QUARTERLY Spring 2016
D N P : dona ons go to local organiza ons or T C ins tu ons that are well-known to the by Charley Money donor. By a wide margin, people want “Why would anyone donate to sup- to give to those things that mean the port the naƟ onal parks? Aren’t parks most to them, whether it is their be- already managed by the government?” liefs, their community or the hospital “Don’t we Americans already support where their children were born. the parks through our taxes?” Just like these cherished things, These ques ons invariably come up in na onal parks serve each of us conversa on with peers in other types personally and fi t uniquely into our of nonprofi t organiza ons. And I have individual values. Parks exist for us to to admit that, at fi rst, their ques ons enjoy, to absorb what is most mean- made sense. As a country, we have ingful to us, and to explore un l our elected to set aside lands for public curiosity is sated, or, at least, un l the use and delegate the protec on of next visit. They become “our” place, those lands to government agencies. taking on quali es we associate with Isn’t that enough? our most cherished possessions. Is it Well, if we were talking about an any wonder that we might ques on interstate highway or the federal gold whether we would want their care le reserve, philanthropic support would completely to an “agency”? not likely be a factor. However, giving Don’t get me wrong. You won’t is very personal. It requires a s mulus fi nd a more dedicated, caring and that compels us to act. While a high- skilled workforce than that of our Na- way may get us from point A to point onal Park Service, who, for the last B, and we may appreciate the conve- 100 years, has protected the special nience, the road itself does not earn places that represent both our history our devo on. And Fort Knox might af- as well as our hopes for the future. Far ford comfort to some by its existence, from a faceless bureaucracy, indi- but you are not likely to be welcomed viduals working in the parks educate within its walls. So what is it about our children, protect the wildlife and parks that makes them diff erent? repair the roads and trails, not just as First, let’s explore what people do a job, but as a voca on to serve. So, support with their charitable contri- again, if the Na onal Park Service is so bu ons. The top recipients of chari- great and doing so much, why do the table contribu ons are churches, edu- parks need our help? ca onal ins tu ons, and health and The simple answer is: because human services, then come the arts we love them. And we are willing and the environment. Most individual (Nat’l Park DonaƟ ons conƟ nued on page 2)
I : BIG NEWS ABOUT THE CASCADE COTTAGES CAMPAIGN! (SEE PAGE 12) 2 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er
to shoulder the responsibility that but for all. They have seen and comes with that love. We want felt the impact of open vistas and to make sure our favorite trail is endless trails on the human spirit protected from erosion; that there is and see the need for that refl ected a place where our aged parent can in their fellow ci zens. They want walk with dignity; where the view programs that the government alone that fi rst brought our families to- cannot off er, programs that reach gether in wonder remains unaltered into dense urban communi es and by human trace; and that there will into popula ons that haven’t yet be someone to share and interpret experienced the joy of free-running this miraculous world and present a streams and mountain sunsets. Junior Ranger badge to our children, Just as democracy does not grandchildren or even lilive up to its our great, great, great Just as democracy does not live nname without grandchildren. up to its name without open oopen avenues And parks need avenues to par cipate in the tto par cipate us. To give, whether process, parks and other public in the process, it be of our me, our lands will not remain “public” pparks and other voice, or our hard- unless they serve all the people ppublic lands earned dollars, is pay- and enjoy universal support. wwill not remain ment on an insurance ““public” unless plan for our parks and they serve all the people peo and enjoy for future genera ons. Our generos- universal support. ity supplements declining and redi- And now, here’s the pitch: If you rected federal budgets so that trails, want to make that diff erence, join roads and facili es are maintained; it us or another nonprofi t organiza on ensures that the campground ranger that supports your favorite park, for- programs we loved as children will est or refuge. We, and organiza ons be part of our children’s park experi- like us, are your bridge to involve- ence; and it con nues the tradi on ment, to innova ve programs and of “paying it forward” as an example to fullfi lment our collec ve respon- for the next genera on of park sup- sibility to create new park lovers for porters. the future. Whether you want to And we o en hear from donors protect more land, build more trails, that they want even more from their preserve more historic structures or parks. In addi on to maintaining all create more opportuni es for youth, that the parks currently off er (and we can do it together. keeping the trash picked up), they want them fi nancially and physically Charley Money is the execuƟ ve director
Photo: Jim Louk Photo: accessible, not just for themselves, of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
Save the Date! Richard Schmid: A Retrospec ve Exhibi on A Fine Art Show to Benefi t the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Fundraising event: In 1998, Richard Schmid won the This show will be cohosted by • September 24 $100,000 prize in the Arts for the Parks West Wind Fine Art and Gallery 1261, 12:00 – 4:30 pm Compe on for his pain ng, “Rocky both in Denver, and held at Gallery 1261 at the Colorado Mountain Stream, Rocky Mountain Na- at 1261 Delaware Street in Denver. History Center, onal Park.” For this fundraising event, 1200 Broadway, Fine Art show: Richard graciously produced a limited Denver, CO 80203 September 24 – October 1, 2016 at edi on signed print of this piece with 1261 Delaware St., Denver, CO 80203. In addi on to honoring Richard, this proceeds to benefi t the Rocky Mountain • September 24, 6:00 – 9:00 pm event will be a fundraising event for Conservancy’s campaign. Opening & Ar st’s Recep on the Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Open to the public Cascade Co ages campaign. Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 3 Join the Ask Nancy Conservancy Team! Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson a empts to unearth answers to any ques ons asked by Conservancy members and park Adopt a duck and visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the park, email [email protected] or write: win a trip to Ireland! Nancy Wilson, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100, (or Disneyland, Mexico or San Francisco! Estes Park, CO 80517.
Estes Park Duck Race gives all but How do birds mate? In birds, the excretory and reproduc ve systems $1 of your donation to the charity (of both male and female) terminate in a single structure called the cloaca. The cloaca is an opening located beneath the tail, where of your choice. (Pick us! Pick us!) the undertail covert feathers occur. In the vast majority of species (excep ons explained below), transfer of male sperm to the female Dreaming of a trip to Southern Ireland? An adventure to is accomplished by direct contact of the two individuals’ cloacas Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? Or a getaway weekend to San (euphemis cally, a “cloacal kiss”). Typically the female crouches low, Francisco, New Orleans or Disneyland? This year’s much- facing away from the male, moves her tail feathers (rectrices) to one an cipated Estes Park Duck Race, organized by the Estes side and elevates her rear. The male mounts the female’s back (called Park Rotary Club, is on May 7. Each duck you adopt gives “treading”), moves his rectrices to the opposite side of the female’s and lowers his rear so that his cloaca directly contacts hers. Copula- you a chance to win one of the major prizes — trips on is usually complete in just a couple of seconds or less (although I including airfare and accommoda ons for two, valued once observed a wild turkey copula on that was close to fi ve min- over $11,000. utes!). Now, the excep on. Most notably in the duck and ostrich families, there is a structure a ached to the lower wall of a male’s The entry process is simple. You adopt a duck (or a fl ock cloaca that extends and is inserted into a female’s cloaca during of ducks) for a fee of $20 each ($21 for each online copula on — yes, a penis. Unlike mammals, this avian intromi ent adop on) and select the Rocky Mountain Conservancy structure is designed to carry the sperm externally along the penis as your charity (hint, hint). The Conservancy will then — an external groove, and o en a spiral shape facilitates delivery of receive 95% of your adop on fee as a tax-deduc ble the sperm into the female’s cloaca. One of my ornithology textbooks gi . The more adop ons we sell, the more money we states that about 3% of bird species, generally in the more primi ve raise for the park! What a great way to donate to the families, have this appurtenance. — ReƟ red RMNP Wildlife Biologist Conservancy and have a chance to win a great prize, Where are the weather sta ons in the park? I ask because the maybe even the vaca on of a life me! weather reports from RMNP are very diff erent from those in Estes Park and Glen Haven. The park gets its weather forecasts from the To learn more, see the complete prize list, and enter, Na onal Weather Service that are modelled from weather sta ons visit: www.epduckrace.org (and be sure to select the in the area, such as Grand Lake and Boulder. In addi on, there are Rocky Mountain Conservancy!). several SNOTEL sites which monitor snow depth and some weather data in the park. They can be accessed at www.wcc.nrcs.usda. The 28th Annual Duck Race con nues a tradi on started gov/snow/snow_map.html. The park has various other small-scale in 1989, with a fabulous track record of returning more weather sta ons u lized by park management and some researchers, than $2 million to Estes Park chari es and groups. We but these data does not go into public weather forecasts. Weather. thank the Estes Park Rotary Club for their ongoing sup- com is a private organiza on that likely uses NOAA, Na onal Weather port of our organiza on and our community. Service data as a base, but customizes its own modeling for its users. On the weather.gov site, you can click specifi c spots on the map. It is interes ng to see how the weather forecast changes across the eleva- www.epduckrace.org onal gradient (and east and west sides) of the park. And again this is the result of computer modeling; your actual-experienced weather may vary. — RMNP Ecologist Paul McLaughlin Cover photo credits What is the status of the bark beetle epidemic in Rocky? More than (Upper): “Winter Ballet on Lake Helene” by Lisa Foster, Estes twenty bark beetle species of the Ips genera and approximately ten Park, CO; (Lower) “Chasm Lake Cirque” by Mike Lukens, Estes bark beetle species of the Dendroctonus genera are na ve and en- Park, CO demic to the Southern Rocky Mountains. The mountain pine beetle Please send high-resolu on images to (Dendroctonus ponderosae) has become the most well-known bark [email protected] by June 1 for publica on beetle because of its recent epidemic infesta ons throughout the in the 2016 Summer Quarterly. Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico. The popula on density of Photos are always appreciated! Scenery, wildlife and wild- bark beetles fl uctuates in response to forest dynamics, including tree fl owers greatly enhance this publica on, so get out there and species diversity, density, drought, fi re and other forest health factors largely driven by environmental condi ons. Presently, mountain pine take a hike! Thank You! beetle popula ons have decreased to much lower levels throughout (Bark Beetle Status conƟ nued on page 5) 4 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er The Ripple Effects of Fish Stocking in Rocky
by Mary Ann Franke used, was to stock at least one fi shless water in the park every year. Fish were carried on mules as far as possible, then transferred to specially designed StarƟ ng up the Lawn Lake trail with 8,000 fi sh bound for backpacks. The Na onal Park Service the high country lakes Photo: NPS supported the eff ort by obtaining fi sh Give a man a fi sh, and you feed appear to have abundant fi sh habitat. and eggs from federal and state agen- him for a day; show him how to However, waterfalls and other barri- cies and providing rangers to assist catch fi sh, and he’ll put fi sh in lakes ers to upstream migra on means that with the stocking. When the stockers nearly all of those lakes and most of found Chiquita Lake covered with four that don’t already have them. those stream miles feetfe of ice in May, 1925, The only trout believed to This could have been the mo o were fi shless prior theyt valiantly chopped be na ve to [Rocky] are the across the West as wilderness areas to stocking. The throught it to stock the cu hroat trout species that began being used for recrea on in the only trout believed fi sh. were present in some lower 19th century. While nearly all of the to be na ve to the In 1933, the NPS eleva on waters before high-eleva on lakes in western states area are the cut- WildlifeW Division recom- stocking began. were originally fi shless, eventually throat trout species mendedm the reduc on nearly half of them contained fi sh. that were present ofo non-na ve species in Stocking programs became so popu- in some lower eleva onon waterswatters bbeforeeffore thethhe parksparkks andand acknowledgeda that rec- lar that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus stocking began. rea onal fi shing was an excep on to mykiss), which are na ve only to the But the goal of the Estes Park Fish NPS policies that generally prohibited Pacifi c Northwest, can now be caught and Game Associa on, which formed the removal of na ve plants and ani- in all 50 states. in 1921 to determine which waters mals. Yet the Park Service con nued and what species of trout were to be to believe that the “benefi t to man Plant a Fish, Catch a Fisherman In 1886, two decades before Rocky Mountain Na onal Park was established, the State of Colorado put 20,000 brook trout (Salvelinus fonƟ - nalis) into the North St. Vrain Creek. Stocking of Grand Lake began 10 years later with “8 cans” of rainbow trout. By then, tourism had become so eco- nomically important that the Colorado State Fish Commissioner claimed, “Fi y thousand young trout ought to go into [Estes Park] every year. Even if every fi sh planted at such points as these is caught each year, it will pay the State to keep on pu ng them in.” Local civic-minded organiza ons con- structed fi sh hatcheries on Fall River in 1907 and at Grand Lake in 1908. With 156 lakes and more than 400 miles of streams, the park might Fish to be planted in milk cans for transport, 1932 Photo: NPS Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 5 [of recrea onal fi shing] overrules the Environment Eff ects of disadvantages which are incidentally Stocked Lakes incurred.” In a policy statement issued The introduc on of three years later, NPS Director Arno a fi sh species to a lake or Cammerer announced that “in waters stream alters the local where exo c species are best suited food webs, including the to the environment and have proven phytoplankton, zooplank- of higher value for fi shing purposes ton, benthic invertebrate than na ve species, plan ngs of exot- communi es and birds. In ics may be con nued.” addi on, the stocking of The Civilian Conserva on Corps, fi sh in park streams that which was ac ve in the park from were already occupied by 1933 to 1942, helped with the fi sh na ve fi sh diminished the stocking and constructed substan- na ve popula ons through al fi sh rearing ponds at Endovalley, compe on for food and Horseshoe Park, Hollowell Park and interbreeding. This results along the East Inlet of Grand Lake. in the replacement of gene cally pure fi sh with Pu ng Ecology Ahead hybrid species. of Recrea on A study of 12 lakes in By the 1960s, however, the Park Ser- Wild Basin from 2009 to vice was beginning to more consis- 2012 by Thomas Mabon tently value the ecological integrity of Detmer and James Mc- RMNP fi sh status map Courtesy of the NPS the parks over recrea onal ac vi es Cutchan, Jr. of the University for park visitors. In 1968, a er 27 mil- of Colorado, found that, compared to lion fi sh had been added to the waters lakes without fi sh, the presence of fi sh staff is working with collaborators to of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, fi sh reduces the abundance of aqua c in- evaluate the abundance and gene c stocking for recrea onal purposes sects and zooplankton and the mean assignment of the park’s cu hroat came to an end. Six of the 56 lakes and maximum size of invertebrates; it trout popula ons. Based on the most that contained introduced fi sh popula- also signifi cantly reduces the trans- recent analyses, no popula ons of the ons subsequently reverted to their port of zooplankton available to food cu hroat trout na ve to the east side original fi shless status. But introduced webs in streams below the lake by of the park remain; but four rela vely fi sh popula ons remain present in nearly 80%. pure (<20% mixed heritage) popula- about one-third of the park’s lakes The subspecies or lineages of the ons of the cu hroat trout na ve to and many of its stream miles, and park’s na ve cu hroat trout are more the west side of the park are s ll pres- most of those fi sh are nonna ve spe- gene cally diverse than was ini ally ent there. cies — Eastern brook trout, rainbow recognized back when they were trout, brown trout (Salmo truƩ a) and Mary Ann Franke has been an NPS divided geographically into “Colorado writer-editor at Yellowstone NaƟ onal Yellowstone cu hroat trout (On- River cu hroat trout” and “green- Park and served as a volunteer at the corhynchus clarkii bouvieri). back cu hroat trout.” Today, park McGraw Ranch Research StaƟ on.
(Bark Beetle Status conƟ nued from page 3)
Colorado’s forests. While bark beetles and spruce budworms (Choristoneura and habitat for other might be declining, recently through- occidentalis) rou nely stress mixed wildlife, increase struc- out Colorado we have observed conifer forests in localized popula- tural diversity of forests, popula on increases in Douglas-fi r ons. Addi onally, non-na ve insects and are important forest beetles (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae), such as the emerald ash borer (Agrilus recyclers. A wide variety of forest Spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufi pen- planipennis) have become a signifi - insect popula ons will con nue to nis), and Western balsam bark beetles cant concern in urban forests found in thrive where the right combina on of (Dryocoetes confusus) in various coni- Front Range communi es. Along with environmental and forest condi ons fer tree species like spruce, Douglas fi r disease and fi re, forest insects can favor a par cular species’ survival and and subalpine fi r. Defoliators such as aff ect forest age, density, composi on reproduc on. — RMNP Resources Tussock moths (Dasychira grisefacta) and structure. Insects provide food Management Specialist John Mack 6 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er TThehe NNationalational PParkark SService:ervice: CCelebratingelebrating 100100 YearsYears ooff StoriesStories andand StewardshipStewardship by RMNP Park Ranger, Interpreter park sites as they seek to balance Barbara Sco visitor enjoyment with preserva- NNPSPS CCentennialentennial On January 26, 1915, Rocky on and stewardship. Mountain Na onal Park was This charge has only grown EEventsvents inin RockyRocky established. It joined a hand- more challenging over the years 110000 IImagesmages fforor 110000 YYearsears ful of other na onal parks and as the na on’s popula on has April 16 – 24, 2016 monuments, such as Yellowstone, con nued to grow and new Beaver Meadows Visitor Center; Free Mount Rainier and Mesa Verde. obstacles to preserva on have Celebrate Na onal Park Week and the Na onal Park Service Centennial with 100 beau ful photographs picked These parks were established developed. Climate change, over- from our Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Instagram account. with good intent, but lacked any crowding, habitat fragmenta on, real coordina on or organiza on modern-day relevance, develop- NNaa oonalnal ParkPark WeekWeek - FFreeree AAdmission!dmission! for their protec on. ment pressure and invasive spe- April 16 – 24, 2016 Just over a year later, on Au- cies all clamber for top billing as During Na onal Park Week, April 16 – 24, all na onal parks off er FREE ADMISSION. Na onal Park Week is gust 25, 1916, President Wood- the greatest threat to our na on’s America’s biggest celebra on of our na onal heritage. row Wilson signed into law the heritage sites. It’s about making great connec ons, exploring amazing act crea ng the Na onal Park Ser- Even a er 100 years, the places, discovering open spaces, enjoying aff ordable vaca- vice. The mission of this agency Na onal Park Service con nues ons, and enhancing America’s best idea... our na onal created under the Department of to face these challenges head-on. parks! the Interior was clearly stated: These sites preserve our na on’s CCentennialentennial StudentStudent ArtArt ExhibitExhibit most precious memories and “…to conserve the scenery and the May 22 – June 19, 2016 resources for future genera ons. Fall River Visitor Center; Free natural and historic objects and They tell stories about how life Students from across Colorado were asked to envision the wild life therein and to provide their favorite na onal park in the next 100 years and cap- was and how life is. They tell for the enjoyment of the same in ture that in various art mediums. The winners of this con- stories about survival and stories such a manner and by such means test sponsored by the Estes Ins tute will be exhibited in of triumph and defeat. They tell the downstairs lobby of the Fall River Visitor Center. Come as will leave them unimpaired for the stories that make our country by and see the crea vity of these amazing students! the enjoyment of future genera- unique. And today, these stories Ɵ ons.” CCentennialentennial StudentStudent ArtArt ContestContest RRecepecep oonn play an important role in the lives June 11, 2016 Originally charged with the of millions of visitors, with their Fall River Visitor Center; Free management of 31 na onal parks impact con nuing into the 21st Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Estes Ins tute and monuments, the Na onal century. Centennial Student Art Contest at this fun event. There will Park Service now oversees 407 As the Na onal Park Service be food, drink, special speakers and inspiring young ar sts! units, and this mission heads into its second century, MMoreore eventsevents wwillill bebe off eredered aass ttheyhey aarere sscheduled.cheduled. StayStay abreastabreast withwith CentennialCentennial con nues guide these valuable stories are what eeventvent uupdatespdates atat nps.govnps.gov aandnd give credence to the idea that cclicklick onon “Events.”“Events.” na onal parks really are America’s best idea. Join us in celebra ng 100 years of stewardship and be a part of this special year. Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 7 Colorado Na onal Parks Film Premiers This Spring: Proceeds Benefi t the Conservancy The Rocky Mountain Conservancy Their newest cinema c is pleased to announce a beau ful journey profi les Rocky Moun- new fl im showcasing the na onal tain Na onal Park, Mesa Verde parks of Colorado. Created by Great Na onal Park, Black Canyon of Divide Pictures of Denver, CO, this lo- the Gunnison Na onal Park, cal fi lm company has been making his- Great Sand Dunes Na onal tory — natural, cultural, and military Park and Preserve, and Colorado Na- Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Best — come alive for more than 20 years. onal Monument. The fi lm provides Use Fund. The fi lm will also be aired They’ve produced award-winning his- a unique perspec ve of Colorado’s Na- on PBS beginning in April. torical programs and natural history onal Parks through stunning fi lmog- fi lms for Discovery Channel, History raphy and unique aerial footage. The View the fi lm preview at: Channel, Home and Garden TV and fi lm was premiered on March 30, with www.greatdividepictures.com the Na onal Park Service. proceeds from the event going to the
8. Ponderosa pines are common in Rocky in the montane life zone, preferring Park Puzzler sunny areas like south-facing slopes. Its bark smells like bu erscotch to some folks, but others swear it’s more like ___. by RM Conservancy Member Joel Kaplow 9. California and Alaska are ed for bragging rights for state having the most number of na onal parks. How many does each state have? AAcrosscross 12. If you think RMNP is big at 415 square miles, try looking at Yellowstone, 3. With fungi, most of the organism is out of sight either below ground or within decay- with 3,400. If you think that’s big, consider the largest na onal park in the U.S., ing ma er. Only the frui ng bodies are visible. What are they called? Wrangell-St. Elias at 13,000. But the largest na onal park in the world is Northeast 5. Rocky’s li le pocket gopher isn’t called such because of its diminu veness. It has ___ Na onal Park at 375,000 square miles, and no, that’s not a typo! It occupies cheek ___ to carry food to its burrow. about 45% of the world’s largest island, but gets only about 500 visitors a year. 7. One of the 13-Down found in RMNP is mistletoe. It can cause trees to have unsightly, 13. Some organisms in both the animal and plant kingdoms survive by taking misshapen branch clusters known whimsically as witches’ ___. nourishment directly from other living organisms, commonly deleteriously aff ect- 10. Treeline is mainly determined by temperature. Trees generally will not grow in areas ing the health of their hosts, which can even result in death. One example is cited where the average annual temperature is below ___ degrees F., so the land above this in 7-Across. What is the term for these “moochers”? “line” will be devoid of them. 15. Most fungi are saprophy c; they live by using powerful ___ to decompose 11. On July 15, 1982, the ___ Lake earthen dam, below Mummy Mountain, failed. organic ma er. Unfortunately, ea ng the wrong ones can cause severe damage to The resul ng fl ood took three lives and inundated Estes Park. This prompted the Park the liver and kidneys. Service to dismantle the dams at Pear, Sandbeach and Bluebird lakes. 17. Rocky’s a endance surpassed ___ million last year for the fi rst me. 14. What is the Russian word that means “land with no trees”? 19. How many of the 10 largest na onal parks in the U.S. are claimed by Alaska? 16. There is a wonderful group of ci zen scien sts who volunteer to help RMNP profes- sionals every year. They assist with park studies from A to Z, taking samples, counts, surveys, etc., among other ac vi es. They are proud to be known as the ___ Herd. 18. All of the aspen trees in a grove can be considered a single, large organism. One tree can send out horizontal roots, and suckers pop up from them. These suckers grow into new trees, and are ___ of the original tree. 20. No doubt with the help of RMNP’s 100th anniversary celebra on last year, the at- tendance record was sha ered, and Rocky was the ___-most visited na onal park in the country, up from its norm of number fi ve. 21. However, no other U.S. na onal park even comes close in a endance to Great Smoky Mountains NP, with double the visitors of the second-most visited, Grand Canyon NP. GS- MNP straddles a shared state line, with about half in North Carolina, the other half in ___. 22. Above treeline are are found vast areas of angular boulders, seemingly tossed about by the slow process of frost heave. The German term for these tracts is felsenmeer, meaning “___ of rocks.” DDownown 1. For 2015, the Na onal Park Service reported a new a endance record for all 59 parks combined, with over ___ hundred million visitors. 2. When meltwater fl ows beneath a glacier as a stream going through an ice tunnel, it can plug itself up with silt, gravel, rocks and other detritus. When the glacier retreats, it will leave these giant snakelike ridges — casts of the tunnels — behind. What are these features called? 4. The most common mushroom-poisoning in the world is caused by Amanita phalloi- des, aka death cap, which is found in Europe and on both U.S. coasts. Its less-poisonous cousin, Amanita ___, is commonly found in Rocky. If you see a gorgeous red mushroom with white dots, enjoy, but don’t touch! 6. Perhaps the na onal park a endance record from last year will be surpassed again, as this year the Na onal Park Service celebrates its ___ anniversary. 8 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er
Joanne Helmuth, Miho Horikoshi and Lisa Foster enjoy high country skaƟ ng on Blue Lake (11,140 feet), 11 miles round trip. Photo Angie Bryant High Country Ice Skating An Adventure Extraordinaire by Lisa Foster ten those metal runners on her and she outside to exercise and looking at the When I was a young girl, my father would merrily shuffl e across the frozen landscape in a diff erent way. would get together with the neigh- lakes in the wind. She loved it. As she And it’s a huge mo vator for bors, each of them brandishing their grew, it quickly became apparent that children. If you’re looking for a way to garden hoses at the fi rst frost to fi ll a she would outgrow the strap-on skates s mulate your child to experience the li le hollow with water. The Montana and need a pair of single-blade skates. outdoors in winter — when it’s more winter would quickly freeze it into solid So I got myself a pair too, and voilà — we cozy to stay inside and play Xbox — high ice; and when it did, we would don our had a new and exci ng way to engage country ice ska ng just might be the shiny ice skates, twirling and spinning with our na onal park and allow to enjoy cket. around the man-made pond with glee our li le slice of heaven even more. and delight. I felt just like Hans Brinker, Alpine ice ska ng may not sound the fi c onal teenage Dutch boy who en cing to some people—and I’ll admit, skated on the canals in Holland. It is one you’ve got to want it. First, you must of my earliest and fondest childhood brave the winter by snowshoeing or memories. skiing to an alpine lake. In RMNP this Time marched on, and so did I. I can be as benign as a four-mile round forgot all about ice ska ng and became trip hike, or as daun ng as a twenty- passionate about other pursuits. When mile round trip hike. Once you get to my daughter was born in 2009, I began the lake, it’s cold, it’s o en windy, and packing her up in a child carrier and the ice is inconsistent -- bumpy, cracked taking her to many of the alpine lakes in and variable. You’ve got to embrace the Rocky Mountain Na onal Park (RMNP). wind and deal with numb fi ngers as you It was my way of sharing my love of lace up your skates. But the quality of nature with my baby. By the me she the experience is the key -- it’s about started walking we had inherited a pair feeling the wind and the sun on your of double-runner skates that strap onto face. It’s about sharing a unique expe- boots. When winter arrived, I would fas- rience with others. It’s about ge ng Six-year-old Ellie Kostadinov skates on Mills Lake (9,940 feeet), 5.4 miles round trip. Photo: Lisa Foster Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 9 But don’t let the kids have all the Are you ready to dazzle your fun; ska ng on RMNP’s beau ful alpine lakes is exhilara ng for adults too! And friends and family with what be er way to pretend you’re a kid photos of your impressive ice again than to lace metal blades on your ska ng feats? Here’s what you feet and go careening across a pocked and bumpy frozen surface while the need to know for a fun-fi lled wind howls and the sun shines down? and safe adventure! RMNP is one of the premier areas in Bring an extra-large pack. Ice skates are Colorado to skate on alpine lakes. Why? Angie Bryant laces up her skates on bulky and don’t fi t easily into carrying Well, in case you hadn’t no ced, Estes Lake Haiyaha (10,220 feet), 6.6 miles pouches. Do yourself a favor and get a pair round-trip. Photo: Lisa Foster Park is a windy place. The wind blows. of hard plas c skate guards so that the metal And it blows. And it blows and it blows blades don’t poke a hole in your favorite backpack. and blows. Most people fi nd it diffi cult to tolerate the wind, much less to like Bring a shovel. On the odd occasion that it’s snowed recently in RMNP and the typical high winds haven’t yet started to blow, a shovel makes it possible to the wind. But without these high winds, clear a sec on of ice for ska ng. our alpine lakes would be buried under snow all winter long. When the wind Bring plenty of warm clothing. Even though you’ll probably be swea ng on the picks up, it carries the snow away, leav- hike to the lake, by the me you fi ddle your skates onto your feet (brrrr….cold ing beau ful, unobstructed alpine ice hands!), you’ll glide out onto the windy lake and cool down. Dress warmly! — just perfect for some not-so-perfect Bring your skates on all of your winter hikes! It’s like bringing a fi shing pole in alpine ska ng! the summer. It’s always good to be prepared should you come across an alpine What do I mean by perfectly “not- lake in good condi on. so-perfect”? There’s no Zamboni (one Be cau ous about ice quality and thickness. My rule of thumb is the ice on of those innova ve ice resurfacers used alpine lakes in RMNP is generally safe from mid-December to mid-March. at indoor ice arenas) out there. The ice However, never step onto an alpine lake unless you’re sure it’s safe. According to the changes daily, and there are many vari- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (and they know ice...and ice fi shing!), ables to consider — bumps, cracks, dips, ice should be at least 4 inches thick for any ac vity on foot. Personally, I prefer the rocks, stumps, slush, snow and more. ice to be around a foot thick. But remember, many factors other than thickness Ul mately, it’s not as much about high- can cause ice to be unsafe: temperature, currents, snow cover, eleva on, wind and quality ice ska ng as it is about a unique air pockets all aff ect the stability of ice. Keep in mind that ice is seldom a uniform experience that helps to further build a thickness over a single body of water. It can be two feet thick in one sec on and an rela onship with nature. inch thick a few feet away. It’s up to each individual to be familiar with ice safety and And this intriguing ac vity gives make educated decisions about his or her personal well-being. Always be cau ous: even more people a reason to visit this If you are unsure if the ice is safe, stay off it. Don’t take any chances. A fall into a fro- zen lake in RMNP can result in serious injury and possible death. You must analyze beau ful na onal park in the winter. the ice each and every me. Lisa Foster is author of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park: The Complete Hiking Guide So get out there, be safe and have fun! See you on the ice! and is a seasoned climber, hiker and outdoor enthusiast Coyote Valley Trail Repaired A Past Conservancy Project Update on Park’s West Side In 2015 and 2016, the RMNP Trail Crew worked on the Coyote Valley Accessible Trail. This is an ADA accessible trail originally funded through dona ons to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy back in 1993. Due to spring runoff the last two years, the trail was badly in need of repair to keep it up to standard. Heavy machinery was used to transport and fi ll the trail while crew members fi ne-tuned the tread with hand tools. This project lasted six weeks. Approximately 140 cubic yards of crusher fi nes and 10 yards of rock subbase were added to the trail to bring it up to a desired grade. In addi on, 80 linear feet of the treated-log retaining structures were replaced. A 2,650 square foot sec on of the trail was removed, as it was not sustainable in its current alignment. This area, and areas along the trail, were rehabbed by recontouring the area to its natural condi on and impor ng topsoil. 10 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er
Rocky Superintendent RMNP 2015 Highlights by RMNP Public InformaƟ on Specialist as future stewards of Rocky Moun- Vaughn Baker Kyle PaƩ erson tain Na onal Park, ensuring another Retires This last year, 2015, was a momen- one hundred years of protec on and tous year at Rocky Mountain Na onal enjoyment. 2002 — 2015 Park! More than 200 events high- Throughout the year, people lighted the park’s Centennial Celebra- shared their love of Rocky Mountain on year, emphasizing what has made Na onal Park in person with park staff During his tenure at Rocky, Vaughn led Rocky beloved by so many during the and through social media with stories, park staff through numerous high-profi le past 100 years. photographs and personal recollec- fi res, a massive beetle outbreak and the Art displays, pain ng events, ons. The Centennial Celebra on was ramifi ca ons of hazardous trees in camp- Night Sky presenta ons, birthday par- an amazing, once-in-a-life me occa- grounds, trailhead parking areas and along es, Junior Ranger sing-alongs, special sion to pause and refl ect on the sense roadways. He also guided the park through ranger programs, museum exhibits, of connec on that so many people the response and recovery during the devas- parades, fes vals and much, much have had to a place like Rocky during ta ng fl ood event in 2013. And, most tragi- more provided plenty of opportuni es its one hundred year history. cally, following the un mely death of park for surrounding communi es and visi- ranger Jeff Christensen during a backcountry In 2015, the park once again patrol in 2005, he took an ac ve role in revis- tors to the park to be part of the fun. received record visita on with 4.1 mil- ing backcountry travel protocols for the park, To conclude the year-long celebra- lion visitors,which was a 21% increase especially with regard to communica ons. on, more than 1,600 people a ended over the previous year’s record. Park Vaughn also was involved in the comple- the offi cial Rededica on Ceremony on shu le bus riders increased 24%, and, on of the new Hidden Valley facili es September 4, at Glacier Basin Camp- overall, Rocky was the third-most vis- and the construc on of the Lumpy Ridge ground. The Estes Park Woman’s Club ited na onal park in the country. Trailhead. He also managed the $60 million reprised their historic role as hostess- This year, the Na onal Park Service the park received from the Federal Lands es for the event, serving birthday cake turns 100 years old! Each Na onal Highway Program received for major recon- and cookies to event a endees. Park Service site protects very special struc on on Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Entertainment was provided by Road. Also under Vaughn’s watch, a er more aspects of our na onal heritage and than 30 years with recommended wilderness Cowboy Brad Fitch who performed Rocky will be honoring the Na onal status, 95% of Rocky Mountain Na onal the offi cial Centennial song Rocky’s a Park Service’s centennial with special Park became offi cially designated wilderness Park For All. As at the 1915 celebra- programs and ac vi es. The celebra- in 2009. on, 30 students from the Estes Park on of na onal parks con nues! Vaughn exemplifi ed conserva on leader- schools reenacted their historic role With such a signifi cant increase in ship in the Na onal Park Service at Rocky, by singing America the BeauƟ ful. Spe- visita on over the past three years, including the unprecedented development cial remarks were made by Colorado park staff will be busy addressing of a Nitrogen Deposi on Reduc on Plan to Governor John Hickenlooper, Senator challenges and opportuni es related protect air quality related values in the park Mark Udall, Senator Cory Gardner, to opera onal capacity, visitor and in coopera on with the State of Colorado Director of the Na onal Park Service Public Health and Environment and the staff safety, resource protec on and Environmental Protec on Agency. He also is Jon Jarvis, Na onal Park Founda- the overall visitor experience, ensur- credited with the comple on and implemen- on President Will Shafroth, and, of ing that Rocky is protected for future ta on of the Elk and Vegeta on Manage- course, “Enos Mills”. Park Superinten- genera ons. Join us in caring for this ment Plan. dent Vaughn Baker was the master brilliant jewel in the crown of the The Centennial Celebra on was icing on of ceremonies. All a endees of the na onal park system! the cake for Superintendent Vaughn Baker’s event were sworn in by Director Jarvis illustrious career. Vaughn had been Rocky’s Superintendent for thirteen years, and, fol- lowing forty-two years of public service, he quietly re red in Estes Park in late September. Ben Bobowski, Chief of Resource Stew- ardship at Rocky Mountain Na onal Park for the past eight years, has been ac ng super- intendent un l a new park superintendent is selected. Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 11 Looking Forward to the 2016 Conservation Corps Season In 2016, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy – Conserva on Corps looks forward to hos ng thirty- six youth serving on six crews throughout Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and the Arapaho-Roosevelt Na onal Forests. These crews will tackle projects related to disaster recovery, wilderness access, ri- parian restora on, off -highway vehicle trail use and historic preserva on. In Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, the Corps will support two crews. One will con nue to work on the east side of the park with the trails and The 2015 ConservaƟ on Corps crew members on the summit of Longs Peak. resource management teams. They will work ex- tensively on construc ng a boardwalk to the Boulder, Canyon Lakes and Con nental Divide Na onal Scenic at Lily Lake to help mi gate future Sulphur Ranger Districts in the Arapa- Trail and reroute popular mul -use damage to the riparian zone. The sec- ho-Roosevelt Na onal Forests. These trails to protect sensi ve areas. ond crew will be working on the west crews will work in areas as remote as In addi on to the on-the-ground side of RMNP, assis ng with historic the Rawah Wilderness, restoring trail work, the Conservancy is delighted to preserva on work in the Kawuneeche surfaces and ensuring safe trail access develop the next genera on of public Valley. The Conservancy is excited to for wilderness visitors in areas such as land stewards through programs facili- be able to support the park’s rich his- the Big Thompson, Cache le Poudre ta ng job-skill development, leader- tory and the preserva on of the park’s and St. Vrain watersheds, rebuild- ship training and career development cultural resources. ing recrea on areas aff ected by fi res ac vi es. Beyond the boundaries of Rocky and fl ood. On the west side of the For more informaƟ on about this Mountain Na onal Park, the Conser- Con nental Divide, a crew will help program, visit our website at vancy an cipates providing four crews reconnect sec ons of the 3,100 mile RMConservancy.org. RMNP License Plate Debuts in Colorado If you register your vehicles in Tell your friends! Don’t wait un l your Colorado, show your support for the plates expire. You can even prorate park with a colorful Rocky Mountain your annual vehicle registra on with oneone- me specialty license plate fee, fee in Na onal Park License Plate! Featuring your local Department of Motor addi on to other standard registra on a majes c bull elk under a starry night Vehicles so you can get your RMNP fees. Plates are printed on demand with alpine sunfl owers, this specialty license plate sooner. and will be mailed directly to you, plate is our newest fundraising eff ort To get a set of these excep onal conveniently elimina ng the need for with 100% of the required $30 dona- plates, visit our website at RMCon- a second visit to your county motor on going to park programs. servancy.org and make a minimum vehicle offi ce. This exci ng program has raised $30 dona on to the Rocky Mountain License plate dona ons cannot be more than $34,000 since it launched Conservancy’s License Plate Fund. combined with gi s to other funds, on January 1, 2016, with 1,153 plates A er a qualifying dona on is received, prior dona ons or Conservancy mem- cer fi ed. We need to distribute at a license plate cer fi cate will be bership dues. least 3,000 plates each year to keep mailed to you. Present this cer fi cate this design in produc on. That’s a to your local county motor vehicle of- Get yours today at challenge to us all. Spread the news! fi ce where you will be assessed a $50, RMConservany.org! 12 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er Cascade Cottages Property Acquired for Permanent Protection in Rocky Mountain National Park Concluding a one-year fundraising eff ort, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) an- nounced that they have purchased the successful history of placing lands of high In late February, 2016, the NPS largest remaining privately held property ecological or historic value into the public Washington, D.C. offi ce, recognizing the within Rocky Mountain Na onal Park domain. TPL nego ated a fair market price importance of this acquisi on to the NPS (RMNP). for the property with the landowners, Centennial, iden fi ed funds that could be As most of you know, several years secured the purchase, and will hold the used as a possible match to those raised ago, the landowners of this park in-hold- property un l it can be conveyed to the by the Conservancy. Based on that infor- ing on the east side of RMNP honored the Na onal Park Service. ma on, TPL agreed to move forward with wishes of their grandfather by off ering to The purchase cost was $3.4 million. the purchase, acquiring the property in sell the property to Rocky Mountain Na- Of this, the Conservancy raised nearly late March. TPL will secure the remainder onal Park before placing it on the open $1.75 million from individual donors and of the funds from the Na onal Park Ser- market. The Na onal Park Service iden - founda ons. Also assis ng with this eff ort, vice when it transfers ownership to Rocky fi ed this acquisi on as the park’s highest the Larimer County Open Lands Program Mountain Na onal Park. priority and enlisted the assistance of off ered a challenge grant of $50,000 to The Rocky Mountain Conservancy the Conservancy and TPL in making it the Estes Valley Land Trust (EVLT) and the proudly thanks its donors and members, the signature project of Rocky Mountain Town of Estes Park to provide a collec ve project partners and the community, for Na onal Park’s centennial in 2015. dona on of $100,000 to the Rocky Moun- making possible the permanent protec- The Rocky Mountain Conservancy tain Conservancy for the purchase of the on of this very signifi cant property. partnered closely with TPL in the acquisi- property. EVLT and Estes Park both readily on of Cascade Co ages. TPL has a long, accepted this challenge. Hooray!! Conservancy Annual Appeal Wrap-up tors; the money could support anything of the remainder of the annual appeal Total raised: $380,538 from youth educa on to land protec on gi s. Dona ons for these programs and Total gifts: 1,237 to land acquisi on. projects are always greatly needed and Our next-highest fundraising priority, will be put to very good use. We are pleased to announce that, the Cascade Co ages Centennial Cam- Again, we thank you for your gener- thanks to you, our Friends and Donors, paign, also was a favorite. ous support. You have set us up to have a we had one of the strongest and most Gi s to the Next Genera on Fund, fantas cally produc ve year doing good successful Annual Appeals in the Con- the Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s work for these important public lands. servancy’s history. With more than 1,237 Conserva on Corps, and the Trail We’ll keep you posted on the diff erence dona ons totaling more than $380,538, Improvement Fund rounded out much you make. this generosity will provide signifi cant and tangible support to Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Thank you! Because pictures speak so much more loudly than words, we are includ- ing this handy chart to depict the break- down of all those gi s. By far, the most gi s were designated for Best Use, making those funds avail- able where and when they are most needed. Ul mately, use of these most fl exible gi s is designated by the park and by the Conservancy’s Board of Direc- Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 13 The Rocky Mountain Conservancy expresses special thanks to the following people for their donations toward projects in Rocky Mountain National Park: December 14, 2015 – March 16, 2016 550 gifts ~ total donations $664,298
Patrick and Carla Grant, Denver, CO David Perry and Kathleen Meier, Kris and Bernard Holien, Estes Park, CO: B R JudyJ Gunkler & Bill Rawsky, Boulder, CO Point Pleasant, PA In memory of Jackie Johnson Natalie and Collin Hahn, Houston, TX Nancy Petry, Englewood, CO Greg Barnes, Atlanta, GA: F F Hallidie and Donald Haid, Sea le, WA Christopher Pichler and Mayako In memory of June Barnes TimothyT & Wendlyn Haight, Grimes, IA Ishiwata, Marina Del Rey, CA Kenneth J. Olson, Western Springs, IL: LeslieLeslie FidelFidel BaileyBailey CharitableCharitable Trust,Trust, John and Jan Hana, Garner, IA James Pickering, Estes Park, CO In memory of Maria Olson Denver, CO Larry Happel, Pella, IA Rodger Poage, Montrose, CO Karen M. Waller, Saint Joseph, MO: Cheryl Hayman, Colorado Springs, CO Lisa Polazzi, Valparaiso, IN: In memory of Mrs. Marge Hornbostel O F ChrisC ne & James Hazen, Lexington, NC In honor of Chris ne Polazzi Adam Williams, Wildwood, MO: Barbara Headley, Estes Park, CO Jim Pyrzynski, Bellevue, NE In memory of Naomi Williams F Irene Healy, Albuquerque, NM Jodi Radke & Doug Jalving, Loveland, CO Mary and Karl Shelley, Moorestown, NJ: Jon Heck, Glendale, AZ: Jack D. and Jackie Ramaley, Boulder, CO In memory of Peggy and Jack Conrad Alan and Carol-Ann Carol Ann Olson, Olson BoulderBoulder, CO In honor of the Heck Family Ronald and Rebecca Reeve, Pala ne, IL Laura Hiebenthal, Greeley, CO: Smith and Susan J. Hickenlooper, Dallas and Sharon Richards, Hays, KS In memory of Rodney Hiebenthal C C Cincinna , OH Janet and David Robertson, Boulder, CO Walter and Sherrie Weinstein, Carol Horner, Des Moines, IA Anne Rogers, Estes Park, CO Boca Raton, FL: C F Don Hosack, Carthage, MO Lorraine Schraut, Saint Louis, MO In memory of Sherrie Lynn Weinstein Donald Irwin, Yucca Valley, CA: Karin Schumacher, Denver, CO Margaret L. McCranie, Irvine, CA: Doug Angevine, Spring, TX In honor of RMNP on its Centennial Gwendolyn Sco , Fort Collins, CO: In memory of the Cowan Sisters Bank of Estes Park, Estes Park, CO Doug Jalving & Jodi Radke, Loveland, CO In honor of Gayle Reising O s & Teresa Morrow, Arkansas City, KS: Colleen and Sears Barre , J.R. and Nancy Jones, Neosho, WI John and Vicki Seeck, Be endorf, IA In memory of Jean Lough Greenwood Village, CO Deborah Kea ng, Kansas City, MO Elena Slusser, Longmont, CO Mrs. Marilyn Barron, Gu enberg, IA Cli on & Diane Kirkpatrick,Louisville, KY: Elmer Sprague, Brookline, MA S R Eleanor M. Blaha, Wheaton, IL Honoring their 50th wedding anniversary Linda & Tom Stanar, Do e and Eugene Brenner, Arvada, CO Jack and Terry Klecka, Highland Park, IL Highlands Ranch, CO F Wally and Laurine Burke, Estes Park, CO James Kubichek, Red Feather Lakes, CO Keith & Jackie Stephenson, Joe and Martha Burt, Houston, TX Janice Larkin, Denver, CO Estes Park, CO RobertRobert & KatherineKatherine GoGould,uld, Gerald & Elizabeth Caplan, Boulder, CO Theodore and Susan Larson, Robert Stephenson, Overland Park, KS Cambridge, WI Verl & Carolyn Carlson, Johnstown, CO Centennial, CO Stephen and Ginger Stookesberry, Elizabeth Chamberlin, Estes Park, CO Peter and Jane Lederer, Fort Collins, CO Denver, CO C G Paul and Linda Cla erbuck, Lincoln Community Founda on/ Corrisue and Michael Sweeney, Prairie Village, KS Ray Zeisset, Lincoln, NE San Antonio, TX O F Stephen & Margie Coberley, Wichita, KS Annie & Jeff Lowdermilk, Santa Fe, NM William and Nancy Sweet, Denver, CO Charles and Olga Cofas, Estes Park, CO Janet & Robert Ludlum, Estes Park, CO: The Colorado Health Founda on/ The Community Community Founda Founda on,on Alan Collums, Ridgeland, MS In honor of Steve, Nancy and Julie Kle Sco Joy, Denver, CO Boulder County/Wagers Family Fund, Jeff rey and Susan Conklin, Loudon, TN Robert Ludlum, Estes Park, CO: The Community Founda on, Boulder, CO Debbie and Mar n Cunningham, In honor of Dan and Mary Ludlum Boulder County, Boulder, CO The Denver Founda on/ Cypress, TX Sherburne & Susan MacFarlan, The Graham Edwin and Sharon Janosik Elizabeth L. Grant, Denver, CO Peg Dana, Coralville, IA Boulder, CO Mitchell Founda on, West Chester, OH Tom & Marguerite Detmer, Denver, CO Kathy L. Marlow, West Des Moines, IA Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Tipps, Houston, TX L P Winston Dines, La Jolla, CA Linda McWilliams, Loveland, CO Donna Trombe a, Jersey City, NJ John and Dolores Dolan, Mahwah, NJ Ray Metzler, Greeley, CO: Vanguard Charitable/Richard Rudolph, F W. S. and Mary Duryea, Estes Park, CO In honor of Linda Metzler Boston, MA Richard and Michelle Eckert, Mark and Jan Morgan, Prairie Village, KS Linda & Bobby Wallace, Fort Worth, TX Tobi Basile, Basile ParkerParker, CO Woodland Park, CO Na onal Trust for Historic Preserva on, Lisa Weisensel, Beaver Dam, WI Douglas Belden, Loveland, CO: Tiff any Englander, Greenbelt, MD: Denver, CO Oliver West, Tampa, FL In honor of Wapa In honor of her grandmother, Peggy and Sco Neslund, Lakeland, FL: Peter and Bonnie West, Denver, CO Lauren Cleland, McKinney, TX: Frances Moldenhauer In honor of Aus n Mucci Zac and Nicole Wiebe, Fort Collins, CO In honor of John Cleland Richard & Wanda Ernst, Fort Collins, CO Peggy and Sco Neslund, Lakeland, FL: JR & MJ Wilson Founda on, Golden, CO Daniel L. and Donna M. Dilts, Terry and Becky Escamilla, Lafaye e, CO In honor of Spencer Neslund Arthur and Virginia Wycoff , Albuquerque, NM: Estes Park Computers & Technology/ Peggy and Sco Neslund, Lakeland, FL: Williamsburg, VA In honor of Linda Dilts Amy & John Stevens, Estes Park, CO In honor of Elizabeth Neslund Frances and A. R. Mi erer, Arvada, CO: Trista Hill, Delaware, OH Estes Valley Land Trust, Estes Park, CO Peggy and Sco Neslund, Lakeland, FL: In memory of Be y Hedlund Kendall Luy, Frostburg, MD: Lowell and Jane Fortune, Li leton, CO In honor of Jacob Mucci Brian & Louise Desmond, In honor of Kevin Luy Mary Ann Franke, Estes Park, CO Janice & William Newman, Estes Park, CO: Mary Matus and Carole Taxis, Aus n, TX Larry and Jeri Frederick, Estes Park, CO Estes Park, CO In memory of Evelyn Jean Caldwell Bernard McKibben, Louisville, CO Stephen & Sharon Freeman, Alan and Carol Ann Olson, Boulder, CO Margaret Freeman, Aurora, CO: Derk and Marjorie Osenberg, Chicago, IL Centennial, CO Dayton and Rosina Olson, Estes Park, CO In memory of Foster (Frosty) Freeman Sandy Sumner, Oviedo, FL Jeff and Nikki Garmon, Cheyenne, WY Christopher and Linda Paris, Boulder, CO Teresa and Steven Ahrenholz, Nancy Cowen, Denver, CO: Janet Gehring and Mar n Wiesehan, Sandra Peacock and Thomas Africa, Cincinna , OH: In memory of Tim Fromelt Peoria, IL Estes Park, CO In memory of The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Mari and John Gewecke, Lincoln, NE Raymond and Emmy Peck, Henry & Regina Ahrenholz Nancy E. Cowen, Hudson, OH: Daniel Goye e and Kathy Falk, Dearborn Heights, MI Tara Smith and Pat McSwiggen, In memory of Tim Fromelt River Hills, WI Rhoda Perkins, Edina, MN Cincinna , OH: In memory of Irvin D. Smith 14 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er
Carlen Schenk and Barry Brezan, Jacqueline & John Cotsho , N G New Berlin, WI B U Longmont, CO F Glendyne Wergland, Dalton, MA Trudy & Charles Cowman, MMarvina and Hannah Woolf, Boulder, CO AAccentureccenture Founda on, Inc EEmployeemployee Woodbury, MN Nancy AbboAbbo , KremmKremmling,ling, CCOO Giving Campaign/Laura G. Weiss, John and Suzanne Cruse, Evergreen, CO Barbara and William Armstrong, T I Chicago, IL Nathaniel & Brenda Dahm, North Ridgeville, OH Richard Acheson, Windsor, CO Kirkwood, MO Kathy Bolinsky, Loveland, CO F RRobert & Virginia Akins, Fort Collins, CO Jack and Lynn Dailey, Montgomery, TX Vicki and Duane Braunagel, David & Bridget Albright, Robert Decker, Nederland, CO Longmont, CO Richard & Kate Adams, Danielsville, PA Manchester, MO Delaware County Founda on, Nancy and Edward Brigden, Dawayna and Tim Aulick, Lancaster, KY James Alfred, La Grange Park, IL Powell, OH Loveland, CO: Jennifer and Robert Bell, Omaha, NE: Allstate: The Giving Campaign/ Hartley and Margaret Dellinger, In honor of the Some mes In honor of Rich and Karen Sandberg Kurt Knutson, Norfolk, VA Palm Beach Gardens, FL Tuesday Book Club Elizabeth Chamberlin, Estes Park, CO Bill and Nancy Almond, Estes Park, CO Lynn and Tim Dennis, Saint Paul, MN Janice K. Dame, Bolingbrook, IL Gregory and Kendra Eastvedt, AmazonSmile Founda on Dona on, John Dickinson, Houston, TX David J Jenkins Grantor Charitable Lead Longmont, CO: Sea le, WA Steve & Marian Dodge, Los Angeles, CA Annuity Trust/Sarah Russ, Oldsmar, FL In honor of Erin Brianne Eastvedt Swami Anantananda, Hurleyville, NY Cecily Drucker, Mill Valley, CA Mark De Gregorio, Masonville, CO Vickie Ferguson, Farmington, AR Steve & Janet Andersen, Estes Park, CO Donna Dye, Muncie, IN Ernie and Nancy Diedrich, Denver, CO Wanda Gen le, Colorado Springs, CO Alfred Angulo and Mary Sanders, Marcia and Jeff Dysart, Bal more, MD David & Jane Dunatchik, Freddy and Jerri Grimland, Cypress, TX Faye eville, AR Derek Dzien, Colorado Springs, CO Bloomington, IN Karla Hayes, Fort Collins, CO Anonymous William and Mary Eberle, Boulder, CO Lucy Elliot, Clinton, CT Joan and Lou Henefeld, Golden, CO Donna Arne , Denver, CO Dale and Melinda Egeberg, Verona, WI Lee Ann Fennell, Longmont, CO Richard Heppner, Claremont, CA: Alden & Stephanie Atkins, David Ehrman, Denver, CO Joyce & Mark Fleming, Cedar Rapids, IA In honor of Betsy Heppner Alexandria, VA Barbara and John Ellio , York, PA Barbara Free and Jay Johnson, Julia Hershey, Colorado Springs, CO Aus n Community Founda on/ Luke and Teresa Ellis, Fort Worth, TX Albuquerque, NM Travis Jones, Saint Louis, MO Cindy Buggs, Aus n, TX Elser Enterprises, Inc./ Cheryl Garrod, Palm Harbor, FL Dale Kasparek, Williamsburg, VA AXA Founda on/Daniel P. Flynn, Elizabeth and Philip Nicholson, Andrew Hosier, Cedar Falls, IA Jared and Kris Klein, Shawnee, KS New York, NY Milwaukee, WI Louise Lucke, Loveland, CO Dennis and Kris ne Lane, Lawrence, KS Marlene & John Barnes, Keith and Kyla Ely, Franklin, TN Kendall Luy, Frostburg, MD: Gene Mammenga and Char Brooker, Fort Madison, IA Melinda & Gary Ely, Flower Mound, TX In honor of Kevin Luy Maplewood, MN Terri and Tom Barry, Estes Park, CO Clark and Martha Ewald, Li leton, CO Doug & Lyne e Mannering, Loraine Mandelko, Longmont, CO Patricia and John Benker, Omaha, NE Priscilla Farrell, Mountain Home, AR Loveland, CO Sarah Marshall, Denver, CO: Jeane e and Carl Benson, Dallas, TX Mary Fee, Media, PA Marc McCurry, Muskegon, MI In honor of David Stewart John Benton and Lori Grapen ne, Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Patricia & Merle Moore, Estes Park, CO McGee Company, Denver, CO Madison, WI Anne Fenerty, Boston, MA James & Jeanne My on, Broomfi eld, CO Thomas Mitchell, Thornton, CO Heidi Berkenbosch, Prairie City, IA Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Chris ne Olsem, Luxemburg, IA Dr. & Mrs. Robert Moore, John and Connie Berry, Castle Rock, CO Larry DeMers, Boston, MA Punta Gorda Rotary Club, Li le Rock, AR: Be y S. Neusel Estate, Denver, CO Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Punta Gorda, FL In honor of Dr. Dean Kumpuris Rae Ann Blakey, Fort Collins, CO Mary Kay and Bill Stoehr, Boston, MA John Reber and Sarah Wynn, Richard Piasen n, Colorado Springs, CO Donna Leigh Bliss, Laramie, WY Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Longmont, CO Rodger Poage, Montrose, CO Mary K. Blue, Longmont, CO Philip & Georgina Boge o, Boston, MA Jill Strange, Boulder, CO: Steven Joliat and Anne e Primrose, Arnold Braasch, Rensselaer, IN Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ In honor of Peter Strange Kingston, TN Vicki & Duane Braunagel, Longmont, CO Ruth E. Medak, Boston, MA The Denver Founda on/ Michael Purcell, Chicago, IL: Horace and Sue Brown, Boerne, TX Samuel and Kathleen Franco, Nutley, NJ Elizabeth L. Grant, Denver, CO In honor of Tom McGloin Timothy Burke, Estes Park, CO Constance Frick, Cincinna , OH Sean Tucker, Loveland, CO Robert and Wanda Quist, Loveland, CO Terry Burrow, Estes Park, CO Patricia Gallagher, Prairie Village, KS Charles and Lisa Gastrell, Dennis A. Rowe, Lafaye e, CO Denis Burt, Oak Bluff s, MA Susan Gapter Dority & Tom Dority, Fairfax Sta on, VA: Debbie and Mark Sessel, Denver, CO: Richard & Kathy Burton, Longmont, CO Estes Park, CO In memory of Harvey Stegman In honor of Marcus and Joan Sessel Charlene Byers, Denver, CO Donna Geary, Hillsboro, MO Dan Ellio and Mary Anne Maier, Tim Shropshire and Sherry McGlochlin, Sherry & Dennis Caldwell, Kathleen Geer, Columbia, CT Longmont, CO: Boulder, CO Estes Park, CO Carolann & John Gerhard, Loveland, CO In memory of Jack and Marian Ellio Mark and Gwen Sparn, Boulder, CO Camellia Trading Company, LLC/ Barbara Gille and Kay Kotzelnick, Leah Hughes, Palm Beach Gardens, FL: Sandra L. Tarlton, Swannanoa, NC Julie & Mar n Harrington, Denver, CO In memory of Larry Box Suzy Winchester, Boca Raton, FL Shreveport, LA William Ginsberg, Parker, CO Melissa McWilliams, Elisa K. Campbell, Amherst, MA: Marcella Godinez, Leawood, KS West Des Moines, IA: In honor of Faith Campbell Bruce and Sara Goe ng, Estes Park, CO C C In memory of Arlis Jansen Tyler & Debby Campbell, Libby and W. Miller Goss, Socorro, NM F Beverly Henderson, Estes Park, CO: Chestertown, MD Gertrude Grant, Denver, CO In memory of Carol Randel John Capelle, West Bend, WI Newell Grant, Greenwood Village, CO BeverlyBeverly aandnd VVerneerne BBerry,erry, LLongmont,ongmont, CCOO Geoff rey Friefeld, Boulder, CO: Mike and Susan Cargill, Georgetown, TX Patricia Grasse, Norman, OK Larry and Margie Caswell, In memory of Dave Madson Liz and Dwight Carmichael, Greater Kansas City Community Fund/ Red Feather Lakes, CO Edmund and Patricia Horst, Arvada, CO: Lee’s Summit, MO Thomas Hall, Kansas City, MO Robert Copple, Elkhorn, NE In memory of Lloyd Treichel James Carr, Estes Park, CO Margaret Guthrie, Estes Park, CO Bruce and Dorothy Dines, Denver, CO: Ann Trulove, Farmington, NM: Peggy Carr, Denton, TX Gary Gutjahr, Saint Louis, MO In honor of Curt Buchholtz In memory of Ora Lumpkin Trulove Lee Carvell, Cumming, GA Jim and Nancy Hage, Santa Rosa, CA Lynn A. Dumais, Sylvan Lake, MI Mimi and Wythe Hull, Abingdon, VA: Laura Charlton, Painesville, OH: Heather Hahn, Takoma Park, MD Robert and Jane Dunphy, Arlington, VA In memory of Robert Stockover In honor of Raymond M. Voelker Henry and Arlene Hall, Georgetown, KY Charlo e Godbey, Camdenton, MO Brent Makaus, Phoenix, AZ: Sue Ellen Charlton and James Boyd, Valorie Hambley and Kenneth Wong, Barbara Hans, Des Moines, IA In memory of Tiff any Makaus Fort Collins, CO Ba le Ground, WA Andrew Hosier, Cedar Falls, IA Tom and Regina Chesnut, Dearborn, MO Mike & Joan Hansen, Saddlebrooke, AZ Gailmarie Kimmel, Fort Collins, CO Earl and Carol Clark, Estes Park, CO Brian Harms and Amy Schlo hauer, Patricia Kwasigroch, Joliet, IL T R R GeorgeG and Barbara Clark, Meriden, KS Boulder, CO Jovo Pawker, Hobart, IN Edward & Elizabeth Cohen, Denver, CO Donald and Joann Harris, Greeley, CO Penelope Po er, Mukilteo, WA Edgar H. H Bi le Trust, Trust Grand LakeLake, CCOO Heather Collins, Wheaton, IL Ann Hector, Dumont, CO Mark Rush, Aurora, CO Jane Sto s, Cincinna , OH John and Lisa Conkling, Cedar Rapids, IA Alvin Herrington, Derby, KS Mac and Barbara Corley, Charleston, IL James and Marjorie Hewi , Lincoln, NE Carole Cotham, Corvallis, OR Wilma Hoath, South Bend, IN Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 15 Carol L. Horner, Des Moines, IA Jane and David McAfee, Estes Park, CO: Susan and Randy Putnam, Aurora, CO The Family Mayer Founda on/ Don and Rie a Huddle, Houston, TX In honor of Darva Zappe Jerry and Ann Raisch, Boulder, CO Gay A. 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Moore, Port Washington, NY Stephen & Susan Schell, Fort Collins, CO Los Alamos, NM Gilbert and Mary Knapp, Spencer, NY Rebecca and Jack Morgan, Larry & Katherine Schnuck, Constan ne and Claire Valaori s, Dr. & Mrs. Harry Konen, Huntsville, TX St. Petersburg, FL Whitefi sh Bay, WI New York, NY D. Dean Kumpuris, M.D., Li le Rock, AR Edward and Mary Moyer, Peoria, IL Lenore Seiler & Calvin Seiler, Candice VanRunkle, Santa Fe, NM Judith A. Lance, Boulder, CO Naktenis Family Founda on/ Denver, CO David & Jan Waddington, Golden, CO Larry and Teresa Lay, Aus n, TX Pete and Chris ne Naktenis, Nian c, CT Andrew and Ellen Selig, Denver, CO Beth Waldinger, Sco sdale, AZ Jack F. Leary, Falls Church, VA Network For Good/Suzanne Gansky, Don Sellers, Estes Park, CO Timothy Walsh, Windsor, CO Jane and Peter Lederer, Fort Collins, CO Washington, DC: Shell Oil Company Founda on Matching G. G. and Dorothy Wheeler, Tucson, AZ Joseph M. 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Smith, Walterboro, SC Sue Yancik, Boulder, CO: Martha and Larry Loyd, Houston, TX Gus and Jane No berg, Loveland, CO Smithfi eld Packaged Meats Division/ In memory of Frank and Marion Yancik Fred Lyle, Jr., San Antonio, TX Judith Nowak, Saint Louis, MO Patricia A. Robinson, Lisle, IL Juanita Muntz, Tuala n, OR: Lynne Paxton Real Estate, Duayne Nyckel, Glendale Heights, IL Robert L. Spann, Seabrook, TX In memory of Geoff Muntz Beverly Hills, CA Sally O’Brien, Monument, CO Tracy and Rudy Spano, San Diego, CA Sherry & Dennis Caldwell, Michael and Judith Magill, Mary O’Farrell, Camano Island, WA Kenneth and Barbara Spies, Boulder, CO Estes Park, CO: Colorado Springs, CO Be y and Frank O esen, Greeley, CO Lyle and Helen Stewart, Denver, CO In memory of Ione Werthman Ronald & Sherry Mannis, Longmont, CO Wayne Parsons, Independence, KS Richard Stewart, Longmont, CO Vincent Wagner, Indianapolis, IN: Catherine and Gregory Marich, James and Terry Pfi ster, Wichita, KS Jane Sto s, Cincinna , OH In memory of J. Patrick Endsley McLean, VA Kyle Pa erson Phillips and Tim Phillips, Stephen M. Strachan, Englewood, CO Catherine and Billy Thomas, Aus n, TX: Carol and Harry Martz, Los Alamos, NM Estes Park, CO Sco Strader and Cathy Taphorn, In memory of Jim Meinke Kathy and Ted Massey, Sioux City, IA Elizabeth Pruessner, Fort Collins, CO Downers Grove, IL Jerome Sutherland, Denver, CO: Robert and Maryann Strain, Evanston, IL In memory of Joanne Abbo Francis and LaVerne Strehl, Eugene Rardin, Overland Park, KS: Oak Brook, IL In memory of Juanita Rardin PARK PUZZLER SOLUTION Ruth Streveler, Lafaye e, IN Catherine Felknor, Boulder, CO: Evan Sugarbaker, Columbus, OH In memory of William and Nancy Sweet, Denver, CO Judy (Crowell) Evans and Laurel Miller Ann Tall, Manha an Beach, CA The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Anita Tannuzzo, Tampa, FL Vanita Wolf: Teradata/Michael Van Horn, Stuart, FL In memory of Lloyd Treichel The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Lynn Kelly, Fort Collins, CO: Robert Jardine, Hudson, OH In memory of Mary Ellen Galinis Shonsky The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Csilla DePue, Salida, CO: Shuah Khan & Khalid Aziz, Hudson, OH In memory of Raymond J. Samoska The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Todd Hull, Jacksonville, FL: Kari Klein, Hudson, OH In memory of Rob Stockover The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ Shell Oil Company Founda on Benjamin Stephens, Hudson, OH Matching Gi s, Princeton, NJ: The Benevity Community Impact Fund/ In memory of Ronald Kuhns Nancy Cowen: In memory of Tim Fromelt The Brian Ratner Founda on, Cleveland, OH Nonprofi t Organiza on US Postage PAID Permit #184 Estes Park, CO Charles Money, execu ve director Nancy Wilson, Quarterly editor PO Box 3100 Estes Park, CO 80517 (970) 586-0108
RMNP License Plate donors who gave more than the It’s that Ɵ me of year again! Mountain minimum dona on are receiving this compli- bluebirds, like many other birds, mentary newsle er. are cavity nesters. Enjoy! Photo: Conservancy Member Jim Ward
Nature Notes Erra c weather so far this spring on the east side of the park. As of late March, spring a sidenote to this excitement, Victoria also reported seeing mountain lion scat on her drive- storms are threatening, interspersed with periods of unseasonably warm and balmy way in the High Drive area of Estes Park.....Quarterly editor Nancy Wilson observed three temperatures. Enough such that the apsen trees are releasing their catkins in more bull elk that had penned themselves in a private corral just outside the park in early winter. protected areas as a precursor to the budding leaves — eek! Luckily, if the fi rst leaves Two of them were sparring with a fair amount of gusto, considering the the me of year, with are subject to freezing temperatures and die, a secondary, smaller, ves gial leaf will the third watching and ge ng increasingly more agitated. Eventually, the third tried to break emerge....RMNP Woodworker Cory Johnson was skiing on Fla op Mountain in mid- in to the fi ght, defl a ng the momentum and distrac ng the elk from their endeavors. All February when he saw a ptarmigan si ng on the snow up the trail. As he watched it, involved returned to very domes cally munching on hay they found in the corral.....Conser- this alpine bird started shaking its body, burrowing and sinking into the snow, lower and vancy Director of Donor Rela ons Julie Kle reported the fi rst bluebird sigh ng on February lower un l its head disappeared beneath the crust.....A bobcat provided dinner enter- 23, 2016. It was a sigh ng of two of them, fl uff ed out, seemingly in agita on at the abun- tainment for Park Ranger, Interpreta on, Kathy Brazelton and re red RMNP Wildlife dance of snow in their summer paradise.....Julie also was treated to a fl yby of a bald eagle Biologist Gary Miller recently. As they watched, the bobcat detected, stalked, caught with a fi sh head in its beak, swooping by her house.....Estes Park resident and Conservancy and consumed a very fat vole. What they found notable was that the distance from member Jaylene Howard sat looking out her kitchen window near MacGregor Ranch midday the point the bobcat fi rst clearly detected the tasty morsel to the point of the carnage in September, when she spo ed two fat, fuzzy, furry ki ens running up the MacGregor Ranch measured 30 yards. What good hearing!....Conservancy Member Walt Kaessler spo ed yard, near the Gem Lake Trailhead. Trying to iden fy them, she no ced the long curvy tails, a coyote in Upper Beaver Meadows, below Deer Ridge, with a deer leg in its mouth. buff y gray fur, white bellies, and dark patches on end of the tails. They were bigger than He then saw a group of fi ve coyotes near a carcass in the meadow. One dodged in and a domes c cat by far — easily as big as coyote, but without the snout, and defi nitely not grabbed a bite and ran, while the others were coming and going. What appeared to bobcats as evidenced by the length of their adolescent tails. She watched them jumping up be an alpha female came and sat near the carcass surveying the scene.....Conservancy trying to catch a hawk that was tormen ng them, leaping in the air, reaching out and up with Development Assistant Victoria Alexander and Cory (above) were hiking up Old Man their fat front paws. The hawk swooped down on them, fl ying over them and calling, warning Mountain in Estes Park in mid-February where they no ced drag lines in the trail. On all the animals nearby that mountain lions were coming, then swooping down again on the one side of the trail they found the remains of a deer leg and part of a spine with blood befuddled ki es for good measure. Eventually, the mountain lion youngsters stopped their and ssue s ll clinging to the bone. On the other side of the trail lay a separated head, chase and moved down the hill toward Devil’s with the top of the jaw in one area and the bo om in another. Most interes ng was a Gulch Road.....RMNP Educa on Technician tree about seven feet from the trail with low-hung branches. Under it was an obvious Chris e Wilkins found herself climbing a tree stash area, where duff and needles were piled up in a heap to cover a kill. Here, also, to escape a very curious mule deer.....Sum- was evidence of the kill site, including claw marks in the trunk of the tree where the cat mer me is coming, that very fl ee ng season had climbed it, and where it was clear that a lion had leapt from its hiding place in the in the high country. Start planning your visit tree, pounced on the unsuspec ng deer and killed it at the base of the tree.....Almost as to Rocky today!
What an amazing series of pictures of an elk giving birth in the spring in RMNP. Who doesn’t love a happy ending? Thanks to Conservancy member Gregory Boll of Davenport, IA, for sharing this rare glimpse of nature in acƟ on! RMConservancy.org