ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURE ASSOCIATION Winter 2013 $4.00 QUARTERLY

CONNECTING TO ROCKY from Longs, for example. But not to fuss by Alex Drummond right about now. There is a combination, Hiking with friends the other day in maybe more than one, of four chosen views the Sawatch Range near Monarch Pass that can span the state – a geographic tidbit we climbed to a ridge above treeline I find fascinating. And since the peaks and were amazed to see that we could aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, each see Pikes Peak 70-plus miles to the east of you readers can work on a solution as and the same distance to Mt. you drive, bike or hoof your way around Uncompahgre in western Colorado’s Colorado’s high country. Homework San Juan range. The full east-west assignment number one. view spanned about 145 miles. Next subject: wouldn’t it be fun to Not bad, I thought, considering that shade in on a map the full viewing for a six-foot person standing on a circumference of just Longs Peak, or let’s beach the ocean surface curves out of say, any bit of any terrain within Rocky? view in fewer than ten miles. I Wherever you can see the slightest smidge remembered, and explained to my of peak or ridge that you know is within friends, that I’d once determined— the park, you plot your viewing point on a through actual viewing—that with four map. You’re at a roadside produce stand linked vistas one could see all the way east of Greeley, for example, and your across Colorado. I couldn’t remember gaze wanders west and up. The produce exactly which peaks gave the connected person holding out your bag of beets, link; was it the Snowy Range in jiggling it for you to take, says “Whatcha Wyoming to Longs Peak, Longs to starin’ at?” “I’m looking at Rocky, my Pikes Peak, Pikes to Uncompahgre, and favorite national park,” you can answer, as west into Utah’s Abajo Range? Or is you turn back to your purchase. The same one of the mid-state fourteeners, Grays process applies to miles and miles up and Peak, Mt. Elbert or Snowmass down I-25, all those Front Range towns Mountain, part of the link? Or perhaps strung north to south and crowding west it was Mt. Blanca and the Spanish to the foothills, where the view starts to Peaks farther south, with views into get spotty, including much of Denver and New Mexico? its suburbs, and many places farther east. I can’t remember for sure and I It gets decidedly more complicated as obviously need to recheck details. Mt. you start looking for bits of the park Meeker might block a view of Pikes sticking up as you travel through the

(Overlook, continued on page 2 ) 2 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly

(Connections, continued) or to a friend groaning under $4-a-gallon Imperial Valley, along a bunch of canals, gas prices and maybe they’ll say how nice finally into the Colorado River proper, up mountains. You get windows, peepholes it would be just to hitch a ride on the back rapids with some big leaps over some and unexpected glimpses of a summit in of a crow. Crows who know how to get dams, over flat water across some huge Rocky showing through a gap in a ridge, or places, anyway. Then you can enjoy a lakes, more rapids, canyons and a sudden complete vista as you round a good chuckle wondering why the path a mountains. Water for 1,450 miles brought bend in your car. For every place you see a crow flies is a called a beeline rather than me right here to Rocky, with my final bit of Rocky you mark the site on a map a crowline. thrash a tough one up Timber Creek.” when you get back home. That’s homework But how about raising the ante and The guy in the car lines the two assignment number two. Now let’s imagine imagining getting to Rocky via water boaters up, snaps a picture, and has it all getting together over a big table and connections – and from anywhere, not just posted on Facebook before either one can coloring in Rocky’s total viewing area on a places where bits of the park stick up over take a swig from his canteen. “Daddy, single map—the large solid fan to the east ridges or horizons. Fancy some onlookers can you really paddle here from two and the dots and corridors punctuating the in New Orleans watching you putting on a different oceans?” the guy’s kid asks. mountain areas. And let’s agree in advance: wet suit at a riverside dock and climbing “There’s water all the way,” he says. the result will be impressive. into a kayak. “Where you off to?” they “The rest is equal parts muscle and What if the view from each of those ask. “To Rocky Mountain National Park,” imagination.” Hmm, perhaps he’s wiser places you discover makes you suddenly you answer. “You know, Colorado.” than he first let on. want to drop everything and go there? “Yeah, right,” they say. But off you And let’s do one final map: a map You’re on top of Mt. of the Holy Cross, paddle, with mythically powerful upstream called “People Who Care about Rocky.” A say, and can’t resist taking off for Longs strokes and dodging those leaping Asian map for national park lovers all over the Peak. Quick-step down the trail to your carp that have been known to bean a world. Start by reading down the list of car at the trailhead, drive via Leadville, person and shouldn’t be there in the first RMNP Fund donors in each issue of this Copper Mountain and I-70 to the Central place. Up the Mississippi to St. Louis, up Quarterly newsletter: people in Michigan, City turnoff and along miles of curvy the Missouri to Omaha, along the Platte all Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Texas, Peak-to-Peak highway to the Longs Peak the way across Nebraska and into New York, Minnesota, Tennessee, Florida, trailhead; you park, don your hiking boots Colorado, branching near Greeley into the Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nebraska, New again, and you’re off for the Boulderfield. Poudre or up the Big Thompson, amazed Jersey, and Colorado, Colorado, Colorado, That’s quite a saga and lots of miles. that either choice will take you right into by the dozen. Oregon, Indiana, Quite a bit more of a saga if you decide to Rocky. If you don’t mind paddling uphill. Kentucky... you get it – there are lots of walk all the way, which, mind you, is Let’s say you take the Poudre River. people in every state. Put a colored fully doable. Back home you trace the You end your trip beside Poudre Lake at pushpin for each donor on a map, run a route you took on a map, with the Milner Pass and are lolling with your boat colored thread from each pin to Rocky, distances color-coded for each mode of on the shore as folks driving up and down and BAM! Those maps of flight routes in travel, including the line of sight. Map’s Trail Ridge, waving, some stopping. the pouch by your airline tray table pale title: “All Routes Lead to Rocky.” “Where’d ya paddle from?” a guy asks. by comparison. It’s a great map to see the One thing will be dramatically “From New Orleans,” you say. And world full of people who love this place, apparent: seeing something and getting instead of snorting, “Yeah, right,” he who want to see it thrive and are willing there can be two very different things. actually sticks out his hand for a shake. to pitch in to help. Now, that’s geography Figure out the line-of-sight distances and Less, maybe, for your achievement than plus humanity, which goes clear back to you’ll be astonished how short they are for Rocky itself. “I always knew this park the national parks’ founding vision. compared to land-surface distances. That’s was a special place,” he says. “Water all the nature of mountains, of course. Longs the way from New Orleans to here!” Just A former science writer and an avid outdoor Peak to Mt. Evans, is only 45 air miles; by then, another guy in wet suit comes over person, Alex Drummond led the first crossing of road it’s 63 miles just down to Pikes Peak; Colorado by ski in 1978. His biography of Enos the brow of the hill from the west. “You, Mills (Enos Mills:Citizen of Nature) is well Longs to Grays and Torreys: 43 air miles. too?” the driver asks. “Where’d you known throughout Colorado. In recent years he To the Wyoming border, 53; to Mt. Elbert, paddle from?” “From a confused estuary has turned his attention to poetry. 88 air miles. And so on. Recite those where the Colorado River flows into the distances to a friend groaning Pacific, up through melon under a heavy pack fields in California’s Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 3

WELCOME TO ROCKY’S NEW Ask Nancy [RMNA Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson will attempt to CHIEF OF INTERPRETATION, unearth answers to any questions asked by RMNA members and park visitors. If you are curious about RICH FEDORCHAK something in or about the park, write: Nancy Wilson, RMNA, PO Box 3100, Estes Park, CO 80517. Rocky Mountain Or email her at [email protected] ] National Park has announced Little birds, like pygmy nuthatches and chickadees, are so small the selection of Rich - how do they stay warm in sustained frigid temperatures? Fedorchak as the incoming During the winter, birds can grow twice as many feathers as Chief of Interpretation for needed for summer but they still have to shiver almost constantly Rocky Mountain National to increase their body temperature in cold weather. This shivering Park. Rich will take Larry process is called thermogenosis. The constant shivering produces heat five times that of normal which help them maintain this Frederick’s position, amazingly high body temperature.They also fluff up to trap air beginning on January 13, between their feathers and bodies to create a natural layer of 2013. insulation, and sleep with their bills under their wing feathers to Rich currently is the breathe warmer air. And, of course, they seek shelter out of the NPS Partnership Program Training Manager, wind and cold. Some, such as chickadees and pygmy nuthatches, huddle up together in natural shelters such as bushes. Nesting stationed at the NPS Mather Training Center in boxes become adhoc roosting boxes in the winter as well. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Rich has been there since 2005 and it is his eighth NPS assignment. What causes those iridescent clouds sometimes seen in the Before coming to Harpers Ferry, Rich served as winter? This is a fairly uncommon phenomenon, most often observed in altocumulus, cirrocumulus and lenticular clouds, and the Chief of Interpretation at Grand Teton NP in very rarely in cirrus clouds. Iridescent clouds are a diffraction Wyoming; the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at phenomenon caused by small water droplets or small ice crystals Zion NP in Utah; and as Interpretive, Law individually scattering light. Larger ice crystals produce halos. Enforcement and Backcountry ranger at Lassen Along Bear Lake Road in the spring I see a lot of pine trees Volcanic Park; Carlsbad Caverns NP; San Antonio with many clusters of brown needles on the branches. Is this Missions NHP; and Mount Rainier and Glacier from a dry winter, or are the trees responding to other national parks. stressors? The damage observed on regenerative pines in the Bear Rich has degrees in Park Management from the Lake Road corridor is commonly referred to as winter desiccation. It University of Massachusetts, and in Environmental is highly dependent on winter weather patterns, but particularly Interpretation from the University of Idaho. Rich has common at high elevations. It commonly occurs when the warm sun encourages leaves (needles) to transpire but the roots are in frozen a 16 year old daughter who will attend school in soil and unable to replace moisture. The portion of the tree covered Estes Park. His wife, Sheri, also works for the by snow is not damaged. Shallow-rooted trees are most susceptible; federal government. They will reside in Estes Park. mature trees have a root system that reaches well below the freezing Rich has an excellent reputation throughout the depths. This was a very common occurrence last winter from low system with both NPS and partner organizations. snow pack and can also be observed in the subalpine krumholtz Larry Frederick will be hard act to follow, but Rich throughout the park.—Brian Verhulst, RMNP Forester (Acting) will be a great addition to the staff. I love feeding the birds, but why is it legal to do this, or is it, Welcome! really? They say not to feed other animals like elk, deer, chipmunks, ground squirrels and so on, so why can we feed birds? It seems like a double standard. Inside the park it is illegal to feed any wildlife, including birds, so no bird feeders of any type Cover photo credits are allowed in park housing areas or elsewhere. There may be some Cover photos (clockwise from lower left to upper right): discrepancies in this when it comes to inholders (private landowners “Horseshoe Park,” by Dick Orleans, Estes Park, CO; “Post- who have a house inside park boundaries). They most likely fall ablutions Pygmy Owl,” by RMNA Member Dick Coe, Estes under state regulations on private land. The park currently has Park, CO; “Attention, Class!” by RMNA Member Cynthia researchers that have been studying humming-birds and using hummingbird feeders to attract the birds for banding and McKee Brady, Oklahoma City, OK. Please send photos or high measurement purposes. These researchers are working under a resolution scans to nancy.wilson @rmna.org by March 1 for reasearch permit and the feeders are placed out of reach of bears publication in the 2013 Spring Quarterly. Having a bird feeder at home outside the park is perfectly legal. In Photos are always appreciated! Scenery, wildlife and the Estes Park area it advised to take feeders inside at night so black wildflowers greatly enhance this publication so take a hike bears are not tempted. In addition, the state manages wildlife and carry your camera with you! Think simple and high outside the park and has regulations about feeding wildlife, such as contrast for best reproduction results. Thank You! deer and elk, that are based on relative dependency and hazards to humans.—RMNP Resources Management Specialist Jeff Connor. 4 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly FERN LAKE FIRE BEHAVIOR UNPRECEDENTED IN PARK HISTORY

A Skycrane patrols Moraine Park by RMNP Fire Management Team Members been disbanded for the winter just two the fire back to life and continuing to Firefighters from across the country days before the fire started. grow to the north and east. battled the Fern Lake Fire in Rocky Largely inaccessible, Forest Canyon “When it snowed, we were able to Mountain National Park for two months had been untouched by fire for at least release people,” said Lewelling. “And before the spread of the nearly 3,500-acre 800 years. A long-term drought had left when it cleared up, we’d order more help blaze was temporarily halted by an early fuels tinder-dry. Mountain pine beetles again.” December snowstorm. The high-elevation had killed half the trees in the canyon, The goal was to keep the fire north of winter fire, which eventually drew a with every compromised tree posing a the Big Thompson River in Forest national Type 1 Incident Management hazard for firefighters. The typically Canyon. Firefighters were able to reach Team to Estes Park, is unprecedented in windy conditions in the canyon only spot fires north of the fire and suppress park history. increased the danger from falling limbs. them. The sites of previous hazardous The Fern Lake Fire started Tuesday, “We knew right away it was going to fuels reduction projects, geared to thin October 9, 2012, about three miles west be a long-term event,” said the park’s Fire trees and burn or remove excess fuels, of Estes Park, Colorado, in steep and Management Officer Mike Lewelling. served as anchor sites for carrying out rugged Forest Canyon. The cause is “We knew we’d have a limited ability to indirect attacks. Helicopters were believed to be associated with an illegal fight the fire directly because of steep sometimes on hand to help, but they were campfire. The investigation remains open. terrain, beetle-killed trees and high winds. often grounded because of high winds. In response, park officials When there’s a combination of winds A week before Thanksgiving, 4 to 6 immediately established a Type 3 incident and dead trees, we don’t insert inches of snow fell on the fire. The day management team and evacuated two firefighters. If someone had gotten hurt before Thanksgiving, with no smoke busloads of students on a field trip in the it would have taken too long to evacuate visible, all fire closures were lifted. But area. They also checked backcountry them. Too risky.” on Thanksgiving morning, firefighters records to determine if any backpackers Single-engine air tankers were part of patrolling on Trail Ridge Road, near the were in the vicinity. the initial attack, but since the fire area Forest Canyon Overlook, saw torching The next day, a specialized team was serves as a municipal watershed, use of trees and fire burning through patchy ordered to handle long-term fire planning. fire retardant was restricted. snow. The Fern Lake Fire had come back A Boise, Idaho-based National Incident Snow fell on the fire area four days to life yet again. With conditions Management Organization (NIMO) team after the fire was discovered, moderating worsening, managers began ordering assumed command of the fire on Friday, fire behavior. The NIMO team returned resources, including a Skycrane heavy October 12. With fire season over in some control of the fire to local officials on helicopter, air attack, three hand crews, areas, crews and equipment were in short Sunday, October 14. During the following several engines and a contingent of Boise supply. In fact, following standard days, periodic snowfalls temporarily smokejumpers to fill management roles. practices, the Alpine hotshot crew based slowed fire growth. Then, temperatures On Friday afternoon, November 30, a in Rocky Mountain National Park had warmed and humidity dropped, bringing high wind warning was issued for the fire Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 5 area and grounded air resources. The next With the town of Estes Park at risk, morning, at about 1 a.m., with northwest the Type 1 Incident Management Team winds gusting and holding at 70 mph, the (IMT) was ordered early the same day. fire spotted (jumped and created a Type 1 teams handle the most complex spotfire) to the south of the river. When emergencies in the nation. The Great the winds then switched to the west, the Basin IMT 2, headed by Paul Broyles, fire was perfectly aligned to move assumed command of the fire the eastward toward Moraine Park. following day at 6 p.m. Remarkably, the fire made a three-mile In the fire off-season, resources were run in just 35 minutes, at times spotting a even harder to secure. Nevertheless the mile ahead of itself. Type 1 organization grew to 608 people Just after midnight, two engines and a by Wednesday, December 5th, with 16 handcrew assigned to the fire began a crews, 45 engines, five water tenders and firing operation to prevent the fire from five helicopters assembled to fight the sweeping through a wind funnel on the fire, an unusually large arsenal for a late- east side of Moraine Park. Without their season fire. Two airtankers had earlier actions, Lewelling said, the fire would flown in from California, but were have crossed Bear Lake Road, crossing released when sustained high winds kept the park boundary. them grounded. Hazardous fuels reduction work Crews laid down an elaborate grid of probably saved Kaley Cottages, too. fire hose around the multiple buildings of Thick fuels had been removed from a the YMCA of the Rockies, which can November 30, a total of 38,400 gallons of large area, so a spotfire there only ignited accommodate thousands of guests. water was dropped on six separate days. a grass fire, which was easier for Helicopter water drops peaked at more From December 2 thru December 6, firefighters to extinguish. than 31,000 gallons on Thursday, 106,300 gallons of water were dropped on Because of the rapid rate of spread, an December 6. On the southern flank of the four separate days. One drop of retardant evacuation order was recommended by fire, helicopters avoided dropping water from a heavy air tanker was made on the Type III Team, in conjunction with on active fire in a steep canyon, or December 4 but was ineffective due to NPS Visitor Protection Rangers, for “notch,” to the west of Steep Mountain to high winds. Due to continuing high residents in the Highway 66 corridor and allow the canyon’s chimney effect to burn winds, further air tanker drops were not the NPS housing area and implemented out its fuels. Crews could then safely utilized. by the Larimer County Sheriff’s engage the fire when it reached the On Friday, December 7, as a winter Department and the Estes Park Police canyon rim. storm approached from the west, crews Department. A pre-evacuation order was From October 10 through October 23, worked to secure lines on the southern implemented in the areas of High Drive 103,700 gallons of water were dropped on perimeter and patrolled the contained and Marys Lake Road. three separate days. From November 8 to northern flank. By mid-day on Saturday, December 8, heavy snow and treacherous conditions forced crews to retreat from Estes Park the firelines because of safety concerns. With the snow cover preventing further Beaver Meadows fire spread – and more snow on the way – Visitor Center Moraine Park many crews and other resources were released. On Monday, December 10, at 6 p.m., Rocky Mountain National Park resumed command of the fire, and the Type 1 team was demobilized. While fire managers believe the snowfall has helped to keep the fire within containment lines, it is still burning in the deep layers of accumulated dead trees and other forest debris. They plan to remain vigilant. Unburned vegetation in Forest Canyon may continue to burn and Forest Canyon smoke from deep within the containment lines and will be visible for months. Fern Lake Fire in relation to the town of Estes Park 6 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly ROCKY MOUNTAIN FIELD SEMINARS A Busload of Adventure!

natural history information. Each evening as the sun went down to the sound of bugling elk, Kevin brought out elk skulls of all sizes to engage the participants in another aspect of the elk of Rocky. A total of 12 tours were conducted with only the rare open seat. Hold on for The Grand by Rachel Brooks, Lake Safari, yet another bus Olson Family Fellow adventure scheduled for 2013. Driving a bus with 14 This tour will travel over Trail passengers up Trail Ridge Ridge Road from the east side Road as part of the Rocky of the park to Grand Lake and Mountain Field Seminars back. It’s going to be a full day Journey to the Top touring packed with scenery, wildlife program was just one of my and learning, with the natural many tasks this year as the history of the west side as an Olson Family Fellow. The tours added feature. Sign up early for this one – were an exceptionally unique it’s sure to be a winner! experience of Rocky Mountain National Visitor Center, and afterward, at Medicine Due to the popularity of these bus Park – both for me and for the program Bow Curve, we took the group on tundra tours, next year RMNA is offering 39 participants, and the road mirrored the walks to identify some of the hardy Journey to the Top tours, and 18 Elk winding path of experiences I had during flowers and to sit on the tundra in silence, Expeditions tours. The next Fellow will the course of my tenure, including a few laying down to feel the temperature be busy! As for me, I will remember narrow ledges and precipitous heights! difference and the lack of wind. We had fondly my summer in the park, driving, This was the second year that the many idyllic afternoon tours but we never teaching about the wonders of Rocky, and Rocky Mountain Nature Association saw Julie Andrews. I’m sure for many of also for the opportunity time and again to Field Seminars program offered us the impulse to burst into song was witness the joy and the connection people adventure tours by bus. Elk Expeditions lurking just beneath the surface. It was a make to the park through learning and a was the spearhead of the program in 2011 gift to share such a special place with direct and personal experience. That was when the bus was newly acquired, and people who would not have experienced truly the gem. Journey to the Top: A Trail Ridge Road it on their own. For many participants the Rachel Brooks has completed her Olson Bus Adventure was added in 2012. bus tour venue was ideal because “we can Family Fellowship with RMNA and will Journey to the Top was an immediate sit back, let you do the driving and learn be working with the park’s Environmental success, and twice a week I reveled in the something at the same time.” The bus is a Education program for the next few scenery of the park as I drove and shared comfortable ride, it’s true, the instruction months to get even more experience with the wonders of Rocky Mountain National is excellent, and the opportunity to see park educational efforts. Good luck, Park with visitors from all over the elk, pika, marmots and the occasional Rachel! country. With me was RMNA instructor bighorn sheep much enhanced. David Adams, a former middle school By the end of the summer, RMNA science teacher. Together, we took had conducted 26 Journey to the Top participants on all-day trips, and we adventures by bus. Once the leaves began didn’t just stick to the road. We their colorful autumn display the phone at encouraged people to walk the paths, to the Field Seminar Center was ringing off read the wayside exhibits and take in the the hook for Elk Expeditions. As we views. We hiked around the Alluvial Fan encountered harems of female elk or the and learned about the vast and sweeping lone 6-point bull, veteran naturalist Kevin effects of the Lawn Lake Flood. J. Cook waxed eloquent about elk The tour includes lunch at the Alpine behavior, biology and myriad bits of Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 7 BRING ALONG YOUR SNOWSHOES FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL WINTER MEMBER HIKES! Take a hike in the park with Membership Manager Curtis Carman, and special park guests, for monthly hikes in Rocky throughout the year. Join a group of like-minded individuals on a hike in the park to various sites in Rocky Mountain National Park while learning more about RMNA, RMNP and each other. Limited to 15 people per hike, outings explore a different area in Rocky Mountain National Park each month. Come with your questions about current RMNA projects, park management issues and natural history stories. Call Curtis Carman at (970) 586-0108. Or, email him at [email protected] Winter Schedule: January 25 - Snowshoe hike to Emerald Lake February 23 - Snowshoe hike to Mills Lake

March 29 - Snowshoe the Ouzel Falls Trail Photo: RMNA Member Vicki Beaugh

are now saving lives. ParkPark PuzzlerPuzzler 6. North America is home to three different ptarmigans: the willow, byby RMNARMNA MemberMember JoelJoel KaplowKaplow rock and Colorado’s ___-tailed. 7. Aspen reproduce by seed and another strategy. Their horizontal roots ACROSS can sprout shoots that are called ___. 1. Colorado has tons of bodies of water named “Lost Lake.” RMNP has one 11. Colorado has tons of mountains named “Sugarloaf.” RMNP has one on the north side that drains into the North Fork of the ___ River. (2 wds) located in its ___ Range. 4. About ___ percent of the adult female deer in RMNP have tested positive 12. RMNP is Colorado’s second national park. ___ National Park, for chronic wasting disease, aka CWD. created in 1906, is 9 years older. (2 wds) 8. ___ Valley is the only place in the park where downhill sledding and 15. About ___ million people visit RMNP every year. sliding are permitted. It opened in 1955 as a commercial ski resort, and was 16. ___ Mountain, named in 1949 for Enos’ brother, is located east of closed in 1991. the park’s Little Matterhorn. (2 wds) 9. The remnants of ___ City, a mining town that began in 1879, can be found 18. Timber Creek and ___ Park are the two RMNP campgrounds that in the northwest part of the park. remain open during the winter. 10. $80 is the going rate for the America the ___ Pass, which allows access to all U.S. national parks and federal recreation lands for one year. 13. The ptarmigan is the smallest member of the ___ family. 14. The 7-mile-long valley south of the high portion of Trail Ridge Road is ___ Canyon. 17. One potential problem for winter visitors is ___. Technically, this is when a person's core temperature drops below 95° F, resulting in shivering and disorientation. 19. RMNP's Fall River Road is not open much of the year. This is because it is not ___, like Trail Ridge Road, to keep it open. 20. Though the rule is not necessarily adhered to, pet owners in RMNP are required to have their critters on a leash not more than ___ feet long. 21. On Saturdays in January and February, rangers lead a free ___-country ski tour on the park’s west side.

DOWN 1. ___ Lake Road is still undergoing a facelift, but should be finished this year. (2 wds) 2. Longs Peak is connected to ___ Mountain by a serrated ridge called Keyboard of the Winds. 3. There were some tense moments last June, as the Woodland Heights fire, which destroyed 26 homes, came to within a stone's throw of the park’s ___ building. 5. There is a new innovation in avalanche safety equipment. Backpacks equipped with inflatable ___ help keep the victim higher up in the snow, and 8 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly RED SQUIRREL, PINE SQUIRREL OR CHICKAREE: THIS SQUIRREL ADAPTS by Jeff Connor Twenty-five years ago, on my hikes The pine squirrel’s habitat requirements through the lodgepole pine and are pretty simple: closed canopy mature lodgepole/spruce/ fir forests of Rocky conifers capable of producing quality seeds Mountain National Park, I was always and a shaded environment to provide cover enthusiastically greeted by the pine squirrel from predators and to facilitate foraging. (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), locally known as Also needed is a forest that maintains a cool the chickaree. Invariably, this smallest of microclimate for the favorable preservation forest squirrels was running across the of pine cone middens, the squirrels’ food ground or over a log and up a tree with a stash of pine cones buried in piles of scales pine cone in its mouth. From their lofty from cones that have already been eaten. perches the squirrels chattered their alarm to In the mid-1990s, a landscape-changing let everyone in the area know that I was event began that has affected where there and demanding that I move on. chickarees now are found. Due to a variety In Rocky Mountain Mammals, biologist of environmental factors, the mountain pine David Armstrong identifies this squirrel as a beetle (Dendroctonus ponerosae) population red squirrel. Here, in the Southern Rockies, went from endemic to outbreak levels within that name doesn’t seem to fit because they a few years. Dense forests of older Photo: RMNA Member Jack Hailman are are usually more of a dark grayish brown lodgepole pine favored by the pine squirrel in color. No matter the name, pine squirrel, were altered by the death of thousands of squirrels continued to collect cones and chickaree or red squirrel, it is a wide-ranging trees attacked by millions of beetles. In supply middens, but their food supply species occurring from Alaska to Labrador some places, beetles rapidly killed as many diminished as the canopy opened. Squirrels and southward through the Unites States. as 90% of the larger lodgepole pines. In had to move or perish. John Koprowski these areas, the squirrels’ food supply mentions that the pine squirrel was known to diminished, the opening of the canopy most move a few kilometers to more favorable likely made them more susceptible to habitat when necessary due to beetle predation, and the altered microclimate had outbreaks or wildland fires. But I noticed an impact on pine cone middens. that some hiking trails that previously had Little research exists on how pine many scolding chickarees now had large squirrels responded to the beetle outbreak. numbers of dead lodgepole with few In a 2005 assessment of the pine squirrel for squirrels. The woods were quiet, but not for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. long. I began to hear the calls and Forest Service, Dr. John Koprowski found drumming of the three-toed woodpecker significant decline in areas with greater than (Picoides tridactylus), formerly rare in the 40% mortality of spruce trees, but continued park. Woodpeckers were feeding on beetles; survival in suitable patches. He noted that one species taking advantage of an remaining squirrels fed on abandoned cone opportunity while another had to move – a caches and insects. classic example of species adaptation to In 2003, pine beetle outbreak reached changing conditions. I also noticed more the southwest corner of the park and hairy woodpeckers (Picoides villosus) along lodgepole pine began dying through the the way. Kawuneeche Valley. By 2006, beetles began In 2010, in the large ponderosa pine to attack lodgepole pines in the Cache La near the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, I Poudre, Big Thompson and North St. Vrain became aware of the chattering of a pine watersheds on the east side of the squirrel. I stopped and turned around Continental Divide. Killing higher elevation thinking, “what are you doing down here so trees first, the beetles quickly reached lower far from lodgepole, spruce and fir?” I had elevation areas that also included ponderosa never seen pine squirrel in the more open pine. Entomologists Sheryl Costello of the ponderosa pines at lower elevations before. U.S. Forest Service and Dr. Jenny Briggs of To date, pine squirrels still are living the U.S. Geologic Survey, working in the around the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. park, wondered if beetles originating in Is this energetic little creature competing lodgepole pine would switch to ponderosa with the squirrel normally associated with pine as a food and breeding source. Their ponderosa pine, the Abert’s (Sciurus aberti)? A lodgepole pine forest, prime habitat for research quickly showed that they did. Did the pine squirrel move into vacant pine squirrels. Photo: NPS With dying lodgepole around them, habitat, or does it co-exist with the Abert’s? Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 9 I posed the question to Dr. Christy will someday become cone producing McCain from the University of Colorado trees. And patches of mature trees that who studies small mammals from the lower were not killed still are occupied by pine foothills into the park. She mentioned that squirrels. she had seen a lot of pine squirrels in Also of interest here: Dr. Joe ponderosa pine since her move to Colorado Koprowski noted that the ability of the five years ago. And while she is not sure pine squirrel to use remaining forest about the distribution of the pine squirrel patches and persist through secondary before the beetle outbreak, she pointed out succession is likely the result of their that Armstrong’s Mammals of Colorado long evolutionary history of association states that it occurs at elevations from 1,830 with coniferous forests. to 3,660 meters along the Front Range, Will a pine squirrel born in a tree which includes ponderosa pine habitat. cavity in a ponderosa pine near the McCain also noted that she had seen pine visitor center decide it likes its new home and Abert’s squirrels both in the same and and stay? Will an Abert’s squirrel out- adjacent trees. compete a pine squirrel and retake Photo: RMNA Member Gene Putney Have pine squirrels permanently occupied territory, or co-exist with its abandoned areas of dead lodgepole pine? I energetic cousin? While the Abert’s squirrel change. So, stay observant. Take a walk in think not. Research in the park led by Dr. is less boisterous than its cousin and not the woods. For those who like to wander, it Monique Rocca and Dr. Bill Romme of known to defend a territory, and, in addition, certainly is an interesting time. Colorado State University documented many it is sporadic in distribution and given to understory lodgepole pine not killed by the Jeff Connor is the Resources Management fluctuations in abundance, the introduction Specialist for Rocky Mountain National Park. beetles, with plenty of young seedlings that of new variables creates myriad levels of

A LIZARD REVELATION AT LUMPY RIDGE

Ridge. He was, however, successful, and S. tristichus is plateau fence lizard on the second day of BioBlitz, Losin (Sceloporus tristichus).” returned with more equipment and The plateau fence lizard is common additional photographer colleagues to throughout the southern United States, complete his study of the critters. ranging from Arizona east to Florida and Determining the true identity of the as far north as parts of South Dakota and mystery lizard took a little more time. Pennsylvania. Although the lizard is With the help of herpetologists from the known in the lower elevation areas of University of Colorado-Boulder and the Colorado, it is considered to be a At this year’s BioBlitz in Rocky University of Northern Colorado, Losin relatively new inhabitant to Rocky Mountain National Park, National learned that, “My initial identification was Mountain National Park. There is no way Geographic Young Explorer, Neil Losin, correct, in one sense — Sceloporus to know why these lizards have shown up set off on a mission to confirm the undulatus erythrocheilus is the designation in the park. A warming climate may have identity of a near-mythical beast. For used for this species in the most recent allowed the lizard to expand its range. more than a decade, rock climbers have field guide to the herps of Colorado.” But Alternatively, a hiker, rock climber, or occasionally reported sightings of a small assigning a name to the animals turned out vehicle may have accidentally helped lizard amidst the rocky cliffs of Lumpy to be a bit more complex. introduce them into the area. Ridge, but its identity remained unknown. According to Losin, “The taxonomy Rocky Mountain National Park Early on the morning on August 24, of Sceloporus has been revised continues to be dynamic and exciting! Losin set out to find the elusive creature. substantially in the last 10 years, thanks Keep your senses sharp – you never Climbing up Lumpy Ridge, where mostly to the work of Adam Leache at know what unknown creatures may be some of the earlier sightings had been the University of Washington. Dr. basking in the sun or lurking in the made, Losin brought his fishing pole, Leache’s taxonomy (which is based on crevices. fitted with a mini-lasso, and a camera, DNA sequences, not just morphology) This article was adapted from an online article and set out to catch some lizards. Losin’s places S. u. erythrocheilus into its own posted by Andrew Howley of National task was challenging, as the lizard is only species called Sceloporus tristichus. Dr. Geographic Staff in Explorers Journal on about three inches long and perfectly Leache has confirmed that this is the September 27, 2012. For the original post and camouflaged with the highly-textured, most likely species in this area of other BioBlitz stories, go to http://newswatch. gray, brown and pink granite of Lumpy Colorado. The accepted English name for nationalgeographic.com/tag/bioblitz/ 10 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly Highlights of Service to Interpretive Sales Outlets Throughout Colorado and into Wyoming, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association has been extending a helping hand, assisting as many as 54 State Park, Forest Service, BLM and U.S.G.S. visitor centers and interpretive areas with product sales to support their educational missions. For every purchase at these sites a percentage of the profits are earmarked for special projects prioritized by each public lands area. Take a tour through some projects accomplished with the help of RMNA funding: Golden Gate Canyon State Park ($5,477 since 2008) Golden Gate Canyon State Park has been working with RMNA for many years. The aid money they received from RMNA sales has helped turn the visitor center into one of the most impressive in the State Parks system. Most evident is the extensive taxidermy animal collection featuring a black bear, mountain lion and 4- month-old kitten, several Great-horned owls and other birds of prey, and an adult cow elk. Their most recent acquisitions are a long-tailed weasel and a porcupine. Most of the animals are from road kill via the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Division. In addition, many other educational items have been purchased to augment their interpretive programs, including two Skins and Skulls kits, activity backpacks containing field guides, nature journals, binoculars and magnifying glasses, that are loaned out to the public, and a redesigned sew-on patch for the Junior Ranger program.

Eldorado Canyon State Park ($13,700) The visitor center at Eldorado South Park Ranger District ($2,213 in 2012) Canyon State Park was built in Among other activities and programs, this past year the South Park 2001. Construction overruns Ranger District partnered up with the Boys & Girls Club of South Park required that some features of and implemented the Wish to Fish program, an award-winning eight the visitor center be eliminated week program striving to provide kids with knowledge, field and the anticipated climbing experience, and fun-filled days that will prepare them for a lifelong wall was never built. Since interest in areas of fisheries management and fish culture. A wide then, the park has saved range of topics were covered, such as fish handling, electrofishing, RMNA aid funds from year to year to build this climbing wall and macroinvertebrate sampling, stream ecology, water quality testing and finish this final feature of the Visitor Center. The end result is a real fishing. There were four main goals to the program: to identify native climbing wall with bolt-on holds to change the difficulty rating. The and non-native fish; to increase students’ knowledge about water hope is to offer additional information about “traditional” free climbing quality indicators; to increase students’ comfort working in group in the park in the near future. settings; and to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Strong bonds Colorado State Forest State Park were created between the kids - it was a very successful program. ($4,839) This state park produced a new Trail Guide National Historic of summer and winter recreation trails, bought a new Interpretive Trails birdseed storage shed to house the seed for their many feeders that attract an amazing assortment of local Center ($5,000) birds, and purchased a valuable painting of the Nokhu The 10th Anniversary celebration Crags hung in the visitor center. August 3 - 4, 2012, at this site in Grand Mesa Visitor Center ($720) Casper, Wyoming, was attended by more than thirty re-enactors With no phone system at the site, the new laptop for the from around the state and Grand Mesa Visitor Center on the Grand Mesa Scenic compensated, in part, with RMNA aid funds generated at the and Historic Byway has greatly improved site’s RMNA book sales outlet. The pioneer camp included a communication between the Forest Service office and the visitor trading post, snake oil salesman and military telegraph line repair center, as well as with RMNA. It enables important campground crew. It featured historic period music and interpretive and road closure information to be passed on to visitors. presentations including black powder firearms demonstrations and Mueller State Park ($12,000) Dutch oven cooking lessons. The site’s Pony Express cabin is progressing through all-volunteer work sessions conducted by the This State Park used aid funds for exhibit repair at the visitor center. National Pony Express Association Wyoming chapter members. These activities and permanent enhancements to the BLM’s Eleven-mile Canyon State Park ($750) interpretive programs at the Trails Center have been made possible Check out this nice collection of endangered species taxidermy! through use of RMNA aid funds since 2005! Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 11 The American Conservation Corps: Reflections on a Summer Well Spent by Steve Coles, American Conservation “…If I have learned one thing Corps manager from ACC, it is that we should Each spring a new group of eager take a cue from our younger young faces fills the Field Seminar selves, take a break from our Center on the first day of training for complicated grown-up The American Conservation Corps answers and our beautiful (ACC). From all over the country they screens, our cars and our arrive; so different yet so alike. By noon keyboards, our text messages they’re all wearing the same uniform, and game consoles, and by 8:00 a.m. the next day you’d And go play in the dirt. think they had known each other since We should step back, and The Shadow Mountain crew working on a childhood. look at our choices, major bridge on a west side trail. Following two weeks of training and Use our hands, our hearts, our voices, field work it is clear they have begun an To keep the national parks and forests, amazing transformation. Slowly at first, To protect the world for those born after Major Projects ACC then, gathering speed, the commitment us…” to something larger than the world Carol Skelton, 2012 Estes Park Crew Crews Accomplished they’ve known takes place. By mid- This Year week it is showing up in the way they “The cover letter for the ACC states that walk and in their conversations. They crew members will spend the summer seem stronger, visibly taller and more Estes Park Crew: “outdoors living in the Rocky u focused. Each one is having “the best Mountains, building lifelong friendships, Restored wheel chair accessibility summer of my life.” learning about the natural environment, at Bear Lake Trail that had been lost As progressively tougher field work networking with people in the National to erosion over the years. u increases in proportion to the shrinking Park and Forest Services, and Completed construction of the season, something else happens. Looking protecting and preserving Colorado’s Alberta Falls — Lake Haiyaha at each person carefully, I see each face public lands.” They should add that connector trail glowing through the dust, sweat and crew members will spend the summer Shadow Mountain Crew soot. An air of confidence grows in step finding themselves and developing into u with the growing list of completed trail the person they’ve always wanted to Constructed a major trail bridge u projects. In the final week, evaluation be.” Anna Burke, 2012 Red Feather Removed 885 hazard trees that essays release an almost seismic flow of Crew blocked or prevented trail use emotions. I’m honored to be the first to Rawah Wilderness Crew read them and I’m delighted to share a I couldn’t have said it better myself. u couple with you here. Prevented erosion by using hand saws to remove 185 wind-felled trees that blocked trails and created LET US KEEP YOU INFORMED RMNA’s Facebook community detours ABOUT PROJECTS YOU SUPPORT! has grown to 3,600 fans. u Restored 29 miles of trail to We use email to keep Members and Are you one of them? Forest Service standards Donors informed about RMNA Facebook is a fun way to stay in touch Red Feather Crew fundraising projects, special with the RMNA community. We post u Installed 20 back country trail promotions, news, membership events, fun facts, news and fabulous photos! We guide signs to identify and correct seminars and more. Drop us a line at invite you to share your park photos and confusing and misidentified trail [email protected] so we can stories with us. Join us today at: keep you in the loop! As always, we connections. facebook.com/RockyMountainNature u promise we won’t share any personal Improved trail drainage in the information with anyone — ever. Lyons Gulch area while evacuated from assigned areas due to the High Stay connected with RMNA! Park wildfire. 12 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly Happy New Year! Colorado Gives Day a Great Success! With the New Year come new opportunities for the Wow! What a tremendous day the Johnson Property Rocky Mountain Nature Association. We’re looking we all had December 4, 2012, on Acquisition (see update below). ahead to some exciting changes for 2013 that will allow Colorado Gives Day! We had lots of fun on Facebook, us to not only follow through with our commitments to Dozens of Rocky Mountain too, posting little known facts our partners, but also increase communication with our National Park fans, some brand about RMNA’s many projects members and donors and bring a fresh look to our new to RMNA, over the years, along programs, products and services. gave a total of with plenty of We’re going full steam ahead with the purchase of more than $15,000 compelling, the Johnson Property on the park’s west side, with only via the inspirational photos. $180,000 left to raise (hint, hint)! And, we’re GivingFirst.org It is always continuing to raise funds for the Next Generation Fund website. This is a thrilling to see how to support programs and projects connecting our young tremendous outpouring of support much you love Rocky Mountain people with nature. As part of this, the American for this organization and for National Park in the work we all Conservation Corps program will continue with four Rocky Mountain National Park! do together. Thank you! We crews, working hard in the national park and forest Most of it will be directed to hope to see you again next year! service areas. A new website is a top priority for RMNA this year. Johnson Property Acquisition Update Moving toward greater ease of use and a smoothly integrated shopping cart system to facilitate buying The acquisition of the books, seminars and other educational materials is our Johnson Property, a 3.89 acre goal. We’re also planning to take care of some much- parcel on the park’s west side, needed infrastructure for RMNA, including replacing remains our top fundraising our outdated phone system, a couple computers and priority. At this moment, more purchasing a new vehicle for our retail department. than 500 of you have donated With the amazing popularity of the Journey to the more than $197,000 toward the Top and Elk Expeditions bus tour seminars this year, $400,000 goal. Wow! we’re expanding our Field Seminars bus tours to offer We are making progress, but more tours and a new program – Grand Lake Safari! If we’ll need everyone’s help and special donation to this rare and we can, we’ll purchase an additional 12-passenger van contributions to be able to important project to make a to help transport seminar participants in the park, purchase the property for lasting gift to the future of Rocky thereby eliminating the need for so many people to use permanent protection. The seller Mountain National Park, one that their own cars. has extended the deadline for will benefit visitors, wildlife and In addition, we’re planning on the completion of a purchase from the original habitat forever. Join the Johnson beautiful new donor wall in the Beaver Meadows October 2012 date to February Property Acquisition team today Visitor Center, where memorial donors and other of 2013. There is still time to by pitching in what you can. contributors can be recognized for their support. It will support this project, but it is be located on the lower floor of the visitor center, at the quickly running out. Thank you! entrance to the park auditorium. Please consider making a And to cap it off, we’re spearheading a new effort to increase the number of new RMNA members by 30% in RMNA Annual Appeal Report 2013. Why? Because a membership with RMNA is one We’re hoping that all of time to make a gift before the end of the most important connections we can make with the you have received an invitation of the year to receive a tax break people that love Rocky Mountain National Park – it’s to support RMNA through our benefit. Act now! through membership that people not only learn about Annual Appeal campaign. This the park, but make a lasting commitment to its future. is the one time of year that we Please give what you can to Help us out and introduce at least one friend to this ask each of you to do what you the project closest to your heart. circle of park supporters this year. can to support our work. For information on any of these As of today, we have projects (and others), visit Charley Best wishes for a received more than 421 gifts www.rmna.org and click on Park wonderful 2013! totaling $76,294. If you are Projects. thinking about it, there is still Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 13 The Rocky Mountain National Park Fund expresses special thanks to the following people for their donations to RMNP projects: September 21 - December 9, 2012 593 Gifts - Total Donations: $100,729

CHASM FALLS ACCESSIBLE James and Christine Glenski, Michael Christopher, Barnstable, MA Diamondhead, MS Shawnee Mission, KS: Ivan Clark, Hampton, VA Wanda Gentile, Colorado Springs, CO VIEWING PLATFORM FUND In Memory of John A. Morgan Margaret M. Clark, Estes Park, CO Ronald and Betty George, Omaha, NE Vera Durkovic, Estes Park, CO: Ellen Coker and Larry DeMers, Carolann Gerhard, Loveland, CO Robert and Virginia Akins, Fort Collins, CO In Memory of Judy Rosen Fort Collins, CO James & Margery Giguere, Estes Park, CO Russell Allen, Littleton, CO Madelynn Coldiron, Frankfort, KY Donald Goodin and Sandra Goodin, David and Mary Ann Bliley, Erie, PA AMERICAN Jane Vesy Colrud, Sun City West, AZ Lexington, KY Gerald and Darcy Boock, River Falls, WI Larry S. and Lynda Conley, Spring, TX Rhondda Grant, Denver, CO Bertha Brohman, Colorado Springs, CO CONSERVATION CORP FUND Jim and June Copeland, Coffeyville, KS C. William and June Gray, Powell, OH Marjorie A. Carr, Gladstone, MO Walt and Sandra Cox, Blue Grass, IA Thomas F. Grose, Pasadena, CA Kenneth and Jo Anne Cocking, Jax Mercantile, Loveland, CO Holly and John Cratsley, Concord, MA Richard & Kathy Groshong, Tuscaloosa, AL Prophetstown, IL Ernie Crewdson, Fort Collins, CO: Margaret & George Guthrie, Estes Park, CO Helen M. and Ralph G. Culter, Greeley, CO JOHNSON PROPERTY In Memory of John E. Caron Reginald and Judy Guy, Estes Park, CO Sue & Lloyd Fahrenbruch, Fort Collins, CO John and Suzanne Cruse, Evergreen, CO Amy Haagen & James Stout, Pinckney, MI Bob Feathers, Huber Heights, OH LAND PROTECTION FUND Debbie & Martin Cunningham, Cypress, TX Atsuko Hagihara, Fort Collins, CO Barbara Free and Jay Johnson, W. Rebecca Custis, Neptune Beach, FL Hallidie and Donald Haid, Seattle, WA Albuquerque, NM Richard and Kate Adams, Danielsville, PA Janice K. Dame, Bolingbrook, IL Barbara and Richard Hamman, Denver, CO Barbara Jean & Thomas Gard, Mary and James Alfred, La Grange Park, IL John & Terry Dammann, Chevy Chase, MD Carl and Nancy Hane, Fort Collins, CO Evergreen, CO Anonymous James Davis, Somers Point, NJ David and Regina Haner, Loveland, CO Gordon and Linda Goff, Estes Park, CO Elaine and Paul Arguien, Grand Lake, CO Randal Davis, Boulder, CO Larry and Shirley Hannert, Phoenix, AZ Donald & Patricia Groves, Glen Haven, CO David Armstrong, Loveland, CO Dr. John T. Decker, Fort Collins, CO Nicholas & Patricia Hanson, Cincinnati, OH Roger Gunlikson, Fort Collins, CO James and Nancy Arndt, Loveland, CO Lesa Deeker, Omaha, NE Donald and Joann Harris, Greeley, CO: Doug Hanes, Aurora, CO Charlie and Lorraine Audirsch, Houma, LA Demo Sales, El Dorado, KS In Memory of Keith E. Fisher Mary Jo Havlicek, Omaha, NE Laurie Augspurger, Broomfield, CO David Dent, Warrenton, MO Robert and Colleen Haven, Louisville, CO Louis Hegeman, La Grange, IL Robert and Yadja Bacher, Fort Collins, CO Ernie and Nancy Diedrich, St. Joseph, MN Barbara and Bill Hayden, Boulder, CO Josephine Hereford, Saint Louis, MO Constance & Peter Badger, Springfield, VA Katherine Dines & David Miller, Cheryl Hayman, Colorado Springs, CO Edward Herrmann, Estes Park, CO Charles and Janice Baggs, Denver, CO David and Marjean Heidt, Englewood, CO Barry and Patricia Hiatt, Littleton, CO Colorado Springs, CO Winston Dines, La Jolla, CA Beverly Henderson, Estes Park, CO Delores and C. R. Hoisington, Golden, CO Vaughn Baker, Estes Park, CO Patricia Donovan, Denver, CO Dorothy Heyliger, Golden, CO Carol Holden, Miami, FL William and Esther Bastian, Barbara J. Dowd, Cedar Falls, IA Dr. Donald Hillger, Windsor, CO Michael Kedda, Derwood, MD Mount Prospect, IL Marilyn R. Downey, Eureka, MO Dale Hilyard, Louisburg, KS Gary and Doris Kling, Tucson, AZ Phil and Lynn Beedle, Johnstown, CO Kathleen Doyle, Golden, CO Heidi Hoffman, Omaha, NE Richard & Lucinda Koester, Lawrence, KS Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Bell, Denver, CO Charles and Pam Droste, Shell Rock, IA Marianne Holmes, Arvada, CO Kathleen Lange, Saint Louis, MO Laurel Benson, Loveland, CO James Durand, Fort Collins, CO William Hoppe, Farmington, NM Lee Machin, Estes Park, CO Gary and Elizabeth Bernhard, Austin, TX Phyllis A. Easley, Loveland, CO Jesse Hord, Windsor, CO Kathy L. Marlow, West Des Moines, IA Janet and Donald Berry, Spencer, IN William & Gretchen Edwards, Sue Horvath, Lansing, MI Norm Martin, Leawood, KS John and Connie Berry, Castle Rock, CO Centennial, CO Jean Howell, Belvidere, IL Nancy and Earl Matson, Estes Park, CO Debra Bidwell, Fort Collins, CO Susan Egan and Eric Elsinghorst, Robert Hursch, Littleton, CO Frances and Albert Matteucci, Stockton, CA Richard and Judith Bliley, Erie, PA Lawrence, KS David and Nancy Hurt, Fort Collins, CO Katherine Maxwell, Dallas, TX: Jane Bodmer, Gilbert, AZ Jed Eide, South Bend, IN Ned Husman, Centennial, CO In Honor of the 40th Birthdays of Ken David and Carol Bogenschutz, Grafton, WI Peggy Eisel, Boulder, CO Jane and Michael Imber, Lawrence, KS Spruell and Jenny Maxwell Mr. & Mrs. Philip Bogetto, Ft. Collins, CO Bart and Judy Eisfelder, Fairway, KS Donald Irwin, Estes Park, CO Mary McNutt, Colby, KS Weston Boulton, Fort Collins, CO Annikki Elkind, Fort Collins, CO Juliet Jiracek, Broomfield, CO Ruth Minter, Loveland, CO Dottie and L. E. Brenner, Arvada, CO Bruce Ellingwood, Atlanta, GA John & Cynthia White Johnson, Carleton and Diane Moore, Mesa, AZ Charlotte Brigham, Boulder, CO Larry and Linda Emsing, Estes Park, CO Cedar Rapids, IA Tim and Carolee Preston, Boulder, CO Charles and Gretchen Brisolara, Huntley, IL Catherine & Pedro Engel, Fort Collins, CO Kay I. Johnson, Evergreen, CO Ken and Jeri Ragan, Lenexa, KS Bertha Brohman, Colorado Springs, CO David and Joan Everson, Loveland, CO Richard K. Johnson, Kenosha, WI Christine Richards, Olathe, KS Anne Brown, Kerrville, TX Gary and Kathleen Falk, Estes Park, CO Robert M. Jordan, Midwest City, OK William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE Rufus Brown, Newport News, VA Family Hearing Services, Elko, NV Michael Kedda, Derwood, MD Joan & Terry Roberson, Mark Bruno, Smithville, MO Rosalie Fawzi, Albuquerque, NM Richard and Linda Kelley, Englewood, CO West Des Moines, IA Barry Bryan, Glenside, PA Ethelwyn Fellinger, Phoenix, AZ Elizabeth O. Keys, Ames, IA Paul and Mary Roloff, Lake Zurich, IL Doris Burd, Denver, CO Miriam Felsenburg, Winston Salem, NC Jan Kilgore, Estes Park, CO Merilyn and Marvin Rowan, Joe and Martha Burt, Houston, TX David Flitter, Denver, CO Peter and Janet Kim, Olympia, WA College Springs, IA Marie Bush, Lafayette, CO Daniel and Tara Flynn, Sparta, NJ Steven King, St. Louis, MO Michelle and Scott Shonbeck, Bellaire, TX Verl and Carolyn Carlson Richard J. Flynn, Boulder, CO Urling and Hugh Kingery, Franktown, CO Kenneth Spies, Boulder, CO Thomas and Vicki Carney, Washington, IL Reginald Fogg, Fallbrook, CA Clement & Elizabeth Klaphake, Carol Stolz, Fort Collins, CO Peggy Carr, Denton, TX Barbara Foiles, Estes Park, CO Bellevue, NE Cynthia Sundberg, Santa Rosa, CA John and Pat Case, Marquette, MI Ann J. Folz, Dallas, TX Jessica Klein, Sheboygan Falls, WI Barbara and Ralph Swanson, Phillips, WI Tom Caudill, Lexington, KY Colin Forbes, Ballwin, MO Julie Klett, Estes Park, CO: Phoebe and Jack Timberlake, Flat Rock, NC Melanie Chamberlain, Fort Collins, CO Samuel Franco, Nutley, NJ In Memory of Attila the Bun Helen Vinck, Longmont, CO Sue Ellen Charlton and James Boyd, Jerome and Norma Fricke, Golden, CO Barry and Sharon Knapp, Rochester, MN Robert Voiland, Westminster, CO Fort Collins, CO Helga Gaffron, Longmont, CO Gilbert and Mary Knapp, Spencer, NY Betty Mae Weller, Boyertown, PA Robert Checkley and Susan Kummer, Kenneth Gamauf, Boulder, CO Alice Knox, Denver, CO Lynn and Steve Swensen, Rochester, MN: High Ridge, MO Harvey Gardiner, Niwot, CO Louise and John Koss, Fort Collins, CO In Memory of James Rysavy Christine and Bill Childers, Estes Park, CO Maryann Gaug, Silverthorne, CO Mary and Mike Kottke, Fountain Hills, AZ Rob and Lin Chirico, Longmont, CO Fred & Catherine Gaupp, Robert Krisinger, Pleasant Hill, IA 14 Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly Gary Kubik, Omaha, NE Donna Ricklefs, Olathe, KS Mary Faith Harty, Delray Beach, FL: Kim Schulte, Overland Park, KS Stephen and Sandra Kuhn, Naples, FL Pamela Riggs, Austin, TX In Memory of David H. Barbee South Carolina Beer Wholesalers Assoc., D. Dean Kumpuris, Little Rock, AR Pat Riley, Salida, CO Marie Cranston, Highlands, NC: Columbia, SC Christopher J. Kyle, Galloway, NJ William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE In Memory of Dr. Frank Pittman Thomas Stickney, Olathe, KS Anne M. Kylen, Fort Collins, CO Helen & Clayton Ringgenberg, Karen Szews, Greenfield, WI: Judy Stockton, Jefferson City, MO JoAnne Lafley, Denver, CO Iowa City, IA In Memory of Ed and Jean Szews Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Mary Lou & Gothard Lane, Larry and Nancy Robinson, Plano, TX Leonard Siekmeier, Colorado Springs, CO: Columbus, OH Grand Lake, CO Bill and Margaret Rowe, Saint Louis, MO In Memory of Elizabeth Siekmeier Elyse Weidner, Mission, KS Art and Trudi Leissa, Ft Collins, CO Josef Ruhl, Arvada, CO Susan Turman, Denver, CO: Western Beverage, Dodge City, KS Edith and Malcom Lerch, Conover, NC Jennifer Sacco, Brookline, MA In Memory of Marcia and Bill Turman Paul Wheeler, Wichita, KS: Michael H. Levy, Broomfield, CO Verna Samson, Louisville, CO Wholesale Beer Association Executives, Willard & Nancy Lewis, Allen & Mary Anne Sanborn, Santa Fe, NM All in Memory of Ethan H. Veeneman Augusta, ME Trabuco Canyon, CA Betty Sanderson, Pinellas Park, FL Jack Veeneman, Vero Beach, FL Wholesale Beer Distributors of Arkansas, Margy and Thomas Lininger, Greeley, CO Dorothy Savory, Estes Park, CO Barbara Cericalo, Colorado Springs, CO Little Rock, AR Mary Loberg, Plymouth, MN Darrell and Judith Schaper, Britt, IA Liza Veeneman, Aliso Viejo, CA Jay Wiederhold, Harrisburg, PA Francis M. Loustalet, Greeley, CO Dan Schemm, Wichita, KS: Catherine M. Veeneman, Louisville, KY William Wilson, Austin, TX Diane Lunde, Fort Collins, CO In Memory of Neal Dale Whitaker Hayes Veeneman, Grand Lake, CO Nancy Zogleman, Leawood, KS Robert Lundy, Louisville, CO Liz Schoeberlein, Boulder, CO Eagle Beverage Corporation, Frontenac, KS, Jim Lutt, Wayne, NE Dave and Cheryl Schutz, Estes Park, CO All in Memory of Frank Pittman III: Eagle Beverage & The Beykirch Family: Gina Lux, Denver, CO Walter Scott, Huntingdon Valley, PA James Brewster, Norcross, GA In Memory of Neal Whitaker The Mary Maffei Family, Loveland, CO Robert and Mary Seifert, Estes Park, CO Rodney Pistilli, Tiburon, CA Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO: Gerald and Hazel Maharry, Lenox, IA Marcus and Joan Sessel, Livingston, TX William Henning, Atlanta, GA In Memory of Robert (Bob) Hegdahl Rala Mandelson, Estes Park, CO Don and Debbie Showalter, Denver, CO and James Burkepile Kathleen E.B. Manley, Santa Fe, NM John and Karen Sinclair, Loveland, CO All in Memory of James “Jim” Burkepile: Donald and Joann Harris, Greeley, CO: Robert Mann and Judith Christy, Tracy and Rudy Spano, San Diego, CA: Carol T. Linnig, Estes Park, CO In Memory of Sue Spooner Fort Collins, CO In Honor of George and Patsy Wagner David and Joy Mohr, Estes Park, CO Elisabeth Freed, Falls Church, VA: Ronald and Sherry Mannis, Longmont, CO Margaret Spitzer, Greeley, CO In Memory of William Carl Busch, Jr. Jillian Mara, Aurora, CO Stanley Staples, Lodi, CA All in Memory of Judy “Jude” Rosen Rebecca Timmins and Michael Barnes, David Marquette, Houston, TX John Stauffer, Topeka, KS Suzanne Stutzman, Golden, CO Minneapolis, MN: Norm Martin, Leawood, KS Toby Stauffer, Fort Collins, CO Jackie Henman, Papillion, NE In Memory of William H. Timmins Margaret & Larry Mason, Fort Collins, CO Judith Steel, Ashland, VA Kris and Bernard Holien, Estes Park, CO Peggy and Leo Matti, Estes Park, CO Susan Steele & Michael Conley, Alice Johns, Grand Island, NE ALL IVER ISITOR Mr. and Mrs. Dale McCutcheon, Plano, TX Estes Park, CO Stephanie Sutton, Grand Canyon, AZ F R V McDonald Transit Associates, Dr. Edward Stephens, White Plains, NY CENTER EXHIBITS FUND Fort Worth, TX William and Shirley Sterling, Jr. All in Memory of Neal Dale Whitaker: Mary Ann McHale and Jeffrey Corson, Georgetown, TX Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Dr. and Mrs. John Christiano, Jupiter, FL Loganton, PA John Stevenson, Estes Park, CO: Springfield, IL In Memory of John P. Christiano MaryAnn and Alexander McLanahan, In Honor of Warren and Mary Jo Plowden Texas A & M University, Dept of History, Houston, TX and Bill and Vicky Craig College Station, TX HISTORIC James and Tricia Medlock, Fort Collins, CO Barbara and James Stewart, Annandale, VA Tracy Nelson, Wichita, KS Martha and Philip Melcher, Saint Paul, MN Philip Stoffel, Denver, CO Doug Johnson, Hoyt, KS PRESERVATION FUND Sandy and Frank Mercurio, Boulder, CO Janice and Kevin Stout, Dillon, CO Laura Weidner, Wichita, KS Mark Meremonte, Evergreen, CO Philip Straffin, Jr., Longmont, CO Marlene Adkison, Topeka, KS Debbie Reece, Phoenix, AZ Joseph and Pam Meylor, Estes Park, CO Mark and Joan Strobel, Saint Paul, MN Ark Valley Distributing INC., Guy Miller, High Rolls Mtn Park, NM Maurita Stueck, Saint Louis, MO Arkansas City, KS LAND PROTECTION FUND Rose Marie Miller, Loveland, CO David and Carla Stutts, Houston, TX John C. Bottenberg, Topeka, KS Dawn Mitchell, Arvada, CO Synerchip USA Corp, Sunnyvale, CA Fred Bourne, Carbondale, KS W. David and Jane Gemmill, Perrysburg, OH Sharon and John H. Mize, San Antonio, TX Micki Syroid, Longmont, CO Budweiser Crawford Sales Company, Jeanne Moore, Denver, CO Anita Tannuzzo, Tampa, FL Olathe, KS LEGACY ENDOWMENT FUND Jerry Moore, Estes Park, CO Sandra L. Tarlton, Swannanoa, NC California Beer and Beverage Distributor, Susan N. Moore, Port Washington, NY John and Pat Taylor, Silverthorne, CO Sacramento, CA Charles and Shirley Morgan, Platteville, CO Jeff Terrill, Lakewood, CO Kay Coles, Sanford, NC Cheyenne Bailey, Aurora, CO Connor and Nancy Morris, Leawood, KS James and Nancy Thomas, Estes Park, CO Whitney Damron, Topeka, KS Liesa and Glynn Brown, Windsor, CO Rick & Marsha Moseley, Bernard & May Thompson, Huntsville, TX Janelle Downs, Leoti, KS Paul and Rosemary Eide, Ft Collins, CO Kansas City, MO Herbert and Sharon Thompson, Decatur, IL D'Earl Dunn, Overland Park, KS William and Donna Foureman, Napa, CA Neva Murphy, Littleton, CO Leonard and Betty Todd, Lenexa, KS Flint Hills Beverage, LLC, Manhattan, KS Kenneth Gamauf, Boulder, CO Dr. Ray R. Nassimbene, Denver, CO Betty & Christian Trummel, Darla Garrett, Burlingame, KS Daniel Goyette, River Hills, WI: Ford and Merry Nielsen, Estes Park, CO Crystal Lake, IL Arletta Gildersleve, Lenexa, KS In Honor of Kathleen Falk for Christmas Marcia Odal, Wichita Falls, TX Anne Turner, Boulder, CO Jane Greene, Topeka, KS Dianne and James Harper, Fort Collins, CO: James and Mary O'Hara, Denver, CO Ron and Marilyn Tuttle, Loveland, CO Molly Haase, Kansas City, MO In Honor of Bettie Wilcox Wendy Oliver, Buena Vista, CO Janet and Carl Vail, Steamboat Springs, CO Julie Hein, Topeka, KS Joseph and Judith Heck, Racine, WI Michael and Jane Olson, Loveland, CO Richard & Angela Vandegrift, Warren, OH: Craig Highfill, Wichita, KS Bob and Marilyn Henricksen, Houston, TX Orange Tree Productions, In Memory of Jim Page Patrick Hubbell, Topeka, KS Gloria S. Hyatt, Golden, CO Newbury Park, CA Bonnie Waite, Firestone, CO Jim Lowther, Emporia, KS Michael Kedda, Derwood, MD Ralph Oshinski, Lawrenceville, GA: Lauretta Wallace, Brewster, NY Allison Luthi, Prairie Village, KS Norm Martin, Leawood, KS In Memory of Julie Gwynn Kit and Rufus Wallingford, Houston, TX Madigan, Dahl & Harlan, P.A., Helen Masterson, Arvada, CO Albert & Dorothy Ossinger, Lakewood, CO Dave Warburton, Newhall, CA Minneapolis, MN William McDonald, Pittsburgh, PA Donna Owens, Gunnison, CO Arthur and Edith Wartburg, Boulder, CO Midwest Distributors Company, Hope Meyer, Boulder, CO Lewis and Ann Palmer, Parker, CO Pam Weathers & Stephen Dungan, Kansas City, KS William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE Tom & Margaret Pearce, Wheat Ridge, CO Stow, MA J.P. Moore, Wichita, KS David and Suzanne Shaw, Columbus, IN Doug Pederson, Topeka, KS Sarah Webb, Alstead, NH Mussatto Bros, Inc., Osage City, KS Ned and Nancy Sworts, Arvada, CO Paula and Timothy Peele, Arvada, CO Marlene and William Wenk, Denver, CO National Beer Wholesalers Association, James and Barbara Todd, Denver, CO James and Karmen Penfold, Greeley, CO Western Sod Installation, Loveland, CO Alexandria, VA Jan and David Waddington, Golden, CO Susan Pensinger, Champaign, IL Nancy Williams, Seattle, WA New York State Beer Wholesalers Phyllis Zumwinkel, Denver, CO Alroy and Kathleen Phillips, Boulder, CO Robert Wood, Fairfax, VA Association, Albany, NY Steven Pettinga, Indianapolis, IN: Dennis and Candice Phillips, Merriam, KS Andy Wunder & Theresa Brown, James Nyman, Topeka, KS In Memory of Dr. & Mrs. C.W. Pettinga Marlys Polson, Estes Park, CO Topeka, KS David Riffle, Wichita, KS Marsha Yelick and Bruce Nickels, Dianne and Richard Pratt, Durango, CO Kenneth & Eilene Znidersic, Louisville, KY Jan Rochelle, Wichita, KS Estes Park, CO: Janet Prehn, Arvada, CO Susan and Ronald Harris, Estes Park, CO: Thomas Romig, Topeka, KS In Memory of James Burkepile Joel and Linda Prehn, Lakewood, CO In Honor of the Bear Lake Trailmasters Schatz Distributing CO., INC., Susan Putnam, Aurora, CO Thomas O'Donnell, Denver, CO: Kansas City, KS Fred Rainguet, Allenspark, CO In Memory of Bryant O'Donnell Vicki Schmidt, Topeka, KS Frank and Nancy Reilly, Phillipsburg, NJ Rocky Mountain Nature Association Quarterly 15

Jon Reid, Bakersfield, CA NEXT GENERATION FUND Lembit & Karen Lilleleht, Eleanor Morrison, Estes Park, CO Charlottesville, VA Bob Fryer, North Sydney, Robert and Berniece Peters, Estes Park, CO (RESTRICTED GIFTS) Charles Lorentz, St. Louis, MO NSW, Australia Donna and Frank Shavlik, Estes Park, CO Betty Luttkus, Aurora, CO David Tavel, Estes Park, CO Nancy Abbott, Kremmling, CO David and Sharry White, Estes Park, CO Ruby Marr, Boulder, CO NEXT GENERATION FUND Joseph and Jane Arnold, Estes Park, CO Norm Martin, Leawood, KS Thomas Wright, Estes Park, CO Lu Anne Aulepp, Loveland, CO E. J. McAndrew, Lawton, MI (UNRESTRICTED GIFTS) Katherine and James Cope, Estes Park, CO Jim and Sue Baldwin, Loveland, CO Charla and Ronnie McManus, Hurst, TX: All in Memory of Judy “Jude” Rosen: Donald Bauman, Wilmington, DE In Honor of Madeline Framson's Birthday Mary and James Alfred, La Grange Park, IL Donald Irwin, Estes Park, CO Donald Beveridge, Independence, WV Frank and Paula Megorden, Anonymous Lynne Schwartz, Eugene, ORRenate L. Fern Blaue, Montgomery City, MO Colorado Springs, CO AT&T Foundation, Princeton, NJ Kathy Bolinsky, Loveland, CO Hope Meyer, Boulder, CO Peggy Carr, Denton, TX SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND Jana Lynn Britton, Fayetteville, AR Margaret L. Foege, Saint Louis, MO Mary and Charles Miller, Landenberg, PA (CUSTODIAL & OPERATIONS) Sue Ellen Charlton and James Boyd, James and Jeanne Mytton, Broomfield, CO Carolyn Hackman, Saint Louis, MO Fort Collins, CO Timothy M. Peters, Chicago, IL Linda Hubbard, Lyons, CO Mark DeGregorio, Masonville, CO Kathryn and Jerry Pope, Littleton, CO Ann and Roger Lott, Lincoln, NE: Edmundson, Estes Park, CO Marjorie Dunmire, Estes Park, CO Glenn Randall, Boulder, CO In Honor of the Wagner-Wehrlia Wedding Bob Fryer, North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Dorothy H. Dunn, Augusta, NJ Ann and Stephen Redd, Greensburg, IN William Martin, Lakewood, CO In Honor of the Wedding of Jeanne Eisenstadt, Loveland, CO James and Linda Riles, Saint Louis, MO Terri Mitchell, Austin, TX Courtney Nielson and Nick Bunch Rasmus Erdal, Fort Collins, CO William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE Orange Tree Productions, Elinor and Stephen Feiss, Towson, MD Newbury Park, CA Larry and Twila Rosenow, Grinnell, IA TRAIL IMPROVEMENT FUND Guido & Annemarie Finocchiaro, Steven S., Riggins, ID Robert Peterson, Denver, CO Estes Park, CO Jerry and Mary Scheppel, Spokane, WA Rocky Mountain Park Inn, Estes Park, CO Donald Gentry, Gering, NE Roger and Carol Struve, Estes Park, CO Marion Steward, Boulder, CO Janice Gibb, Berthoud, CO: Lauren Hayden, Wauwatosa, WI Henry and Joan Tall, Hemet, CA In Honor of Ruth Hess' Birthday Robert and Barbara Hoel, Windsor, CO John and Kathryn Tinsley, Clearwater, FL All in Memory of James “Jim” Burkepile: Mary Marquardt, Julesburg, CO Phyllis & William Howard, Jean Vevers, Palos Park, IL Laurie Hyland, Boulder, CO Hope Meyer, Boulder, CO Pleasant Hill, IA Susan Walters, Longmont, CO Community Foundation of Northern William & Janice Newman, Estes Park, CO Laird & Carol Ingham, Ann Waterman, Colorado Springs, CO Colorado, Fort Collins, CO Ron and Cathy Dummer, Ben Wheeler, TX: Hollywood Park, TX Donna Lehr, Longmont, CO: Roger Gunlikson, Fort Collins, CO In Memory of Darren Daniel Dummer Dr. James and Gerry Irvine, Estes Park, CO In Memory of Craig Ashbaugh Marilyn Irwin, Estes Park, CO Marilyn Irwin, Estes Park, CO: Brenda & Winston Peeler, Platte City, MO: Richard Grunz, Boulder, CO PARK PUZZLE ANSWERS In Memory of Judy Rosen In Memory of Grain Winston Peeler Roger Burkepile, Montrose, CO Anthony Japha, New York, NY L. Fern Blaue, Montgomery City, MO: Helen Hondius, Estes Park, CO K Jarvis, Providence Village, TX In Memory of Jeffrey Le Masters George and Beth Carle, Estes Park, CO Elton Johnson, Tahlequah, OK Alice D. Schwartz, Estes Park, CO: David Chambers, Estes Park, CO Louise H. Johnson, Bloomington, IN: In Memory of Jude Rosen Mary Cropp, Virginia Dale, CO In Honor of Janet and Rob Ludlum Martin Damrell, Eaton, CO Gary and Pamela Jurgemeyer, Fairplay, CO All in Honor of the Wedding of Brian and Louise Desmond, Estes Park, CO Frank Kasle, Hobart, IN Courtney Nielson and Nick Bunch Jerry Fagerquist, Fremont, NE Michael Kedda, Derwood, MD Blair Blackwell, New York, NY Dorothy Gibbs, Estes Park, CO Bonnie Kissling, Denver, CO Janet Hoskins, Denver, CO James and Diane Hein, Estes Park, CO Robert & Elizabeth Ladd, Fort Collins, CO Teresa Jarvi, Lone Tree, CO Donald Irwin, Estes Park, CO Ulla and Mani Lee, Loveland, CO Anita Odeen, Loderup, Sweden, From Anita, Joan Kimble, Canyon Lake, TX Bud and Kelly Lester, Georgetown, TX Magnus, Teresa and Fredrik Doug McGuire, Fremont, NE Keith Meier, Arlington, NE Rocky’s 100th Anniversary Logo Design Unveiled

submitted from all over the country depicted parties to use to tie their product or event to aspects of Rocky Mountain National Park’s the Centennial Celebration (special rules rich cultural and natural history. From apply). Native American imagery to mountain Festivities will kick off on September 4, skylines, the designs submitted for the 2014, the 99th Anniversary of the park’s contest represented the variety of powerful public dedication in Horseshoe Park. The images people through time have associated Centennial Celebration will continue until with Rocky Mountain National Park. The September 4, 2015, providing ample time The 100th anniversary of Rocky contest entries were rated by several panels for communities and organizations to link Mountain National Park is quickly including an employee committee, a existing events to the commemoration and approaching! To kick off planning efforts for community committee which included celebrate their connection with Rocky the year-long centennial celebration, the RMNA Executive Director Charley Money, Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain Nature Association and and the park management team. For information on 100th Anniversary Rocky Mountain National Park have The winning logo was designed by planning, or to be added to our 100th selected a 100th Anniversary Logo. Carol Welker, a graphic artist based out of Anniversary mailing list to receive updates During the summer, the 100th Dallas, Texas, with family ties to the Estes on planning and events, email Anniversary slogan, Wilderness, Wildlife, Park area (Pat Welker, her mother, is an [email protected]. For Wonder, inspired close to 100 designs for RMNA Member and has, in fact, worked for more information on logo use, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Park 100th RMNA in the past!). Her striking design will http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ Anniversary Logo Contest. Designs soon be will be available for interested 100th_anniversary.htm. For comments or questions contact: Charles Money, Executive Director Non-Profit Nancy Wilson, Quarterly Editor Organization Rocky Mountain Nature Association US Postage PO Box 3100 PAID Estes Park, Colorado 80517 Permit #184 (970) 586-0108 Estes Park, CO www.rmna.org

Proof of life. Animals such as elk, deer, bear and porcupine eat, scratch and abuse the trunks of aspen trees on a regular basis. Photo: RMNA Member Gary Quay, Gainesville, FL. NATURE ASSOCIATION NOTES...

Though we shouldn’t be surprised, the winds on the east side of the park the lateness of the seem abnormally gusty, and the temperatures quite frigid to boot, altogether season...... RMNP Resources coming off very much like winter....Huge herds of elk are frequently seen Manager Jeff Connor said on both the east and west sides of the park this time of year as they hunker that some local birders down in the long grasses or along the trees for the shelter they provide. reported seeing common Bull elk wander around in groups of 3-5, understated in their solitary redpolls at Lily Lake in early wanderings, but sporting beautiful antlers for those that can discern them December. He noted that it’s amidst the willow branches on which the elk browse..... RMNA pretty early in the winter for Development and Outreach Manager Julie Klett observed what appeared redpolls. Redpolls are an arctic to be a flock of snow geese flying high over the town of Estes Park in finch that wander south in the November....RMNA Field Seminars Manager Rachel Balduzzi watched a winter and are considered huge bighorn ram with two ewes and a couple of lambs behind the Field irregular to rare in Colorado, Seminar Center in early December. He was obviously in the throes of especially along the Front American magpie searching for food. testosterone and feeling his oats. Weighing at least 350 pounds and sporting Range foothills. While Photo: RMNA Member Gene Putney This shot was taken in Moraine Park in late October an impressive full curl, he makes his presence known with a lot of bush Colorado is basking in heat and when this colorful bird was shuffling through the snow in thrashing and loud bleating. When Rachel tapped on the glass of her office a lack of snow, up in Alaska search of seeds or nuts, or whatever else might be lurking window the ram stared her down and bleated at her as a challenge. He and Canada they are having under there. It used its beak to push the snow from side to spends a fair amount of time pacing the hillside, daring anything to some of the coldest side (obviously!) and Gene caught it as it was off-balance, interfere with him. At one point he walked down alongside the building on temperatures on record for this using its wings to steady itself. the sidewalk and posed in an aggressive stance into the wind. Sheep time of year, causing some species to move south earlier than usual. Keep your eyes commonly are seen in this area from October through December and from peeled!.....Jeff also spotted a bobcat one morning in late October when he arrived to March through May.....Former Seasonal Interpretive Ranger Don Irwin work in the park. The bobcat was wandering through the park utility area parking lot was hiking by himself to Sky Pond several years ago, and although he did in the predawn light, apparently hunting for the rabbits that often hang out under the not have an early start, by the time he reached the Mills/Loch junction, he vehicles. While he never did see the bobcat in the act of catching a rabbit, he did had the trail essentially to himself. As he hiked along the edge of the Loch, notice that a certain rabbit he used to see scampering about was no longer around..... he began to meet hikers returning from destinations further ahead. He even Also interesting (although not in the park), in late November near Jeff’s house in entertained the thought that he might actually get to have Sky Pond all to Boulder, a black bear killed and ate a neighbor’s pet goat — noteworthy because of himself! As he approached the steep section below Timberline Falls, he the unusual occurrence of a black bear on the move in November.....RMNA encountered just one more couple before the trail ahead was free of hikers. Membership Manager Curtis Carman saw a gaggle of wild turkeys on Old Fall After scrambling up alongside the falls and leaving the sound of the River Road in early December. Smart birds, eh? Waiting to walk until after rushing water behind him as he maneuvered around Lake of Glass, he was Thanksgiving....In late July, Colorado River District Systems Specialist Debbie still by himself. All was quiet except for the scraping of his boots on the Mason was out and about on west side roads when she saw a car pulled over on the rock. He was counting himself exceedingly lucky, when, imagine his side of the road. She drove past thinking elk, deer, moose, whatever. Her husband, surprise then when he approached Sky Pond and looked up to see the lake Tom, noticed that there was no “whatever” about it — it was a black bear. This one surrounded by brown- and saffron-robed monks meditating in complete was black in color (not all are black - cinnamon, brown and blonde are other color silence. It was both jarring and breathtaking in the same instant. The variants), and very possibly the one that had been hanging around the visitor center Buddhist Conference was taking place at the YMCA of the Rockies and acting in a very un-bearly manner. This time, however, it was being (mostly) a wild this group had risen early to meditate in a very special spot. This vivid bear. It approached an empty cabin, climbed up on the porch, checked the empty image will long remain in his memory.....RMNA American Conservation hummingbird feeder then moved on. It even stopped in the yard and dug something Corps Manager Steve Coles reported coming upon two large bull elk that up before moving off toward the woods. In Debbie’s 20 years on the west side she’s were sparring and shoving each other around in the middle of Fall River only seen 2 or 3 bears, so this was very special.....A New Years’ wish for all: may Road in late November. Then, RMNA Volunteer Ruth Hess heard bugling that special sighting be yours this year! that same morning, confirming that the rut wasn’t yet quite over, despite