded roads, packed 970 586-1333 treat it with respect! Generations parking lots, and lines at restrooms of future visitors will thank you. and visitor centers are becoming Park Information more common. This can be frus- 970 586-1206 How can you help protect Rocky? trating, but please be patient. We’re TTY • Read and follow important safety all here to enjoy Rocky’s splendor. 970 586-1319 information on page 2, then take • Plan ahead for your next visit, the Rocky Pledge. whether tomorrow or in a decade. Emergencies Our rules and regulations weren’t Planning ahead can help you avoid 911 invented to ruin anyone’s fun—they the not-so-fun stuff so that you have PLEDGE were created to keep you safe and to more time and energy to enjoy the to website nps.gov/romo/ keep your park beautiful. Read and totally-fun stuff. For details, vis- instagram @RockyNPS #RMNP take heed! it our website at nps.gov/romo/. PROTECT facebook.com/RockyNPS Rocky Mountain National Park twitter @RockyNPS #rockypledge youtube.com/user/RockyNPS Things to Do in a Day or Less Take a Scenic Drive Get Into Winter Watch Wildlife Hike a Trail See Visitor Centers Join a Ranger PAGE 4 PAGE 8 PAGE 9 PAGE 10 PROGRAM GUIDE PROGRAM GUIDE Driving Rocky’s roads is In winter, ice and snow Rocky is home to many Rocky has trails for every Visitor centers are a Year-round, Rocky offers a great way to explore the transform the park and animals, big and small. age and ability. Find a great way to explore the ranger-led programs on park. Learn more about offer new experiences. While we’re unable to tell trail, check your packing park’s wonders. See your a variety of awesome our roads and famous Check out our winter you exactly where wild- list against our recom- program guide for open- topics. Check out our drives, including times activity guide to get a bet- life will be (they are wild, mended items, and learn ing and closing dates and program guide to find the of the year when some ter sense of what’s open, after all!), we have a great where you can get even times and general descrip- perfect program for you major roads are closed to what’s closed, and how guide inside to help you more in-depth info. tions. and yours. motorized traffic. you can enjoy the season. learn more. It is your responsibility to be safe and to know and obey Safety park rules. You can find park safety information, rules, and regulations at visitor centers, entrance stations, trailhead bulletin boards, and the park website at nps.gov/romo. The Rocky Pledge “To preserve unimpaired for this and future generations the beauty, history, and wildness therein, I pledge to protect Rocky Mountain National Park.” • To prevent fire scars and human-caused • To respect history, heritage, and natural fires,I pledge to never build a fire outside processes, I pledge to remove nothing of a campground or picnic area fire ring. from the park except my own and others’ • To protect plants, meadows, and alpine tun- trash—not even a flower. I will leave no dra, I pledge to park and drive only on des- trace of my visit so that the next person ignated asphalt or gravel parking areas. can experience the same beauty as I did. • To respect other visitors’ experiences, if • To keep my pet, wildlife, and other visitors I need to go but am not near a restroom, I safe, I pledge to keep my leashed pet only on pledge to leave no trace by stepping well roads, in campgrounds, and in picnic and away from the trail and water sourc- parking areas. I will never take my dog on es, burying my waste at least six inch- Rocky’s trails, meadows, or tundra areas. es deep or packing it out in a waste bag, • To preserve them for the enjoyment, educa- and carrying out my toilet paper. tion, and inspiration of this and future genera- • To respect Rocky’s wild creatures and to PLEDGE tions, I pledge to honor, respect, and protect protect myself, I pledge to watch wild- to all our national parks and public lands. life from a distance that doesn’t dis- turb them in any way. I will never feed PROTECT an animal—doing so causes it harm. Rocky Mountain National Park #rockypledge Altitude Sickness affects many Falling Trees are an ever-present Pets are prohibited on ALL park visitors every year. Symptoms hazard and can fall without warning. trails, tundra, and meadow areas. KEEP WILDLIFE WILD include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, Be extra careful around dead trees Leashed pets are only allowed in picnic areas, Never feed or vomiting, and in acute situations, even uncon‑ when it’s windy or following a snowstorm. parking lots, campgrounds, and along roadsides. approach wildlife sciousness. Altitude can also aggravate preexist‑ Never leave pets in vehicles if it puts them in ing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take Firearm Possession in the park is danger or they become a public nuisance. When Many amazing animals call Rocky home. To your time, drink plenty of water, eat lightly, and permitted for those legally authorized outside vehicles, pets must be on leashes no keep them and you safe and comfortable: rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go to possess firearms under federal, Colorado, or longer than six feet. Service animals that have • Obey wildlife closure areas and down to a lower altitude. local laws. However, hunting, recreational been individually trained to perform specific “no stopping” traffic zones. shooting, and target practice are illegal. Federal tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities • Use parking areas along the road. Avalanches can be easily triggered law prohibits firearms in park buildings and are allowed in the park. Emotional support If not available, pull your vehicle by backcountry travelers. The park facilities. Those legally allowed to carry firearms (“therapy animals”) and service-ani- completely off the road and does not do any avalanche control. must comply with all applicable state and federal mals-in-training are not service animals under do not park on vegetation. Never assume trails are free of avalanche hazard. firearm laws. the Americans with Disabilities Act and may not • Keep a safe distance. If you cause an Wear an electronic transceiver when traversing access trails or other non‑motorized areas. animal to move or change behavior, avalanche terrain, and avoid skiing or snowshoe‑ Fishing requires a Colorado state you are too close! Approaching an ing in steep gullies. If caught in an avalanche, fishing license. Trout in the park include Purify all water from rivers, lakes, animal puts you at risk and may cause make swimming motions and try to stay on top brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat and streams before drinking. Park it stress, leading to disease and illness. of the snow. For current conditions, visit (including the protected Colorado River and waters may contain parasites like giardia and avalanche.state.co.us, check at a visitor greenback). Not all park lakes have reproducing cryptosporidium. • Never feed wildlife, including birds and center, or call 970 586‑1206. fish populations. For more information, chipmunks. visit go.nps.gov/RockyFishing. Rivers and Streams can be deadly. Bicycles are prohibited on trails. They Park waters are frigid. Powerful currents Bears and Mountain Lions are permitted on all roads open to Hypothermia can happen any can knock you over and pull you downstream or Seeing a bear or mountain lion is motor vehicles, paved and dirt, unless time of year. Watch for drowsiness, underwater, where you may become trapped. rare, and interactions are even more rare. otherwise posted. There are no designated impaired judgment, excessive shivering, Streamside rocks are often slippery, and nearby However, keep the following in mind: bicycle lanes in the park. Roads are narrow with and slurred speech. To prevent, wear insulated, water may be deep. Always closely supervise • Travel in groups and make noise as you few or no shoulders—ride with care. By law, you wind‑proof layers and drink plenty of fluids. children around all water but especially near hike closely together. Keep children must ride single file. Shuttle buses do not accept rivers and streams. close! A predator does not distinguish bicycles. Visit go.nps.gov/RockyBicycling. Lightning regularly strikes in a running child from running prey. Rocky. There is no safe place in the Take only pictures. It is illegal to • If you see a bear or mountain lion, Campfires are permitted only in backcountry when lightning strikes. take any natural features including stop, stay calm, and back away campgrounds and picnic areas with fire Check the forecast before heading out. Watch pinecones, rocks, antlers, and artifacts or to slowly. Never approach wildlife or grates. During high fire danger, for building storm clouds. Plan activities so you disturb soil, rocks, or vegetation (including turn your back and run. Stand tall and campfires may be prohibited.