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High Altitude Adventures

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High Altitude Adventures by late August. Rocky Mountain National Park HIGH COUNTRY HEADLINES Summer 2006 June 18 – August 19 High Altitude Adventures An interesting fact to ponder: Tundra Treasures The temperature drops about 3.5 degrees What you find on the tundra depends Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet you travel largely on how much effort you put forth. A up or 600 miles you travel north. So, as you quick drive will reward you with amazing move from 7,500 feet in town to 11,796 feet landscapes, fields of alpine flowers and at the Alpine Visitor Center, it is much like perhaps a yellow-bellied marmot or two. A driving to the Arctic Circle in an hour! walk on one of the tundra trails will reveal a huge variety of small but vibrant wildflowers alpine avens Walk and maybe a hamster-sized pika or Nearly one-third of Rocky Mountain Driving above treeline gives you a good perfectly camouflaged ptarmigan. Sharp National Park is alpine tundra, the rich and feel for the vastness of the mountains. eyes may spot the elusive big-rooted compact ecosystem that results from However, if you truly want to experience springbeauty or the blur of a long-tailed average temperatures far too low for trees this alpine environment, you must walk weasel darting among the rocks. or humans to survive. Forests stop and through it. Designated trails begin at Rock tundra begins where the average Cut and the Alpine Visitor Center but, with temperature of the warmest month is about care, you can travel across this community 49 degrees Fahrenheit. In Colorado, this of diminutive but hearty plants and animals occurs at between 11,000 and 11,500 feet in all but a few protected areas. Heavily above sea level. used portions of tundra are closed around Forest Canyon Overlook, Rock Cut, Gore The roads through Rocky Mountain Range Overlook, and the Alpine Visitor National Park were among the first to Center. Please respect closures and the permit anyone but the most intrepid to tiny plants struggling to reestablish yellow-bellied marmot experience this wild Rocky Mountain themselves in these areas. The tundra is a frigid, forbidding, windswept ecosystem. Today, there are countless land most of the year. This summer, take opportunities in the park for you to discover the fleeting opportunity to discover the tiny the treasures tucked into the nooks and treasures that thrive in this extreme crannies of this breathtaking landscape. climate. You can see things that most people will never see. You can see what Drive lives in the land above the trees. Two roads in the park lead you into the “land above the trees.” Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved highway in INSIDE: America. Eleven miles of the road stretch walk carefully across tundra out above treeline, topping out at 12,183 2 You Need to Know When you venture out across these open feet above sea level. Visitor Centers—the answer places. landscapes, notice the carpet of tiny plants Also essentials on roads, pets, and filling the spaces between the rocks. Since emergency numbers. the growing season on the tundra is only about 40 days, many of these plants can 3 Survival only grow fractions of an inch every year. Tips for staying alive in a wild place. Learn how to handle altitude, lightning, Keep in mind that a single step into a dehydration, mountain lions and bears. seemingly sturdy group of flowers might destroy decades of growth. Stepping from 4 -6 Ranger-led Programs rock to rock spares these plants the Learn from the experts for free! Walks, damage caused by the hiking boots of over talks, evening programs Old Fall River Road a million visitors per year. 7 Family Trails, Air Quality, Your Fees Old Fall River Road, the predecessor to Improve the Park Trail Ridge Road, is a nine-mile, steeply The park’s most family-friendly trails; Briefs winding, one-way dirt road that intersects on air quality and park improvements. Trail Ridge at Fall River Pass, site of the 8-9 Services, Elk Management Alpine Visitor Center. Eat, ride, shop and learn... all within the park. Also elk management information. Both roads offer stunning views and sweeping vistas of the Rocky Mountains. 10-11 Hiking Trails Be warned, however. A quick trip up to the A selection of 35 of the parks premier tundra from low altitude will leave you trails. breathless. Plan on taking it slow and easy and don’t be surprised when you get 12 Free Shuttle Bus Can’t find a parking place? Catch a ride winded by walking across a parking lot. to your favorite trailhead. alpine forget-me-nots You Need to Know Visitor Centers Park visitor centers are the places to find out what you need to Fall River Visitor Center know. All have knowledgeable staff, printed information on many Open Daily 9-5 topics, and great bookstores stocked with the best books for Features life-sized wildlife finding that perfect trail and learning what makes Rocky Mountain displays, a bookstore, and a such an outstanding national park. Each visitor center has its own discovery room where kids can special features. touch objects and dress up as rangers, Native Americans, Grand Lake Area and pioneers. Kawuneeche Visitor Center Open daily 8-6. Alpine Visitor Center Features free orientation film, Open daily 9-5 exhibits on what to see and do (weather permitting). in the park, bookstore, Features extraordinary views backcountry permits. of alpine tundra, tundra displays, bookstore, adjacent gift shop and snack bar. Call Holzwarth Historic Site 586-1206 for road information. 1920’s dude ranch buildings are open daily 10-4. Educational trail guide and Moraine Park Museum staff available. Open daily 9-5. Interactive exhibits on the past and present landscape, Estes Park Area bookstore, nature trail with brochure, historic building. Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Open 8-8 M,Tu,W, 8-9 Th-Su. Features free orientation film, Sheep Lakes ©Jack Dinsmoor bookstore, large 3-D park Information Station map, backcountry permits in Open daily 8:30-4. adjacent building. Good wildlife viewing area in Horseshoe Park. Stay Together! Lost and Found Avoid travelling alone in the backcountry and always stay together Please turn found items in at any park visitor center. To ask as a group. Detailed information regarding your trip itinerary about lost items, call the Backcountry Office at (970) 586-1242. should be left with a responsible person so park authorities can be notified if you fail to return. Safety is your responsibility! Pets Pets are not allowed on park trails or in the backcountry. Park Phone Numbers They are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas and along Call Park Information (970) 586-1206 with your questions. roadsides. Pets must be on a leash (6' or less) and We are available to assist you from 8 to 4:30 daily. attended at all times. Never leave pets unattended in your vehicle. Dial 911 or (970) 586-1203 for emergencies. Fishing Hearing impaired persons may call the TTY at Obtain specific park regulations at visitor centers or park (970) 586-1319 from 8 to 5 daily. entrance stations. To fish in Rocky Mountain National Park, you must have a valid Colorado state fishing license. Park Roads The main park road is the highest in any national park, and park No Firearms or Hunting roads suffer greatly from prolonged winters. Please ask at Hunting and weapons are not allowed in Rocky Mountain entrance stations or visitor centers if there is any major road repair National Park. taking place, as this could occur at any time during the brief Web Sites summer work season. nps.gov/romo/index.html The official Rocky Mountain National Park website - over 800 pages of detailed information. Keep Wildlife Wild rmna.org Never feed wildlife. Rocky Mountain Nature Association - the best source for books, A fine may be issued to maps, and videos of the park. violators. Animals can kick, bite or gore you. They can become dependent on human This Park Paper food and lose the ability to feed naturally. Wildlife also carry High Country Headlines is produced by the staff diseases which can be of Rocky Mountain National Park in cooperation transmitted to humans, like with–and with funding provided by–the Rocky rabies and plague. Photograph Mountain Nature Association. animals from the roadside. Designed and edited by Peter Allen 2 High Country Survival High Elevation Mountain Lions and Bears Nearly half of visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park experience Mountain lions and black some symptoms of altitude sickness. These range from headache bears are powerful and and dizziness to nausea and unconsciousness. Rocky Mountain potentially dangerous. has the highest average elevations of any national park; even the Some general guidelines for main road climbs higher than most U.S. mountains, to 12,183’! traveling in backcountry areas High altitude can also aggravate medical conditions such as heart of Rocky Mountain which may and lung diseases. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go contain these animals: down in elevation. Lightning 1) Travel in Groups and make noise as you hike. Keep your People are killed by lightning group, especially children, close together. every year in Colorado. 2) Do Not Approach a mountain lion or bear. Afternoon storms are frequent 3) Stay Calm when you see a mountain lion or bear. and can bring an unhappy end 4) Stop; back away slowly. Never turn your back and run. to a hike. Watch for 5) Stand Tall and Look Large. Raise your arms. Protect small approaching storms and be children by picking them up.
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