Inside this Issue Join the Celebration Find us on your favorite social media platform to join in on special events, • Important Info This year marks one hundred years since photos, videos, and more! Rocky was established. See the special insert • Staying Safe to learn about 100 years of Wilderness, @Rockynps • Centennial Information Wildlife, and Wonder, and the events #rmnp • Ranger-led Programs planned to celebrate the centennial birthday. • Winter Fun National Park Service Rocky U.S. Department of the Interior Mountain The official newspaper National of Rocky Mountain National Park Park Park News Winter 2014/2015 October 14, 2014 – March 21, 2015 Winter Wildlife Watching Rocky is a wonderful place to look for wildlife, and many park roads are open in winter to provide access to their wintry world. Bring your field guides and binoculars, and don’t forget your camera. As with any wild animals, you never know when or where you’ll see them, and consider yourself fortunate to see what you can. Winter is a good time to look for large mammals... Ö Elk and mule deer are most active at dusk and dawn, and are usually seen in meadow areas. Ö You might catch a glimpse of elk in Horseshoe Park. Ö Deer Mountain is well-named, as it is usually a good place to see mule deer. Ö The best place to look for moose is along the Colorado River on the park’s west side. Ö Look for bighorn sheep along the Highway 34/Fall River corridor on the park’s east side. Ö Coyotes may be seen any time of day. The wintry Mummy Range towers above Horseshoe Park and Fall River. NPS/Ann Schonlau Several members of the jay family not only stay for the winter but are residents year-round, including Steller’s jays with their striking blue bodies and black-crested heads, gray jays, Enjoy Your Visit Clark’s nutcrackers, and the iridescent long-tailed black- By Katy Sykes, Information Office Manager billed magpies. The glowing whiteness. The crunch and slap of similar to the earth’s highest peaks and the arctic Even in winter, Rocky Mountain National Park is truly a snowshoes and cross-country skis. The chatter of tundra regions like the far north of Alaska and place of wilderness, wildlife and wonder. Enjoy your visit! a pine squirrel. The brilliant blue sky and warm Canada. sunshine. This is a winter day in Rocky Mountain The numbers game is fun to play here. Rocky is National Park. home to 280 species of birds, 62 species of Today’s 415 scenic square miles were originally mammals, 7 native and 4 non-native species of set aside one hundred years ago this winter on fish, 4 species of amphibians, one reptile (garter January 26, 1915, to protect and preserve this snake), 139 species of butterflies, and spectacular nature and scenery for the benefit approximately 110 species of vascular plants. But and enjoyment of all of us. all these numbers add up to one thing: a About one-third of Rocky is above tree line. The wilderness environment that is worth enjoying extraordinary and fragile alpine tundra world is and protecting. Bull moose in Kawuneeche Valley. NPS/Russell Smith Visitor Centers Estes Park Area Grand Lake Area Free Park Movie See the stunning 23-minute park movie at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Kawuneeche Visitor Center from 8:30 A.M.-4 P.M. daily. Features spectacular aerial Beaver Meadows Fall River Kawuneeche footage of the rugged high Open daily 8 A.M.-4:30 P.M. (closed Open 9 A.M.-4 P.M. on weekends Open daily 8 A.M.-4:30 P.M. (closed Nov. country of RMNP, as well as Nov. 27 and Dec. 25). Park from Nov. 29-Dec. 28. Also open 27 and Dec. 25). Park information and wildlife and park history. information, free park movie and Nov. 28, Dec. 22-23, Dec. 26 and maps, free movie, exhibits, bookstore, Captioned version available bookstore. Backcountry camping Dec. 29-Jan. 1. Life-sized wildlife backcountry camping permits. at Kawuneeche Visitor Center. permits are available by following displays, a bookstore, and Captioned, audio description the footpath just east of the visitor discovery room where kids can and en Española at Beaver center to the Backcountry Office. touch objects and dress up as Meadows Visitor Center. rangers, American Indians, and pioneers. Park Phone Numbers Park Information: (970) 586-1206 TTY for deaf, hard of hearing, Dial 911 to report Trail Ridge Road Status: (970) 586-1222 speech impaired (970) 586-1319 Emergencies Entrance Fees Fees may be paid by credit card, cash, or check Automobile 7-day pass Single-family vehicle entrance fee is valid for seven consecutive days, including date of purchase $20 Motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, mopeds 7-day pass For seven conecutive days, including date of purchase $10/person not to exceed $20 per vehicle Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass Provides unlimited entry to this park for one year from the date of purchase $40 Rocky Mountain National Park/Arapaho National Provides unlimited entry to both areas for one year from the date of purchase $50 Recreation Area Annual Pass Interagency Annual Pass Available to everyone and provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee $80 for one year from date of purchase Interagency Senior Pass A lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or older $10 Interagency Military Pass Free unlimited entry to federal recreation sites (including National Parks) for active duty military personnel and dependents Free with required proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173) for one year Interagency Access Pass A free lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability Free Stay Safe You Are Responsible Backcountry Office or Kawuneeche headaches, dizziness, and can lead to Pets It is your responsibility to be safe and to Visitor Center. unconsciousness. High altitude can Pets are prohibited in all areas of know and obey park rules. Park safety Write to: Backcountry Office, Rocky also aggrivate preexisting medical RMNP not accessible by motor information, rules, and regulations can Mountain National Park, Estes Park, conditions such as heart and lung vehicles, including ALL trails and be found at visitor centers, entrance Colorado 80517, or call (970) 586-1242 diseases. Take your time and be sure meadows. For the safety of your pet and stations, on trailhead bulletin boards, for more information. to drink plenty of water. The only cure the benefit of park wildlife and other and on the park website at www.nps.gov/ for altitude sickness is to go down to a visitors, pets are only allowed in picnic romo. The administrative permit fee of $20 is lower elevation. areas, parking lots, campgrounds, and required for backcountry permits along roadsides. Avalanches beween May 1 and October 31; there is Hypothermia Avalanches can be easily triggered no charge in winter. Drowsiness, impaired judgment, Pets should never be left unattended ! excessive shivering and slurred in vehicles if it creates a danger to by backcountry travelers. Can I Take Antlers? Wear an electronic transceiver when speech are all signs of hypothermia. the animal or if it becomes a public It is illegal to collect or possess traversing avalanche terrain and avoid Prevent this condition by wearing nuisance. Pets must be on leashes antlers, animal parts or natural skiing or snowshoeing in steep gullies. insulated, wind-proof layers and no longer than six feet when outside features (rocks, pinecones, etc.) from If caught in an avalanche, make drinking plenty of fluids. vehicles. the park. Leave antlers and other park swimming motions and try to stay on Stop in a visitor center for more resources for others to enjoy. top of the snow. Mountain Lions information on where pets are Falling Trees Keep the following in mind when permitted on trails outside the park For current avalanche conditions, traveling in mountain lion country: Falling trees are an ever-present or see the pets brochure on the park check at a visitor center, call (970) 586- Travel in groups and make noise hazard and can fall without website, http://www.nps.gov/romo/ 1206, or see the Colorado Avalanche as you hike closely together. Keep warning. Be particularly watchful planyourvisit/brochures.htm. Information Center website, http:// children close! avalanche.state.co.us/ around dead trees when it's windy, or Stay Together! following a snowstorm when branches If you see a mountain lion, stop, Always stay together as a group Backcountry Travel are heavy with snow. stay calm, and back away slowly. Avoid traveling alone in the Never approach a lion or turn your and avoid traveling alone in the backcountry. Detailed Fishing back and run. Stand tall and look backcountry. Detailed information A Colorado State fishing information about your trip itinerary large. Raise your arms. Protect about your trip itinerary should be license is required to fish in the should be left with a responsible person small children by picking them up. left with a responsible person so park park. The fishing brochure including so park authorities can be notified if authorities can be notified if you fail to regulations is available at park visitor If approached, make loud noises, you fail to return. return. Safety is your responsibility! centers and on the park website, http:// shout, clap hands, clang pots or Be prepared for all types of weather www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ pans, and fight back if attacked. conditions when hiking, skiing, or brochures.htm. snowshoeing. Always carry essential When Viewing Wildlife Ice fishing is allowed in the park except survival items, regardless of the length in designated closed waters.