QUARTERLY Autumn 2015 100 Y L: E M summit of 14,259-foot Longs Peak. I R D think back to over 300 more ascents up that same mountain, 257 of those From the ether of history, we summoned spent guiding others on their thrill- Enos Mills to give perspec ve on a most ing summits into towering splendor. I recent milestone. think of my me as Colorado’s offi cial Time travel is a wondrous thing. state snow observer, traversing up On September 4, 1915, address- and down the Con nental Divide, ing an enthusias c crowd at the dedi- marveling at snowfi elds, open skies ca on of Rocky Mountain Na onal and curious grizzly bears. I think of Park, I declared that the greatest my me opera ng Longs Peak Inn and dream of my life me had come true. the excited guests whose spirits were Though exhausted from the six-year restored by days spent in nature’s campaign for its cre- grandeur. I think of a on, I was equally ex- In my own me, I ththe many courageous hilarated in that glorious reminded my con- ppeople who began to moment when the world temporaries that the cchampion the idea of a celebrated the new park ac ons that good nna onal park, despite lelegions of opposi on. I that encompassed mag- people had taken to nifi cent and unsurpassed thinkth of those six years preserve our greatest scenery, gardens of wild ofo wri ng, lecturing, plants and majes c ani- natural treasures in the travelingtr and plead- mals, all to be preserved form of na onal parks ingin the case across the in their primeval state was nothing short of nan on. I think of weary for the genera ons of epoch-making. daysd when I considered tomorrow. abandoninga a seem- How truly extraor- inglyin doomed cause, dinary, then, that I should be here to and how, at the right moment, I would witness the 100th anniversary of that receive an encouraging le er from great moment in history. the likes of John Muir, whose hopeful And how extraordinary, too, that spirit revitalized my own. I should be a messenger of a new And I recall that September day dream to all of you. More about that in 1915 when, against all odds, one in a moment. moment might serve as a rallying cry In 2015, much like 1915, I fi nd to us all. In our lives, let us each be myself refl ec ng. I think back to the inspired to dream our dreams as big very fi rst me I beheld Colorado as as a na onal park. a lad of 14. I think back to that same For me, 2014 and 2015 were truly boy, one year later, standing on the (100 Years Later con nued on page 2) I: RMNP NATURAL HISTORY HANDBOOK (2ND EDITION) NOW AVAILABLE! 2 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er (100 Years Later con nued) CoConservancy. The good men the reliving of my greatest anand women who support dream. Throughout the ththis organiza on are work- yearlong fes vi es of Rocky ining not only toward my Mountain Na onal Park’s chcherished goals of nature 100th anniversary, I was sum-- ededuca on, but also for the moned forth from my repose. exexpansion of the na onal I appeared at many special papark. In 2015, I learned of occasions, an ambassador of a most unique and extraor- sorts to this grand centen- didinary opportunity: the nial — the commemora on acacquisi on of Cascade Cot- of an idea and a place that I tatages will secure for Rocky discovered remains revered MMountain Na onal Park the by millions today. lalargest remaining private in- And what an honor, upon hoholding. I am most hopeful the anniversary year fi nale, on would begin to have hhave that that span of of anand enthusias c that this to have been among the invited dig- understanding in 25 or 50 years. challenge will be realized. nitaries on September 4, 2015, when Or perhaps in one hundred. I will soon be summoned back Rocky Mountain Na onal Park was During my remarks at the 1915 into the legends of history, but before offi cially rededicated. dedica on of Rocky Mountain Na onal I go, I invite you to join this great In my own me, I reminded my Park, I caused a provoca on when I cause. May this new dream be fulfi lled contemporaries that the ac ons that challenged the a endees to dream for new genera ons. good people had taken to preserve even bigger. “This park should be our greatest natural treasures in the expanded!” I declared. I had originally Conjuring Enos Mills from the past is no easy form of na onal parks was nothing feat, but these words were delivered to us by lobbied for Rocky to span 1000 square Kur s Kelly, a history storyteller and reenactor short of epoch-making. In 1915, we miles. While I was profoundly grateful based in Estes Park. Kelly’s recent performance did not have the span of me nor for every one of the 350 square miles as Enos Mills on the pres gious TEDxFrontRange the scope of history to appreciate or preserved within those original park stage can be seen on YouTube online. understand fully the profound magni- boundaries, I never stopped dreaming. tude of the great deeds that had been That is why I fi nd myself so done. Perhaps, I marveled, our civiliza- grateful for today’s Rocky Mountain Happy Birthday Rocky!! Photo: Marlene Borneman Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 3 Rocky Ask Nancy Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson a empts to unearth answers Mountain to any ques ons asked by Conservancy members and park visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the Conservancy park, email [email protected] or write: Nancy Wilson, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100, Publishes Estes Park, CO 80517. 2nd Edition of Is the fact that there are only about 24 black bears in the Park Classic park indica ve of any environmental issues, or is this a healthy popula on for the area? The number of bears es - mated in the park from the most recent bear research study between 2003 and 2006 was 20–24 bear (Baldwin and Bend- Rocky Mountain National Park er, 2009). This es mate was similar to research conducted Natural History Handbook 2nd Edition two decades earlier indica ng a rela vely low but stable bear by John Emerick popula on. Low numbers were a ributed to high-eleva on habitats and short growing seasons which limit natural foods From its geological origins to today’s inspiring land- available to bears and results in fewer bears. That research scapes, a seasoned naturalist reveals the wonders also indicated that bears were u lizing more human food and of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park in this natural trash as food sources. Use of these unnatural food sources history handbook, now in its second edi on. The could increase the bear popula on. Today, the park is ac vely region’s human history, from ancient hunters to working to keep these unnatural food sources away from modern se lement, is followed by the geology, cli- bears through educa on and with bear–resistant facili es. mate and the fi ve ecosystem environments found Ul mately, a low bear popula on is simply the result of the in the park. Striking images enhance the author’s natural habitat available and is likely a “healthy” popula- on for the park. — RMNP Wildlife, Fisheries and Water Rights comprehensive descrip ons of the park’s ecosys- Biologist Mary Kay Watry tems and the fl ora and fauna found in each. Are there any fl ower or other vegeta on species from Explore the alpine tundra, a rare and beau ful historic homestead and lodge sites that s ll remain in the wilderness found in Rocky above treeline. Discover park? Yes, a variety of diff erent plants are s ll at McGraw the life in and around rivers and lakes. Learn about Ranch. In the early 1900s, Irene McGraw brought balm of some of the issues facing Rocky. Enjoy this ecologi- Gilead seedlings from Pennsylvania and planted them around cal overview of the park and delve into the essence the main house. Off shoots from these original trees can s ll of what has made Rocky one of the most popular be seen around the main house and throughout the property. Also visible are blue spruce trees that were planted by Frank na onal parks in the country. So cover, 184 pages. McGraw between 1946 and 1948. The blue spruce trees $16.95 plus shipping. were planted between and in front of the cabins, and along Now available in Conservancy Nature the east side of the entry road. Lilacs can be seen at McGraw Stores and on our website at Ranch, the Mill Creek Ranger Sta on and around the Back- country Offi ce. There are two apple trees; one in the U lity RMConservancy.org Area and another on High Drive – and I’m sure there are more examples within the park. — RMNP Cultural Resources Cover photo credits Specialist Kelly Stehman How do the ny nests of hummingbirds stay secure on the (Upper): “Autumn Foraging” by Conservancy Member Marlene branches on which they are built? Female hummingbirds build Borneman, Estes Park, CO; (Lower) “Autumn Morning Bear their nests 10 to 90 feet high, generally in trees or shrubs (with Lake” by Conservancy Staff Member Jeremiah Ramirez, Estes Park, CO a few excep ons).