2018 Summer Quarterly

QUARTERLY
Spring 2018

A ,( )W ! with my usual “They just don’t pay you
volunteers enough,” and went on my
AT C T merry way.

by Joel Kaplow A er that, the on-and-off rain
stayed on. Rainsuit me. Hope for
“Hey, there’s a mother moose and good weather, expect bad weather, but
prepare for the worst weather. Trudging
calf up ahead,” a hiker shared as he uphill with a 50-pound pack, including a
now-mandatory-hard-to-squish-in-the-
passed. “Thanks, I’ll keep an eye out,” I already-full pack bear-proof food can-
ister rented from a Grand Lake retailer,
responded, camera at the ready. the rainsuit soon became a portable
sauna.
I was on the East Inlet Trail, camping
A turtle carries its home on its
permit dangling from my pack, headed back, as does the backpacker, which is
an apropos analogy, as I have a turtle’s
east toward the Cat’s Lair wilderness pace. Perhaps more like a turtle-snail
hybrid — a snurtle? Where is that Cat’s
campsite four miles in from Grand Lake. Lair sign, anyway?

It was raining on and off — not ideal The only thing dandier than pitch-
ing a tent in the rain is pitching a tent
condi ons for a backpacking trip. But in the rain in the dark. A er miles of
dampness and no moose, I finally ar-
there’s no way to know what Mother rived. Cat’s Lair has to be one of the
most gorgeous of the 180+ wilderness
Nature has in store for August when sites in Rocky, complete with a bab-
bling-brook sleep aid: East Inlet.
reserva ons are made in March — it’s
That first night, the rain fell hard,
a camping crapshoot. In fact, 2017’s but all was well. For about five minutes.
Then came a drip-drip-drip hi ng the
summer was the rainiest in my 40 years foot of my sleeping bag. I rustled up the
towel I bring for such occasions, and
of hiking in the Rockies. Consistent with placed it at ground zero. Death, taxes
and leaky tents.
the North American Monsoon (no, that’s
The next morning, Sol was shining
not a joke), the forecast predicted a 30% down on Rocky (cue the choir music).
Hi ng the trail for Mt. Craig, I glanced
chance of rain the next three days. west to see dark clouds looming, coin-
ciding with the 30% forecast. Rainsuit
I first visited Grand Lake in 1977.
me again. Trudging along, I stopped at
With Mt. Craig as the backdrop, the
(Tribute con nued on page 9)
view just knocked my socks off. Four

decades later, I wanted to climb Mt.

Craig and scratch it off my bucket list.

Plan B was to bag nearby Mt. Wesco .

My map showed a spur trail going south

along Paradise Creek to Wesco ’s base.

About two miles in, expec ng the

trail junc on and wondering where the

heck those moose were, I encountered

a park volunteer. I asked him if we were

close to the Paradise Creek trail. “Oh,

we obliterated it and returned the area

to its natural state about 20 years ago,”

he said. Apparently, my USGS topo map

from the Eisenhower Administra on

was a tad out of date. I thanked him

I : CONSERVANCY HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CORPS RECOGNIZED (SEE PAGE 7)

2 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Execu ve Director

Estee Rivera Murdock

Board of Directors Dear Members and Donors,
I am greatly honored to serve as president of the board of
Jim Pickering (President)
Estes Park, CO directors of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Following Don Cheley,
who successfully shepherded the Conservancy through a period of
Brian Ross (Vice President) leadership transi on, will be a difficult task, and we are all very much in his debt.
Denver, CO
As a historian, I am keenly aware of the footsteps in which I follow. As many of you know, the
Timothy Davis (Treasurer) Rocky Mountain Conservancy traces its roots back to 1931 and the vision of Dorr Graves Yeager, the
Denver, CO park’s first full- me naturalist. Having redesigned and reinvigorated the park’s interpre ve program
and opened its first museum, Yeager persuaded local hotel owner Joe Mills (his future father-in-law,
Zachary Wiebe (Secretary) as it turned out) to become president of a new park support group to be called the Rocky Mountain
Fort Collins, CO Nature Associa on. Dues were set at a dollar per year, and by the me of the Associa on’s first an-
nual mee ng, 50 members had been recruited. “The effort,” Mills explained in the Associa on’s first
Doug Campbell Bulle n, “was an experiment to see how many folks ... [were] interested in the outdoors and wild-
Greeley, CO life.” The response, he con nued, had been “gra fying.” The Associa on’s first project was a 57-page
mimeographed booklet, The Animals of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, authored by Dorr Yeager.
Don Cheley
Denver, CO Today, 87 years later, the Associa on, now renamed the Rocky Mountain Conservancy,
con nues to carry on the important work on behalf of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and other
Charles Cofas public lands that Dorr Yeager and Joe Mills so well began. The organiza on has grown, both in size
Estes Park, CO and complexity. But, so too has the need for the financial support that the Conservancy is able to
provide. In the current year, the direct support to Rocky Mountain Na onal Park alone will amount
Katherine Dines to more than 2 million dollars. And for this, of course, we depend in no small measure on the gen-
Denver, CO erosity of you, our members and our donors.

Howard Fry These are challenging mes for Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and its leadership, as it is for all
Castle Rock, CO of our public lands. This is par cularly so as they try to maintain the ever-delicate balance between
unprecedented use and access and the need to protect the integrity and meaning of the park expe-
Lynne Geweke rience itself — the “outdoors and wildlife” that Joe Mills spoke about in founding this organiza on
Estes Park, CO nearly a century ago. The late historian Wallace Stegner was surely right when he wrote that “There
is nothing so American as our na onal parks. The fundamental idea behind the parks ... is that the
Elizabeth Grant (Secretary) country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all
Denver, CO of us. ... Na onal parks are the best idea we ever had.” That is precisely why our parks and public
lands need our advocacy and our support. And today, they need it more than ever before.
Julie Harrington
Denver, CO Those of us who work on behalf of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy are ever-op mis c. But
we are also realists. In reaffirming our mission, we know that that there is no standing s ll — and
Charles Jerden that the challenges of present and future ever and always beget new opportuni es. Blessed with a
Flagstaff, AZ strong and dedicated staff and guided by an engaged and commi ed board of directors, the Rocky
Mountain Conservancy looks forward to con nuing to do what we already do well, even while
Joel Mayo seeking out new and be er ways to serve in 2018.
Centennial, CO
I am proud of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and all it has accomplished since the days of
Jan Robertson Dorr Yeager and Joe Mills. And I am excited about moving forward with the important work that
Boulder, CO lies ahead. In the months to come I also look forward to mee ng many of you in person. I look
forward to thanking you for your generosity and your support. And I also look forward to hearing
Bill Tindall your ideas about how we can make the Rocky Mountain Conservancy an even stronger and more
Carmel, IN successful organiza on.

James H. Pickering

President, Board of Directors, Rocky Mountain Conservancy

Photo: Denny Longsworth

Get Outside! Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 3

Great New Products to Ignite Ask Nancy
Your Enthusiasm for Rocky!
Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson a empts to unearth answers
from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy to any ques ons asked by Conservancy members and park
visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the
RMNP Adult Coloring Book park, email [email protected] or write:
by Dave Ember Nancy Wilson, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100,
44 intricate, beau ful and unique Rocky-themed illustra- Estes Park, CO 80517.
ons for you to color, with informa ve text by Mary
Taylor Young. Includes 8 postcards and 4 bookmarks to How is climate change and the resul ng lack of snow in the Rockies
color. So cover $15.95; Member price: $13.56 affec ng animals that molt to white? Snowshoe hares, white-tailed
ptarmigan, and weasels (2 species) in our region are well-known for
Best Served Wild their color changes, from the cryp c browns and tans that match
by Brendan Leonard & Anna Brones their summer surroundings, to stark white with the onset of winter.
An outdoor cookbook with food This adapta on to be er camouflage the animal in its surroundings
as exci ng as your next adventure. This book shows how to resulted from selec ve pressure over me that enhanced survival
make delicious meals and snacks in the backcountry without by countering preda on and, in the case of weasels, likely improving
compromising on taste. So cover. 7-1/2ʺ x 9-1/2ʺ; 207 pages. preda on success. As climatological changes occur, with the brown/
$22.00; Member price: $18.70 tan background periods lengthening, the animals’ colora on will
be increasingly mismatched with their surroundings. In a study of
Angler’s Guide to snowshoe hares, such mismatching decreased week-to-week survival
Rocky Mountain Na onal Park rates by up to 7%. This is not a trivial ma er, since long-term annual
by Les & Kimball Beery survival differences of only a percent or two can mean the difference
A basic, waterproof, pocket-sized guide for recrea onal anglers. between popula on stability or growth, and decline or even local
Includes maps, basic tackle guidelines, day hikes and overnight ex rpa on. I’ve not found any similar studies of mismatch effects
des na ons, and greenback cu hroat trout regula ons. Authors Les on ptarmigan or weasels. We may wonder (or hope?) that white
and Kimball Beery have fished this area for over 40 years. So cover. individuals in areas where (Ask Nancy: Climate con nued on page 15)
4.5”x8”; 60 pages. $19.95; Member price: $16.96
What happens on the ground level when the park is forced to shut
It Happened in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park down? While Rocky Mountain Na onal Park is accessible to the
by Phyllis J. Perry public during the lapse in federal appropria ons, we are unable to
Containing tales from Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, from the fully staff the opera ons of the park. Law enforcement personnel
first ascent of Longs Peak to the raging Ouzel Lake wildfire. A con nue to patrol, and park regula ons remain in effect, however.
total of thirty events from Rocky Mountain Na onal Park history Services that require staffing and maintenance, such as entrance
are relayed that reveal a host of intriguing people and fascinat- sta ons, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, the Kawuneeche Visi-
ing episodes from the history of Colorado’s largest na onal park. tor Center, Moraine Park Campground, and most restroom facili es,
So cover, 158 pages. $12.95; Member price: $11.01 are not provided. Roads that were already open remained open to
vehicles, but only if weather and road condi ons permit. Park visi-
Drip Embossed tors were advised to use extreme cau on if choosing to enter Rocky
Ceramic Mugs Mountain Na onal Park, as Na onal Park Service personnel were not
These bear and elk mugs available to provide guidance or assistance. Emergency services were
are a lovely weight, and limited. Any entry to Rocky Mountain Na onal Park during a period
have a generous handle size. of federal government shutdown is at the visitor’s sole risk. Park rules
Dishwasher safe, they come and regula ons s ll apply. Rocky Mountain Na onal Park staff did not
in 4 colors: blue, tan, green issue permits, conduct (Ask Nancy: Closure con nued on page 15)
and red. 16 oz. Measures 5ʺ
x 3-1/2ʺ. $9.95; What are saprophy c plants and are there any in Rocky?
Member price: $8.46 A saprophyte is a plant, fungus or microorganism which gathers all
of its necessary nutrients from decaying organic materials in the soil.
Gree ng Cards: Seasons of RMNP They don’t make their own food through photosynthesis, so they
12 blank gree ng cards and envelopes containing the o en don’t have green colora on (chlorphyll) in their plant parts. In-
fine art photography of Erik Stensland. Cards contain stead, they form a complicated and marvelous rela onship with ny
3 each of 4 seasonal scenes within the park. Measures soil fungi called mycorrhizae to extract what they need to survive.
5ʺx7ʺ. $15.95; Member price: $13.56 Many of Rocky’s saprophytes are found deep in the shady, nutrient-
poor soils of the lodgepole pine forest. Our beau ful coralroot
Call 970-586-0121, or visit our website at orchids (Corallorhizza maculata) are saprophytes, showing us the
beau ful reds and bronzes of their ny orchids, but no green leaves.
RMConservancy.org We also have a lovely white, gilled meadow mushroom (Agaricus
campestris) do ng our open areas in the forests — another sapro-
Cover photo credits phyte. Word origins lesson: sapr = Greek for ro en; phyt = Greek for
rela ng to plants. — RMNP Interpre ve Ranger Kathy Brazelton
(Upper) “Spring Plowing, Trail Ridge Road” by the NPS; (Lower)
“Lion Lakes in Spring” by Madeline Wilson, Salt Lake City, UT

Photos are always appreciated! Scenery, wildlife and wildflowers
greatly enhance this publica on, so get out there and take a hike!

Please send high-resolu on images to nancy.wilson@
RMConservancy.org by June 1 for publica on in the 2018 Summer
Quarterly.

Thank You!

4 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Research Explores Effects
of Pile Burning on

Site Revegation in Rocky

by Ian Sexton,
Brown Lab, BSPM/GDPE, Colorado State University,

RMNP Vegeta on Monitoring Program

u lized previous fuels is adapted to low-
nutrient availability
reduc ons to halt the typical of soils in
the Rocky Moun-
Fern Lake Fire before it tains. Alterna vely,
invasive plants that
spread to Estes Park. can push out na ve
vegeta on and
Burning woodpiles is part of fuels reduc on treatments in One complica on nega vely impact
in managing fuel loads habitats are o en
Rocky Mountain Na onal Park. Photo: Christopher Kopek is disposing of unmar- be er able than na-

While exploring Rocky Mountain ketable wood. Some ve species to take advantage of the extra
nutrients to establish quickly and spread
beetle-killed trees are used within the in areas opened by pile burning. Growth
Na onal Park, you may have no ced large park as trail bridges, picnic shelters, or of desirable plants is further limited by a
woodpiles sca ered within the forest. If water-repellent layer caused by the heat
mulch in revegeta on projects. But this is of the fire that restricts water from soak-
you explore the park regularly, you may ing into the soil. Instead of percola ng
only a frac on of the material that must into the ground, water will bead up and
see that these piles are replaced by circles be removed from the landscape. The most run off, diminishing the amount of water
of ash the following spring a er being available for plants to grow.
cost-effec ve way to accomplish wide-
burned during the winter. We refer to Not only soil is lost during high-
scale reduc ons is piling woody material intensity fires, but also the organisms that
those circles as pile burn scars, and they into structures that can be safely burned live in the soil. While it is obvious that
are the focus of my research under the above-ground por ons of plants burn, it is
during the winter when snow cover mini- important to note that their below-ground
guidance of Dr. Cynthia S. Brown at Colo- mizes wildfire risks. organs (roots and rhizomes) also are
rado State University. destroyed specifically near the pile center
These piles are a step After a century of fire Looking even where hea ng is greatest. During lower-
deeper into the intensity fires such as natural wildfires and
in the removal of hazardous suppression and recent science of all prescribed fires where fuel is spread out,
many plants are able to regrow from these
fuels. A er a century of fire tree mortality from this, we find that underground bodies. This would also
suppression and recent tree mountain pine beetles, burning piles of provide an opportunity for seeds to grow
mortality from mountain pine wood to reduce that have been lying dormant in the soil
beetles, woody material has woody material fuel loads has wai ng for the right condi ons. Pile burn-
ing, however, drama cally reduces the
accumulated to unnatural has accumulated to un- a number of amount of viable seed in the soil, limi ng
levels in forests across the natural levels in forests environmental the poten al for unaided revegeta on and
western U.S. This surplus can across the western U.S. consequences. requiring natural seeding from the sur-
fuel larger and more severe Concentra ng fuel rounding area. This can alter the diversity
and composi on of the plant community
wildland fires that threaten produces more for years a er burning, especially if the
scars are invaded by pest species.
healthy forest ecosystems, heat in a smaller area. This intensifies the
Less visible organisms also are lost
buildings and human lives. effect on the ground beneath pile burns, from the soil. There are fungi and other
microorganisms in the soil that form close
To reduce risks from these types crea ng pile burn scars. The organic por-

of fires, crews in the park remove dead on of the soil, which builds up over long

woody material in areas strategically cho- me periods as plant li er accumulates
sen for fuels reduc on. The dead wood
and decomposes, is consumed by the fire.
is stacked, then burned during the winter This exposes mineral soil that lacks the
when fire danger is low. Fire suppression characteris cs necessary for many plants
is easier and safer for firefighters in areas to grow. Some nutrients, however, such
that have received this management treat- as nitrogen and phosphorus, can actually
ment. While fire is a natural disturbance become more available to plants directly
that drives healthy ecosystem develop-
a er burning.
ment and promotes habitat diversity,
This may sound like a benefit for re-
it is managed to protect park buildings
establishing plants that are consumed by
and adjacent communi es. The value of the fire, but it actually may do more harm
this was seen in 2012 when firefighters
than good. Much of our na ve vegeta on

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 5

Pile burn scar two years a er burning without restora on. Pile burn scar two years a er restora on. Photo: RMNP

Photo: RMNP

rela onships with plant roots. These they decompose mulch to develop organic is Canada thistle, but it is currently present
rela onships are important to plants for soil. in few scars regardless of restora on.
nutrient uptake and actually help some
survive drought condi ons. Without These methods are used in Rocky One important phenomenon that
these partnerships, plant regenera on Mountain Na onal park when me and we no ced a er the first few years of
is further limited to species that can live resources allow. As a federal agency, it this study is that the vegeta on growing
alone in the altered soil or to species that is our responsibility to ensure that we in scars to which seed was added as part
can migrate into scars with their partner are u lizing resources efficiently and of the restora on treatment seemed to
microorganisms and survive in the altered effec vely to protect lands entrusted to be limited to seeded species. The scars
soil together. us by the public. Success of restora on recovering unaided appear to have greater
is therefore monitored to inform future diversity of plants. The restored scars have
All of these effects together create management decisions. To quan fy suc- much higher plant cover, but this exceeds
condi ons that are ripe for invasion by cess, we have been comparing restored what is found in the surrounding un-
pest species. Burn areas can be compared scars to scars that were le alone south of burned area. The ground in this lodgepole
to a cut in the skin that is open to bacteria Lily Lake. In 2014, interns from the Public pine forest is primarily covered in li er
that could infect the wound and spread Lands History Center at CSU restored 14 from fallen needles with sparse vegeta-
to other parts of the body. The idea is of the 26 scars that were chosen to be
to cover the site quickly before anything monitored. Scars have been monitored on. The scars without restora on s ll
undesirable comes in. To minimize the each summer since then by es ma ng have more bare ground due to lower li er
poten al for invasive species to become the percent of the area occupied by each cover, but the plant cover is comparable
established and improve the aesthe cs plant species at the center, edge, and at to the surrounding area. These trends sug-
of pile burn scars, restora on is used to a loca on outside of each scar. The areas gest that our restora on techniques may
assist revegeta on. Best prac ces include occupied by rocks, li er and bare ground prevent desirable na ve species that were
using hand tools to physically break up any were also es mated. not seeded from establishing in the first
water repellent layers so that water can few years, and that vegeta on can regen-
infiltrate the soil. Desirable plants that can By doing this, we can compare scars erate unaided in scars of the size produced
poten ally block undesirable plants are to see what effect restora on has had in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.
introduced by adding na ve plant seeds as the plant community develops. We
that are successful at growing in disturbed are s ll in the process of developing a We hope to con nue monitoring
areas. Finally, covering the site with mulch sta s cal model that is appropriate to these scars to follow how they change
protects seed from animals or wind that analyze these data, so, at this me, deci- over me, but we are already developing
could remove them, and increases water sive conclusions cannot be made. Ini al recommenda ons about where restora-
availability in the soil. Mulch has the add- observa ons, however, clearly show that
ed benefit of providing food for microbes seeded species have been successful at on of pile burn scars is most appropri-
in the soil. These soil organisms will act establishing quickly. What is less clear ate, such as on steep slopes where bare
like a sponge to take up excess nutrients is whether or not restora on kept out ground le unrestored contributes to
so they are less available to pest species as invasive species. The invasive species that erosion and runoff, and areas where ap-
we are most concerned about at this site pearance is a concern.

Support Rocky’s resource management programs by dona ng to the Conservancy’s Greenhouse Endowment
RMConservancy.org, or call 970-586-0108

6 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Rocky Mountain Conservancy 2018
Summer Education Fellowships

The Olson Family Fellowship began partnering with Rocky Mountain Na onal Park’s environmental educa on department and the Conser-
vancy’s Field Ins tute programs in 2007. In 2013, the Jus ne and Leslie Fidel Bailey program extended their fellowship opportunity to include
an Educa on Fellow in addi on to the research fellowship originally sponsored under the program direc ve. With Next Genera on Fund
support, the success of park fellowships depends upon both the generosity of donors and the crea vity of Fellows who address the evolving
research and educa onal needs of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park and the Field Ins tute programs.

Internship du es include: developing professional goals, teaching interac ve nature ac vi es and programs, assis ng with program de-
velopment, planning and implementa on, comple ng basic adver sing and marke ng projects, presen ng informa onal programs about
educa onal ac vi es at RMNP, dra ing news releases and feature ar cles, and engaging in community outreach.

Mike Innes Emily Ross
Olson Family Fellow
Bailey Educa on Fellow
May 30 – November 2, 2018
May 30 – November 2, 2018
Hometown: Cannonsburg, PA
College: Penn State Hometown: Folsom, CA
Career Goal: To work full- me in the Na onal Park College: Colorado State University
system to spend each day connec ng people to the Career Goal: To bring children into the out-
natural world. doors and ignite their passion for the outdoors
Internship Goals: Mike hopes to con nue to build and to facilitate the poten al of giving kids a
on his educa on and environmental interpreta on skills and gain experi- healthier life through outdoor ac vi es and engagement.
ence developing his own educa onal programs. Internship Goals: To con nue learning more about the field of
environmental educa on and growing to become an effec ve
environmental educator. I also am looking forward to learning how a
nonprofit works.

Featured Field Institute Programs RMNP – Bailey Research
Fellow Laura Sco
Here are some program highlights for the next to Study An bio c-
few months — visit our website to learn more Resistant Bacteria
about these outdoor adventures in the park! in Rocky

North with the Spring: Bird Migra on — April 28 The RMNP - Bailey Research Fellowship was established in 1995 through
100 Years of Environmental Change in RMNP — May 4 the gi of an endowment to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. The
Hawks in Flight: Birds of Prey — May 12 inten on was to encourage interest in public service as a possible career
Life as an Owl — May 18 choice for young scien sts by giving graduate students access and expo-
Orienteering for Beginners: Map & Compass — May 19 sure to the Na onal Parks while encouraging science communica on to
Life Signs: Tracking the Invisible — May 25 park visitors.
Falcons: Streamlined for Speed — June 2
Sketchbook Journaling: Wilderness in Watercolor — June 7-8 Hometown: Midwest City, OK
Orchids of RMNP — June 9 College: B.S. Oklahoma State University (Zoology)
Birds of the Kawuneeche Valley — June 16 M.S. Tulane University (Epidemiology)
Family Astronomy (ages 5 & up) — June 16 Career Goal: Laura is interested in doing outbreak and infec ous disease
Secret Places in RMNP — June 22 surveillance at the federal level, par cularly within the Department of
Primordial, Prehistoric & Hidden History of RMNP — June 23-24 the Interior. Par cularly she is interested in an bio c resistance and
Kids’ Fly-fishing & Stream Ecology (ages 7-15) — July 6,20 zoono c disease.
Fellowship Goals: Laura hopes to quan fy the presence of an bio c-
Learn more at: RMConservancy.org resistant bacteria in soil and water within the park, and determine what
anthropogenic and physical factors predict the presence of an bio c-re-
Or, call 970-586-3262 for more informa on sistant bacteria. She will also be looking to assess human health risk from
resistant, pathogenic bacteria in soil and water in the park. She will also
be helping to disseminate her findings and general microbial stewardship
informa on to park staff and visitors.

Support educa onal internships in the park by dona ng to the Conservancy’s Next Genera on Fund at
RMConservancy.org, or call 970-586-0108

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 7

Conservancy Corps Programs
Recognized at Spring

Public Lands Conference

RMNP Chief of Interpreta on Rich Fedorchak The Rocky Mountain Conservancy learn and serve on Colorado’s public
and Conservancy Conserva on Director Geoff is excited to announce that its Corps lands through immersive internship
Elliot celebrate the Honorable Men on Award programs (Conserva on Corps and experiences. In both programs, young
for Outstanding Public Engagement for the High School Leadership Corps) were people complete on-the-ground
organiza on’s Conserva on Corps program. recognized at the Public Lands Al- conserva on work, learn about public
liance Conference in Palm Springs, lands, and develop valuable job skills
California, with an Honorable Men on and career resources for their profes-
for Outstanding Public Engagement. sional careers. Find out more about
these programs on our website at
The Corps programs provide op- RMConservancy.org.
portuni es to youth ages 14 – 25 to

Park Puzzler 7 In Wild Basin there is a moraine, lake, falls and mountain named for John
B. ___, who homesteaded in the area star ng in 1889.
by RM Conservancy Member Joel Kaplow 8 In August 2017, the cost of the America the Beau ful Senior Pass in-
creased 700%, from ten dollars since 1994, to ___ dollars.
Across 10 Rocky’s lone resident serpent, the Western terrestrial garter snake, is
very unusual for a garter. It constricts its prey, and skips the hassle of laying
3 The emerald ash borer will eventually make Dutch elm disease look bush eggs by giving ___ birth.
league. Fortunately for RMNP, its ___ ashes are safe, as they’re not of the genus 11 If you think you’ve seen a colorful parrot flying around RMNP, it’s more
Fraxius, which is what the borers like to bore. likely a male Western ___, with a bright yellow body, black wings and red face.
5 The beak of the red ___ has evolved to open pine cone scales to access the 14 Spli ng McHenry’s Peak and Chief’s Head above Glacier Gorge is ___
seeds in a unique way. By closing its mouth, the beak acts as dual pry bars. Man Pass, named for a 40-foot pinnacle there that looks like a petrified dude
6 Rocky’s ger salamander likes to dine on insects, spiders and ___. if you squint your eyes just right.
9 There is he y geological evidence that glaciers were once hard at work in RMNP 16 The first stretch of off-trail hiking on the Keyhole Route for Longs Peak is
during the ice ages, e.g., U-shaped valleys, cirques, tarns, aretes and moraines all just before the Keyhole, where there is an area of gigan c rocks to nego -
over the place. The last ice age, aka Pleistocene ___, ended around 12,000 years ago. ate: The ___ Field.
12 The park is home to both mule and white-tailed deer. A deer fawn is defined as 19 Most of Rocky’s woodpeckers are zygodactyl; they have two forward-facing
a youngster under 12 months old, while a ___ is between 12 and 24 months old. and two backward-facing ___ which help in climbing up and down tree trunks.
13 RMNP has four fee-free days in 2018: MLK Jr.’s Birthday (1/15), first day of
Na onal Park Week (4/21), Na onal Public Lands Day (9/22) and ___ Day (11/11).
15 Naturalist Col. John James ___ was honored with an eponymous squirrel. It’s
mostly black with tu ed ears, and if you see one, you can bet there are ponderosa
pines nearby.
17 ___ Egg Rock, a large outcrop on Mt. Meeker’s southern flank, was named by
Ranger Jack Moomaw, and can be seen from many miles away.
18 A topo map of RMNP shows that most west-facing slopes along the Divide are
smooth as a baby’s behind, but on the east side it looks like a giant steam shovel
chomped away at them. This is the result of ___ glacia on. The Divide acts as a
snow fence, and over millennia, snow coming in from the west piled up on the east
side and solidified into glaciers, which scoured out the east-facing cliffs we see today.
20 The ___ is a lingering snowfield between The Keyhole and Longs’ summit that
can be easily viewed from Beaver Meadows.
21 We all know about a murder of crows, but what is the appropriate-sounding
term for a group of squirrels?

Down

1 We all know about a gaggle of geese, but what is the appropriate-sounding term
for a group of porcupines?
2 Confirmed by the 2012 BioBlitz, a new cri er has been added to Rocky’s resi-
dent rep les: the Eastern fence ___.
4 The American dipper, named for the incessant bobbing of its head into the
water while looking for lunch, can swim downward several feet. Its feathers stay
dry due to an ___ gland above its tail.
6 On the park’s west side, west of Sprague Mountain, you’ll find Haynach Lakes,
the name derived from Arapaho meaning “snow ___.”

8 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

A Peek Into the
Conservancy’s High School

Leadership Program

ing of public lands the outdoors, involvement in stewardship

or conserva on ac vi es, feelings about outdoor recrea on,

work. and day-to-day decision-making related

Jump ahead to the environment. Each of these metrics

11 days, and all has been iden fied as helpful indicators of

(Above) High School Leadership Corps learns how 10 of the crew conserva on-based behavior. Across these
to restore na ve plants from NPS staff have devel- four metrics, HSLC par cipants indicated at
(Right) Program Manager Geoff Elliot oped a greater least a 50% and up to a 250% growth (on a
understanding 10-point scale).
by Geoff Elliot, Rocky Mountain Conservancy - of the outdoors,
Conserva on Corps program director an evolving Numbers and goals aside, as the pro-
gram leader, the program felt empowering,

My phone alarm vibrates under my awareness of public lands, and a height- genuine and regenera ve. Stepping back

sleeping bag. It is 5:45 a.m. on the last day ened respect for the importance and role from the program planning and research, cur-

of the Conservancy’s High School Leadership of conserva on work. During the program, riculum development, and evalua on met-

Corps (HSLC), and the crew leader, Tommy, these youth completed more than 40 hours rics, I can honestly say that the experience

and I have been camping with 10 Colorado of on-the-ground stewardship with the was life-changing. Even for me. Waking up

high school youth for the past 11 days. Some Na onal Park Service (NPS) and USDA Forest every morning to the crisp Rocky Mountain

self-encouragement is required before I can Service (USFS) on projects ranging from fire air filling my tent, living and working outside

wiggle myself out of my warm, comfortable fuel management and habitat restora on on public lands, and developing a community

sleeping bag, slip on my unwashed work to trail-building and li er cleanup. These centered around learning, personal develop-

uniform, and crawl out of my tent at Moraine energe c young people also a ended ment, and service is truly unlike anything

Park Campground. educa onal programs offered by both NPS else.

As I poke my head out of the tent, I revel and Conservancy staff to learn about public For me, this was a step away from the of-

at this campsite that has become home in the land management and In just 12 days, these fice, management, and the hus-
last 10 days. The tents circle our pop-up can- the natural and cultural tle and bustle of an Estes Park

opy, tarp shelter and picnic tables. The layout resources of the park. Colorado high schoolers summer. It allowed me to be in
feels like a living room and kitchen surrounded In the process, they laid transformed from kids the present, and experience the
by a set of small brightly colored bedrooms. To a fer le founda on for casually interested in na- program as these young people
my delight, I no ce the “leaders-of-the-day” skills related to outdoor were. For them, it was a step

from the HSLC already emerging from their leadership, communica- ture — but disconnected away from their everyday lives
tents and running to gather the cooking sup- on methods, and pro- from it — to bona fide along Colorado’s Front Range,
plies and breakfast food, boil water, and wake public land stewards. into a world dominated by the
up the rest of the crew. A er a few minutes of fessional development, natural resources of Rocky. This
through formal training

people emerging from their tents, groggy and and informal prac ce immersion allowed for even

stretching, with un ed boots and severe cases throughout their day-to- the most disconnected among

of bed-head, everyone is out grabbing their day life in the HSLC program. them to develop some kind of connec on

personal toiletries and si ng down around In just 12 days, these Colorado high with the natural world. Whether the new

the picnic tables to enjoy another morning of schoolers transformed from kids casually in- rela onship is one of cau ous respect or

toast, eggs and oatmeal. As we eat our last terested in nature — but disconnected from it passionate commitment, the seed has been

breakfast together, conversa ons bounce be- — to bona fide public land stewards. This was planted.

tween the memories created over the past two a huge success for this pilot program of the And so, alongside these young people,

weeks, and everyone’s plans for the rest of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, which estab- I’m delighted to report that as the program

summer. The memories include humorous an- lished the program to engage local high school manager, my experience with the HSLC

ecdotes about car-ride sing-a-longs, trail-relat- youth, connect them to public lands, and invigorated my passion for working for public

ed feats of strength, and myriad “inside jokes” bridge the gap between the youth educa onal lands and engaging the next genera on

established during our short me together. programs and young adult internship oppor- of conserva on leaders. It allowed me to

As a few individuals speak about their tuni es. Across all of these ini al goals for the in mately experience the effect of the Con-

plans of returning to the Conservancy in 2018, HSLC, the Conservancy had achieved success. servancy’s programs on young people, and

I become aware of the transforma ve power Program assessment did not stop with demonstrated the cri cal value of this work.

this HSLC experience has had on these young this anecdotal evidence. All HSLC par ci- In 2018, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy

people. They arrive ust 12 days earlier, and pants completed post-program evalua ons plans to expand the program to accommo-

many of them struggled to assemble their to recognize their personal growth across a date mul ple sessions and host addi onal

tents, balked at the idea of wai ng six days number of conserva on psychology metrics. Colorado high school youth. I couldn’t be

before a shower, and had minimal understand- These included: individual a tudes toward more excited!

Support the Conserva on Corps programs at RMConservancy.org, or call 970-586-0108

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 9

2018 Conservancy G
Volunteer Event
Meandering East Inlet with a backdrop of Mt. Craig and increasing clouds.
Calendar Photo: Joel Kaplow

Please Note: All dates and projects (Tribute con nued from page 1) a familiar uniform on the trail. I flagged
are subject to change. See individual Diane down. “Did you see the mother
event announcements for details at Lone Pine Lake for a munch break, con- moose and calf?” she asked. Dang,
templa ng my op ons: try to climb a another moose miss! We compared
RMConservancy.org difficult mountain in the rain, or return mushroom photos on our cameras.
to the campsite in the rain. I chose Door
May 19 Number Two, Monty. Enjoyment is hard A er she le , I started thinking
to achieve while miserable. about all the volunteers and paid staff
Colorado Public Lands Day who keep RMNP rolling, especially the
Project: Li er Clean-Up So, what are the upsides of rainy trail crews. Entropy affects all things,
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. campouts? Extra me for philosophiz- and given enough me, rain washes
ing, for one: With thousands of peaks away en re mountain ranges. So how
June 2 around, why isn’t it Rocky Mountains can a mere trail endure? There would
Na onal Park? Extra me for reading a be no maintained trails without trail
Na onal Trails Day Stephen King novel, for another. And, maintainers, and I had just spent three
Project: Trail Construc on mushrooms galore in all shapes, sizes days benefi ng from the fruits of their
(Flood Recovery) and colors — truly a mycologist’s surreal labor. How many bridges had I crossed?
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m paradise. Oh! And a new song germinat- That’s architecture. How many doz-
ing in my head: A er a rain, when ev- ens of water-diversion systems had I
June 26 erything is clean, the mosses and trees encountered? That’s engineering. How
are greener than green ... . many hundreds of downed trees cross-
Project: Habitat Restora on/ ing the trail had been cleared? I had a
Invasive Species Management The next day on the way down, I hunch it wasn’t the work of beavers, as
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. encountered another park volunteer they leave tooth marks, and they defi-
coming up the trail, Diane, from Michi- nitely don’t have the opposable thumbs
July – Westside Project gan. We were both deligh ng in the which are handy for opera ng saws
mushroom explosion. Turns out she was — all of the downed trees were cleanly
Time & Project: TBD headed to Cat’s Lair for campsite inspec- cut with exper se. So, who are these
mostly unseen and unsung miracle
August 25 – Founders Day on. <Gulp!> Did I leave only footprints workers?
and take only pictures? She told me to
Time & Project: TBD watch for a mother moose and calf on Star ng in 1933, FDR’s Civilian
the way down. I told her I missed them Conserva on Corps (CCC) created many
September 11 on the way up, but I’d be vigilant. I le of Rocky’s trails that are s ll in use. Fast-
her with another “They just don’t pay forward to today. RMNP’s Trail Supervi-
Day of Service and Remembrance you volunteers enough.” sor is one Kevin Soviak. This season he
Project: Fire Fuels Reduc on will lead a paid staff of four crews on
Time: TBD And then more rain. Hiked down to the park’s east side, two on the west,
the Adams Falls junc on and stopped
September 22 for a munch break, patently pooped. (Tribute con nued on page 11)
A wet pack filled with wet everything
Na onal Public Lands Day weighs more. A er a while, I recognized
Project: Li er Cleanup
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m

October
Na onal Trails Act 50th Anniversary
Project: Trails
Time: TBD

Contact Geoff Elliot, director
of conserva on at
geoff[email protected]
for more informa on, or to
register.

10 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Statement of Financial Health

as of December 31, 2017

(With summarized financial informa on as of December 31, 2016)

Unrestricted Temporarily Permanently Total Total
Restricted Restricted 2017 2016

Sales $3,658,913 $- $- $3,658,913 $3,698,918
Cost of Goods Sold (1,737,993) (1,737,993) (1,791,966)
1,920,920 412,531 1,920,920 1,906,952
Gross Profit
497,803 15,628 100 910,435 1,314,457
Contribu ons 163,610 -
Membership Contribu ons 163,610 216,058
In-kind dona ons 2,750 428,159
Interest and Dividends 119,842 2,750 5,591
Field Ins tute Revenue 100,827
Other Income 32,610 135,470 130,527
2,838,362
Total Revenues 100,827 113,248
540,633
Net Assets rReleased From Restric on: 3,378,995 32,610 41,787
Sa sfac on of Program and Time Restric ons
Total Revenue, Gains and Other Support 726,028 100 3,266,621 3,728,620
309,567
Expenses 206,088 (540,633) --
Program Services 102,041 (112,474) 100 3,266,621 4,397,442
Visitor Services 1,141,317
Cons tuency Building 2,485,042 726,028 727,425
Field Ins tute 309,567 348,299
Other Agency Support 191,673 206,088 193,141
RMNP Programs & Projects 340,357 102,041
Total Program Expenses 532,030 1,141,317 87,734
3,017,072 2,485,042 2,879,811
Suppor ng Services 4,236,410
Fundraising 361,923
General and Administra on 397,708 191,673 205,063
Total Suppor ng Services Expenses 900,522 340,357 360,191
Total Expenses 532,030 565,254
1,660,154 3,017,072 4,801,664
Changes in Net Assets Before 11,102,311
Gain on Investments 12,762,465 (112,474) 100 249,549 (1,073,044)
(397,708) - -
Transfers 137,102 100
Realized /Unrealized Gain on Investments 277,917 1,037,625 42,570
(373,080) 278,017
Changes in Net Assets 2,488,382 1,287,074 (1,030,474)
Net Assets, Beginning of Year 2,115,302 13,868,610 14,898,149
Net Assets, End of Year 15,155,784 13,868,610

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 11

2017 Support to trail maintenance, at mes alongside

Rocky Mountain National Park RMNP’s crews. These interns get hous-
& Other Public Lands ing of various kinds, work-clothing and
$4,236,410 gear, training for all manner of tools,
and a s pend. Geoff says their goal is to
“improve recrea onal access by keeping

Park Improvement Land water off the trail, and people on the
Projects: 15% Protec on: 2% trail.” Well done, Geoff and crew!

$52,009 Visitor An informa ve/entertaining blog by
Services: 29% Conserva on Corps youth can be found
$379,192 at: rmconservancyconserva oncorps.

wordpress.com/. It includes a list of last

season’s accomplishments, replete with

RM Conserva on $726,685 jargon/argot used by trail crews every-
Corps: 10% where. The raised trail por ons that
cut through wet, squishy areas to keep
hiking boots dry? Those are turnpikes.

$242,636 When downed trees crossing a trail are

cleared, usually with person-powered

crosscut saws? They have been bucked

out. When tree branches growing over

$309,567 the trail have been pruned back? The
$102,041
trail has been brushed. Who knew?

$672,912 So, a er 40 years of taking and not

giving back, it’s me for this hiker to

volunteer on a trail project somewhere

Youth, Cons tuency this year. How is this done? See Geoff’s
Educa on & Building: 12% how-to-volunteer info on page 9. Who
Outreach: 27% knows … maybe I’ll run into a mother
Other Public moose and calf when I do.
Lands: 4%
Joel engages in his pursuit of happiness

(Tribute con nued from page 9) by climbing in his backyard — the
Rockies. He’s summited over 100 peaks

with three volunteers tossed in. improvements. Well done, Kevin and in RMNP, some of which have provided
A “crew” is comprised of five or crew! inspira on for his amateur songwri ng.
A self-described word nerd, he proof-
six workers — the number dictated by In 2003, the RMNA-Conserva on reads the Quarterly and creates the
how many warm bodies and tools can Corps (now RMC-CC) was begun with newsle er’s Park Puzzler crossword.
be squeezed into one truck. They all go one seven-member volunteer crew.

through preseason and on-the-job train- A er more than a decade

ing for everything trail-maintenance of growth, the 2018 season

related. One example of their prow- will host six crews comprised

ess: Last year they cleared more than of 34 conserva on-minded

4,000 downed trees from Rocky’s 300+ college kids. And a new

miles of trails. Normally, chainsaws are program will keep a batch of

restricted in Rocky star ng in July (Wil- high schoolers busy in the

derness rules), however, in these days park this summer as well,

of bark beetle fallout and other natural all under the watchful eye

events resul ng in a plethora of dead of Conservancy Director of

trees, logic has a say, and a hiker may Conserva on Geoff Elliot (see

hear a purring chainsaw in the distance. Geoff’s ar cle, page 8). These

Kevin’s goal is to have their work natu- kids will be doing count-

rally blend in with the surroundings, less good deeds in Rocky

enabling hikers to immerse themselves and adjacent Arapaho and

into the wilderness experience without Roosevelt Na onal Forests, A stunning crop of Amanita muscaria Photo: Joel Kaplow
being distracted by human-created trail including very-much-appreciated

12 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Conservancy Augments Rocky’s
Livestock Program with
Gift of Service Animals

teeth (smoothing or

contouring the teeth

with a file), eye

examina ons, and

“Bro Moe” more.

Once a horse

by Kevin Soviak, RMNP or mule is deter- “Haus”

supervisor for the Trails, mined to be unable to withers is normal. We check to see if
the animal can stop, back up, turn le
Barns and Signs pro- perform their du es and right, walk, trot and canter properly.
Once the animal passes these tests we
grams without fear of en- will then saddle them or e them into a
string and lead them into the park.
Through your kind dangering themselves
While in the park, the animal
dona ons to the Rocky or visitors, we imme- packer will walk them across bridges
and through streams, along trails with
Mountain Conservancy, “Li le John” diately start look- visitors, and up and down steep trails to
in the fall of 2017, the see how they handle the various condi-
ing for their replacement. This can
ons. They will also trot the livestock or
Rocky Mountain Na onal be a long, drawn out process and it usu- leave them ed together for a significant
amount of me to see if they are prone
Park Livestock program was able to ally begins with the park’s animal packers to bi ng, kicking or striking at the other
animals in the string. If everything checks
purchase one new horse and three new or the Trails program supervisor perusing out, we will then call in the vet to do a
pre-purchase examina on of the animal.
mules. These purchases met a significant several websites dedicated to livestock This vet will check on the animal’s heart
and its diges ve health, perform an eye
need of the park, as the current herd sales or adop ons. Some mes we get examina on, evaluate the animal’s con-
forma on and joints, and confirm their
is rapidly aging out, with about two to lucky and either our vet or farrier knows height and weight.

three head being re red annually for the someone who is looking to sell one of If everything passes muster, and if
the animal packers are comfortable with
last five years. their head. the animal, we will then make a pur-
chase. The animal is put into quaran ne
Although some of the park horses The park’s specifica ons are neces- for two weeks un l it is confirmed that
they do not carry any diseases, such as
and mules do work un l they are 24 years sarily strict to ensure that the animal can strangles, which is a highly contagious
infec on of the upper respiratory tract
old (typical age of re rement), some work in the environmental condi ons caused by the bacteria Strep. equi (Strep-
tococcus equi subspecies equi). A er the
need to re re earlier as a result of the dif- of RMNP. Some of the specifica ons two-week quaran ne ends, the animal
is then brought to the barn and put in a
ficult work they perform, carrying heavy include: separate corral close to the main corral
so that the herd can become familiar
loads up to nine miles into the back- • Must be at least 15.2 hands high so with the new animal(s). Finally, when the
the loads will clear the handrails on the new animal is acclimated and ready, we
country on steep and rocky trails. These park’s mul -use bridges introduce it to the rest of the herd in the
• Must be at least 1,000 pounds to en- main corral.
challenging condi ons make purchasing sure that they are strong enough to carry
the loads
work animals difficult to contract out, as • Must have a gentle demeanor so they
will not get startled around visitors or
we have strict specifica ons to ensure other wildlife
• Must be between the ages of 3 to 10
the horse or mule can handle the work. • Must be neutered or gelded
• Must be able to stand for the farrier
The purchasing process is ini ated without being sedated

with herd evalua ons in the spring and

fall. The spring evalua on occurs at the

livestock’s winter pasture at the Fort

Laramie Na onal Historic Site. Typically,

we call in the local veterinarian to evalu-

ate the health of the stock who looks for

any blindness, foundering or lameness

that might have appeared throughout Once a good horse or mule meets
these specifica ons, we will begin our
the winter. A farrier is also on-site to on-site evalua on. The first step of this
process is to make sure the horse/mule
evaluate the condi on of the hooves can safely be loaded and trailered. We
also check to see if the animal is well-
while trimming. The same thing happens balanced, muscular with good carriage,
is straight, has good feet, and that the
during the fall when the vet performs

a more in-depth medical examina on

and gives various health services to the

stock, such as 4-way shots, floa ng of

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 13

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy
expresses special thanks to the following

people for their donations supporting
Rocky Mountain National Park:

January 1, 2018 – March 11, 2018
total gifts: 511 ~ total donations: $90,506

2017 C G Prudence Dings, Boulder, CO: Dan and Judy Jacks, Fort Collins, CO Doug and Maureen Miller,
DD In memory of John Dings Stover and Terry James, Niwot, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
BU Ann Donoghue, Fort Collins, CO Bruce and Kyong Johnson, Dann Milne, Denver, CO
Kathleen Doyle, Golden, CO Boulder, CO Dawn H. Mitchell, Arvada, CO
Gail M. Albers, Estes Park, CO Debra Drenth, Parker, CO Mari Strombom Johnson, High Country Occupa onal and
Morris Family, Greeley, CO Kendra Dunn, Broomfield, CO Fort Collins, CO Travel Medicine, Denver, CO
Donald and Barbara Bailey, George and Hildy Morgan, Fort Collins, CO
Estes Park, CO Amie and Benji Durden, Boulder, CO Carolyn and John Jones, Larkspur, CO Richard and Mary Ann Moseley,
Meryl and Stephen Eddy, Craig Jones and Anne Sheehan,
Vaughn Baker, Estes Park, CO Chesapeake City, MD Boulder, CO Boulder, CO
Doug Balok, Loveland, CO Dana and Aaron Edwards, David Joseph and Diane Green, Terri Mungle, Denver, CO
Mishelle and Bob Baun, Nederland, CO Boulder, CO Karl and Joanne Muriby, Johnstown, CO
Fort Collins, CO: Jim and Leila Murphy, Centennial, CO
In memory of Jim and Liz Eliassen, Denver, CO Denise Jurgens and Kevin Messerschmidt, Steve Musial, Fort Collins, CO
Glenn and Jen Channer Anna Engeln, Denver, CO Carbondale, CO Martha Mustard, Golden, CO
Kathryn Mutz, Boulder, CO
Phil and Lynn Beedle, Johnstown, CO In memory of Francille Walker Khalid Aziz and Shuah Khan, Valerie and David Myers, Li leton, CO
Martha Bendel Waite, Canon City, CO Connie Esch, Boulder, CO Fort Collins, CO Paull and Carol Na on, Denver, CO
Larry Armstrong and Carol Be y Naughton, Boulder, CO
Terry and Cathy Benjamin, Farnsworth, Denver, CO Gailmarie Kimmel, Fort Collins, CO Cheryl O., Loveland, CO
Longmont, CO Clarissa and Paul King, Boulder, CO John Palazzo, Denver, CO
Catherine Felknor, Boulder, CO: Russ and Barb Panneton,
Kenneth Black, Boulder, CO In memory of Judy Crowell Evans and Peter and Chris ne King,
Anne and John Blair, Fort Collins, CO Englewood, CO Nederland, CO
Laurel Enyeart Miller Jeanne Paradeis, Denver, CO :
Mary K. Blue, Boulder, CO Melinda Mayo Finley, Edmond, OK: Urling and Hugh Kingery, In memory of Dan Paradeis
Tim and Leanna Boers, Denver, CO Franktown, CO
Estes Valley Land Trust, Estes Park, CO In memory of Virden Mayo Dawn and Kent Paschal,
Ryan Foo, Houston , TX Bonnie Kissling, Denver, CO Fort Collins, CO
Amy Boudreau, Fort Collins, CO Simon Foot, Arvada, CO In memory of Carl Kissling
Tracy and Greg Bower, Boulder , CO Susan Pedrick, Erie, CO
Denise and Mark Bre ng, Loveland, CO Bob and Jocelyn Gebhardt, Regina Kolc, Granby, CO Greg Phillips, Arvada, CO
Broomfield, CO John and Marlene Krueger, Pat and Jim Pickering, Estes Park, CO
Monica Brewer, Loveland , CO Todd and Amy Plummer,
Kerry Brookman, Fort Collins, CO Kathy Gibson, Denver, CO Estes Park, CO
Don and Kathy Bryson, Estes Park, CO Miriam Gilbert, Boulder, CO Lupine Village at Grand Lake, Estes Park, CO
Lee Katherine Goldstein, Golden, CO Peter Pollock and Diane Yates,
Marie Bush, Lafaye e, CO Michael Goss and Virginia McGowan, Grand Lake, CO
Jonathan Byrne, Fort Collins, CO Don and Gail Lambert, Arvada, CO Boulder, CO
Boulder, CO Doug and Ellen Porter, Lakewood, CO
Marie Caldwell, Boulder, CO Ces Grant, Denver, CO Jill Lancaster, Estes Park, CO
Sherry and Denny Caldwell, Gail and Charles Gray, Boulder, CO David Landers, Estes Park, CO Ellen Porter, Lakewood, CO
Janet Greiner, Lakewood, CO Dianne and Richard Pra ,
Estes Park, CO Nancy Grimes, Boulder, CO Ken and Nancy Larner, Durango, CO
Art Campfield, Fort Collins, CO Cheryl Gummere, Grand Junc on, CT Evergreen, CO
Judy Capra, Wheat Ridge, CO Suzanne Gunn, Denver, CO Susan L. Putnam, Aurora, CO
Alice Guthrie, Loveland , CO Paul and Joan Lavell, Boulder, CO Duncan and Sherry Rarity, Estes Park, CO:
Jim Carr, Estes Park, CO Julie Guzze a, Estes Park, CO Karen Lawson, Colorado Springs, CO
Galen Carter, Longmont, CO Elizabeth Hale, Westminster, CO: In memory of Mikey Rarity
Shelly Ca erson, Pinecliffe, CO In honor of Fred Hale Paige Lentz, Denver, CO Jennifer Reich, Denver, CO
Kimberly Cavanagh, Broomfield, CO Shelley Hall, Vail, CO John Leonard, Westminster, CO Rodriguez-Wilkinson Trust,
Nelson Chenkin and Judith Friend, Fort Patricia Hammond, Estes Park, CO Jim and Janine Leupold, Erie, CO
Carol Handshue, Fort Collins, CO Denver, CO
Collins, CO Felice and John Harlow, Longmont, CO Jerry and Karen Levi, Linda Koshio Rogers, Golden, CO
Aaron Clark , Longmont, CO Julie and Mar n Harrington, Colorado Springs, CO Lee and Robert Roper, Denver, CO
Dennis Coit, Centennial, CO Ann Leviton, Fort Collins, CO
Heather Collins, Wheaton, IL Denver, CO: Kent and Pam Long, Aurora, CO Rickie Rosen, Denver, CO
John Cornely, Li leton, CO In honor of Cathy and Steve Ayres Ma and Lale Lovell, Longmont, CO Duncan Ross Lio a , Los Angeles, CA:
Jacqueline Cotsho , Longmont, CO Jim and Donelle Lowham,
Christy Crosser, Lyons, CO Susan Harris, Estes Park, CO In honor of Brian Ross
Stanley Hotel, Annapolis , MD Darby Hartman, Estes Park, CO Fort Collins, CO Donna Calef Rosser, Estes Park, CO
Thomas Daly/Margaret Fitzgibbons, Candace and Kenneth Lyon,
Nina Healy, Fraser, CO Leonard and Mary Rothfeld,
Boulder, CO Diane Blaser and Ellen Heath, Centennial, CO Lakewood, CO
Jeane Darst, Fort Collins, CO Jus n Mack, Longmont, CO
Fort Collins, CO Judith Christy and Robert Mann, Ginger Sammonds, Loveland, CO
Jane Davis, Denver, CO J. L. Heider, Estes Park, CO Mary Sandmann, Lafaye e, CO
Chuck Bartholomew and Susie Davis, Faith Evans, Estes Park, CO Fort Collins, CO Pamela Sartori , Timnath, CO
David and Ana Hill, Denver, CO Bruce and Betsy Marquardt, Kathleen Sawada, Arvada, CO:
Englewood , CO Richard and Katherine Hoenigman,
Pete and Nani DeFelice, Julesburg, CO In honor of the Ryer Family
Berea, OH Barbara McDonnell, Aurora, CO David Schlendorf, Edwards, CO
Colorado Springs, CO Richard E. Hoffman, MD, Denver, CO Liz Schoeberlein, Boulder, CO
Ca e L. Deines, Aurora, CO Fran and Clyde McKinney, Andy and Ellen Selig, Denver, CO
Marguerite and Tom Detmer, Vicki Holzhauer, Longmont, CO Quitman, TX Daniel Shurz and Katharine Lee,
Dale and Jana Honermann,
Denver, CO Highlands Ranch, CO Nancy and Stewart McNab, Denver, CO
Kenny Hood, Boulder, CO Tabernash, CO Sondra Singer, Lakewood, CO
Charles Slicker, Estes Park, CO
Imber/Pulsinelli family, Lawrence, KS: Cam and Judi McNair, Granby, CO Francoise Smith, Fort Collins, CO
In honor of Mickey Imber Susan McPhillips, Centennial, CO Troy and Sue Smith, Dallas, TX
In honor of Caroline McPhillips
The Mead Family, Wheat Ridge, CO
Rhonda Mickelson , Estes Park, CO

Rich and Carolyn Miller,
Breckenridge, CO

To make a gi to support Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, visit RMConservancy.org, or call 970-586-0108

14 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Margaret Spitzer, Greeley, CO Lynn Kelly, Fort Collins, CO Kelli Watling, Prosper, TX: Liz Bowers, Estes Park , CO
Bud and Sharon , Granby, CO Jonathan Z. Ludwig, S llwater, OK In memory of Jolene Nesselhuf Richard and Dorothy Bradley,
Erik Stensland, Estes Park, CO
Rosemary Stoffel, Denver, CO Pa y and Ed McAuliffe, CC Colorado Springs, CO
Marty Stokely, Beech Island, SC Westminster, CO F Allan Breyer, Sco sdale, AZ:
Jani Stonington, Louisville, CT In memory of Rudy Knauer
Philip Straffin, Longmont, CO Mike McG, Highlands Ranch, CO Bruce and Dorothy Dines, Bri a Brinker, Colorado Springs, CO
The Butler Ins tute, Denver, CO Tammy M. Pelnik, Louisville, CO Denver, CO Marda Buchholz, Palo Alto, CA:
Jim and Jan Swaney, Estes Park, CO Keith and Marilyn Schmi , Longmont, CO In honor of Curt Buchholtz
Suzanne Swanson, Denver, CO Gregg and Dana Dupree,
Peggy Carr Themar, Denton, TX: Debbie Squires, Boulder, CO: McKinney, TX: Dixie Byers, LaPine, OR:
In memory of Peggy Askew In memory of Duane and Bonnie In honor of the Steve Harvey Family
Reynold Thomas, Dillon, CO Michael and Carol Stolz, Fort Collins, CO In memory of Margie Dupree
Sherry Tooker, Benbrook, TX Parks Project, LLC, Marina Del Rey, CA Sherry and Dennis Caldwell,
Jenny Trawick and Santos Rivera, Denver, CO Laura Swann, Northglenn, CO Estes Park, CO:
Linda Trzyna, Colorado Springs, CO Thomas and Rachelle Washburn, TI
F In memory of Janet
Sean Tucker, Loveland, CO Estes Park, CO Richard Campbell,
Susan Turman, Denver, CO: Joan M. Whitbeck, Denver, CO: Kenneth and Cynthia Anderle, Colorado Springs, CO
Fort Collins, CO Gerald and Elizabeth Caplan,
In memory of In honor of Ellie Miller
Marcia and Bill Turman Gaye Arkema, Pleasantville, IA Boulder, CO
Carole K. Tu le, Fort Collins, CO BE Barb Biedenstein, Centennial, CO Peggy Carr, Denton, TX
Jean and Joe Van Winkle, Estes Park, CO FF Cynthia Cassens, Johnstown, CO
Sco VanEyk, Cherry Hills Village, CO Buster and Sandra Boatman, Leigh Conover, Lakewood, CO
Melissa Walker, Colorado Springs, CO Patricia Lopez, Colorado Springs, CO Loveland, CO: John Cox, Longmont, CO
Karen Waller, St. Joseph, MO: Rev. Kim M. Cran, Meridian, ID
In honor of Our Dedicated E In memory of Dick Evanek by the Love- Marlene and Thomas Detman,
Conservancy Staff Members OF land Linger Longer Hikers
Tim and Julie Walsh, Windsor, CO Allenspark, CO
Sharon Ward, Fort Collins, CO Community Founda on of Northern Deborah Cave, Louisville, CO: William and Mary Eberle, Boulder, CO
David Warrick, Highlands Ranch, CO Colorado/Thomas Shoemaker, In memory of Steve Snyder
Joe and Barb Wasung, Greeley, CO Fort Collins, CO Meghalee Das, Aus n, TX: Gregory Ellio , Wheat Ridge, CO
Carol Wernet, Louisville, CO In memory of Arindam Goswami Sherri Finley, Aurora, CO
Peter and Bonnie West, Denver, CO LP Dolores and John Dolan, Mahwah, NJ
Whitney Wheeless, Boulder, CO F Jacquelyn Hertel, Estes Park, CO Steven M. Fishburn, Aus n, TX
Andy White, Westminster, CO Chris ne Johnson, Lawrence, KS: Richard J. Flynn, Boulder, CO
Nancy Wigington, Boulder, CO Patricia Lopez, Colorado Springs, CO: In memory of Stan Mullenix Teri Gadd, Fort Collins, CO
Michael Williams, Highlands Ranch, CO In memory of Mary Ann Stacy Art and Trudi Leissa, Fort Collins, CO Jodi Galloway, Colorado Springs, CO
Tom and Rachel Williams, Estes Park, CO Faith Mangan, Denver, CO: Jennifer Gerding, Woodland Park, CO
Lorraine Wilson, Lafaye e, CO EF In memory of Jason Ray Cotner
Steve and Linda Wohlgemuth, Walt and Darst McNairy, Sanibel, FL: Angela Goad, Pulaski, VA:
Paul Walker, Shawnee, KS: In memory of Rob and Jan Ludlum In honor of Bradley Hutchison
Fraser, CO: In memory of Randall and Pat McNeely, Kara Godebu, Longmont, CO
In memory of Floyd Hansen
Anthony Paul Guastello French Lick, IN: Glen Goeke, Cedar Park, TX
CC In memory of Delmar McNeely Paul Gomez, Parker, CO
F NG
F Teresa Morton, Jones, OK Rosemary and Daniel Gruber,
Katherine Dines, Denver, CO: Ronald and Rebecca Reeve, Belleville, IL:
In honor of Bruce and Dorothy Dines Kathryn Bolinsky, Loveland, CO
Kenneth Brunsman, Kerrville, TX Pala ne, IL In memory of Michelle Schwoebel
Susan Fallander, Lakewood, CO Robin Roetzel, Custer, SD: William Guiot, St. Louis, MO:
Gary and Dawn Wexell, Sycamore, IL Thomas and Eleanor Daly, In memory of Ron Harris In memory of Robert Hill
Croton On Hudson, NY Dennis A. Rowe, Lafaye e, CO
NG Robert and Mary Seifert, Sarah Hambrick, Round Rock, TX
F Lindsay Fogerty, Denver, CO: Brian and Rebecca Hansen,
In honor of Estes Park, CO Boulder, CO
Bruce and Cindy Bachleder, Li leton, CO Janet Stein, Cannon Falls, MN:
Madelynn Coldiron, Frankfort, KY Samuel Heath Mooneyham In memory of Adam Gilbertson Donald and Joann Harris, Greeley, CO
Kara Hafez, Edgewater, CO Alex and Deborah Gibson, Mark and Jodi Voyles, Luther, OK Ian Harris, Aurora, CO
Colorado Health Founda on/
Kathleen Kase and Dan DeBlasio, Estes Estes Park, CO: Linda Harvey, Denver, CO
Park , CO In memory of Richard Prucha Sco Joy, Denver, CO Beverly Henderson, Estes Park, CO

Mary and Dennis, Pueblo West, CO Ann P. Hector, Dumont, CO BU Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO:
Hope Meyer, Boulder, CO Gerald Langner, Woodstock, IL: In memory of Wille e Hill
In memory of Richard Prucha Richard Acheson, Windsor, CO
James and Terry Pfister, Wichita, KS Brenda Addison, Englewood, CO Donna Hill, Golden, CO
Loveland Mountain Club, James Alfred, La Grange Park, IL Jonathan Hill, Fort Collins, CO
TI Loveland, CO Carolyn Hilliard, Belton, TX:
F Art Anderson, Denver, CO
Be y J. Lu kus, Aurora, CO: Robert Arendt, Broomfield, CO In honor of Mike
Dean G. Bernard, Westminster, CO In memory of George Lu kus Gaye Arkema, Pleasantville, IA and those who follow him
Eliot Cohen, Burlington, MA Michael and Patricia McKinney, David M. Armstrong, Loveland, CO Andrew Hosier, Cedar Falls, IA
Michael and Susan Arnold, Parker, CO J. Mac Howard, Wichita, KS:
Maryann Gaug, Silverthorne, CO Estes Park, CO In memory of Robert Hill
Ruth and Jim Gaulke, Parker, CO Randall and Pat McNeely, Sean Atwood, Arvada, CO Jean Howell, Sco sdale, AZ:
Karen Hansen and Mary Lou Fenili, Jeremy Bailey, Julesburg, CO In memory of Rudy Knauer
French Lick, IN: Brooke Bartleson, Silverthorne, CO: George Hutchinson, Estes Park, CO
Denver, CO In memory of In honor of her Instagram followers Claudia Irwin, Estes Park, CO
Lou and Joan Henefeld, Golden, CO A.W. and Kathleen Stoneburner Bruce Bassoff, Boulder, CO Linda Israel, Grand Lake, CO
Dennis and Bonnie Henley, Estes Park, CO Dragos Sabau, Indianapolis, IN: Heather Beadle, Boulder, CO Jennifer Iversen, Castle Pines, CO
In honor of Robert M. Ives, Jr., Houston, TX
Sco Joy, Denver, CO Veronica Sabau and Corina Nailescu Jeff and Jill Becklund, Yolanda Jasso, Lakewood, CO
Richard and Karen Sandberg, Minneapolis, MN
Omaha, NE: Nicholas Johnson,
In honor of Debra Bidwell, Fort Collins, CO Colorado Springs, CO
Owen, Colin and Alison Bell Karen Bisbee, Grand Junc on, CO Richard K. Johnson, Kenosha, WI
Rikilee Blackey, Carbondale, CO Sandra Johnson, Cordova, TN:
In memory of Barney Polk
William Johnson, Denver, CO
Keith and Mariane Jolly,

Angels Camp, CA
Craig Jones, Boulder, CO

Inez Kelley, Houston, TX: Richard Switzer, Parker, CO Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 15
In honor of her sister, Nancy P. Thomas, Estes Park, CO
(Ask Nancy: Climate con nued from page 3)
Ruth Hess, on her birthday Lee and Richard Tillotson,
Katrina Kiefert, Highlands Ranch, CO Nederland, CO patches of snow persist might select for those areas, to match
Martha and Barklay Kirk, Li leton, CO their background. However, in another study, researchers found that
Marguerite Klocksiem, Austrell, GA Joel Tjjornehoj, Poolesville, MD snowshoe hares did not change their behavior to accommodate this
Be y and Chris an Trummel, camouflage mismatch — that is, white individuals did not select for
Sandra Kuhn, Naples, FL: white backgrounds when fleeing or hiding. However, a study of rock
In memory of her husband, Harwich, MA ptarmigan in the arc c found that males retain their white plumage
Carl and Chris ne Tubbs, (which is important for ma ng success) even as their habitat becomes
Steve Kuhn snow-free, but have acquired the common behavior of soiling their
Casey and Christopher Kwilecki, Franktown, CO white plumage with dirt and mud, thereby becoming less conspicuous,
Nancy Tuck, Morris, OK a er the me of ma ng but before their white-to-brown molt occurs.
Colorado Springs, CO Sean Tucker, Loveland, CO In a nutshell, then, as snow-free areas expand due to climate change,
Judith A. Lance, Boulder, CO David Way, Fort Collins, CO we will not be surprised to see fewer and fewer snowshoe hares in
Diane Lane and Rebecca Martens, Eric Weiss, Miami, FL areas where once they were common as mismatch frequency increases
Oliver West, Tampa, FL (certainly to the detriment of Canada lynx). This will no doubt oc-
Berthoud, CO Stephen G. Whisner, Oak Park, CA cur first, and most significantly, at the periphery of their range and
Trine e Langner, Ramsey, MN: Lawrence and Linda Williams, overall, as the southern/eleva onal limits of snowshoe hares contract
northward and upward. However, over a longer me-frame and barring
In memory of David Ulmer Estes Park, CO other as-yet-unknown stressors, our great (or great-great) grandchil-
Michael Ley, Parker, CO Amy Winnen, Louisville, CO dren might observe the outcome of a race between climate change
Reed and Janet Wood, Kingwood, TX and natural selec on. They might see weasels that no longer change to
Linda Loomis, Wheat Ridge, CO Honeywell Interna onal Charity Match- white in winter, as now occurs in the southern part of their range. They
April and James Lusk, Aurora, CO may observe snowshoe hares that remain brown, as seen in largely
Mary and Larry Lutz, Cincinna , OH ing/Brian Flansburg, snow-free areas of the Pacific Northwest, or turn white later and brown
Arthur Malcolm, Grand Canyon, AZ: Washington, DC earlier. As for our white-tailed ptarmigan — will they evolve the adap-

In honor of Charles A. Jerden Jewish Federa on of Cleveland/ ve behavior of their northern rela ves? We can hope … and we can
Ann and Paul Mar nson, Hudson, WI Brian Ratner, Cleveland, OH try to make a difference in the stability of our climate. — Re red RMNP
Wildlife Biologist Gary Miller
Ian McKnight, Boulder, CO YourCause/Bryan Barr, Plano, TX
Randall and Pat McNeely, Los Alamos Na onal Security, LLC/ Word of the day: Crypsis – the ability of an organism to avoid detec on by hav-
Christopher J. Stull, Andover, MA ing color, pa ern and/or shape that blends into the surrounding environment.
French Lick, IN:
In memory of Bright Funds Founda on/ (Ask Nancy: Closure con nued from page 3)
Bill and Mary Jane Chasteen Dus n Hammond, San Francisco, CA
Guy Miller, High Rolls, NM Fidelity Charitable/Eugene Krueger, educa onal programs, collect trash, operate or provide restrooms,
Jerry S. Moore, Estes Park, CO maintain roads or walkways in the event of snow or ice, or provide visitor
Don and JoAnn Mueller, Greeley, CO Cincinna , OH informa on or update the park’s website, social media channels or in-
Rebecca Neal-Beevers and Chris Beevers, Network for Good/George Kiladis, forma on lines. Roads or areas in Rocky Mountain Na onal Park may be
closed to vehicles during a government shutdown if condi ons warrant.
Aus n, TX Washington, DC Most staff at Rocky Mountain Na onal Park are furloughed during a lapse
Theresa Nelson, Castle Rock, CO Network for Good/Irene Cooke, of appropria ons. Once a lapse in appropria ons occurs, employees have
Paul Neufus, Westminster, CO a maximum of four hours to support an orderly shutdown, including, but
Philip and Elizabeth Nicholson, Washington, DC not limited to, comple ng me and a endance, securing files, secur-
YourCause/Jane Stout, Plano, TX ing work sta on and government property, and se ng an out of office
Boulder, CO Fidelity Charitable/Jennifer Wood, message on email and telephone. Furloughed employees are not allowed
Daniel Niedzwiecki, Ashland, MA: to use government cell phones, laptops or other communica on devices
Cincinna , OH for the dura on of the federal government shutdown, and are unable
In memory of Sean Caldwell Colorado Gives: Community First to conduct any projects or ac vi es ed to their work. — RMNP Public
Michael and Leah Noble, Informa on Officer Kyle Pa erson
Westminster, CO Founda on/Kent Paschal,
Denver, CO PARK PUZZLER SOLUTION
Duayne Nyckel, Glendale Heights, IL
Tyler Patzel, Colorado Springs, CO JPMorgan Chase Founda on,
Employee Giving Programs/
Rebecca Pirtle, Kingston, WA: Larry S. Conley, Andover, MA
In memory of her parents American Endowment Founda on/
Richard Pounds, Barrie, ON: Leslie Alexander, Hudson, OH
In memory of Community First Founda on/
Dorothy and Elmer Pounds David Van Tassel, Denver, CO
Randolph and Naomi Reece, Network for Good/Mary Esienbeis,
Loveland, CO
Washington, DC
Phillip and Margaret Reinaas, Strada Educa on Network/Mary Lutz,
San Antonio, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Josh Roberts, Eaton, CO Greater Kansas City Community
Brian and Debby Ross, Denver, CO
Founda on/Susan Walsh,
Sherol Roy and Roger Baldwin, Kansas City, MO:
Grand Lake, CO
In memory of John D. Holden
Robert and Sharon Schick, High Country Beverage,
Duncan, OK Johnstown, CO:

Pam and Douglas Schnetzler, In honor of Angelo Mar nez
Vero Beach, FL: Network for Good, Washington, DC:

In memory of Gene Iserman In honor of Gage Shoup
Grant Schoon, Urbandale, IA: Network for Good, Washington, DC:

In honor of Carly Schoon In memory of Alois Wustner
Sloan Emery Schwindt, Boulder, CO Wes Parker Agency, Inc.,
Longmont, CO:
John and Patricia Shearer, In memory of Ferne Smith
Johnstown, CO
All In Memory of Richard M. Prucha
Herman and Kathryn Sievering, Richard and Barbara Blane,
Boulder, CO West Des Moines, IA
Robert and Luann Davis,
Davis Smith, Denver, CO Westminster, CO
Larry and Sue Sonner, Urbandale, IA
Erick Spong, Colorado Springs, CO Pa and Richard laFond, Erie, CO
David and Alice Pictor, Glenview, IL
Barbara and James Stewart,
Annandale, VA Robert Marta, Geneva, IL
Helga Stober, Wimauma, FL
William and Ruth Stone,
Monument, CO

William Strouse, Colorado Springs, CO
Christopher and Caroline Stull,
Los Alamos, NM

Estee Rivera Murdock, execu ve director
Nancy Wilson, Quarterly editor
PO Box 3100
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-0108

Yeah, pre y cute.

Photo: Conservancy Member Marlene Borneman

Nature Notes

It’s been hin ng at spring in the high country, with off-and-on balmy days, a face will be stabilized

li le wet snow, and an early influx of visitors to the park, takIng advantage of and revegetated with

the clear roads for driving. c Re red RMNP Wildlife Biologist Gary Miller found na ve vegeta on to

a road-killed gray fox just east of the Fall River entrance. He iden fied it as such help restore natural

because it was smaller than the more commonly seen red fox. Did you know that condi ons. c

the gray fox is the only New World canid that climbs trees? Red foxes have differ- Estes Park visitor

ent color phases, including shades of gray; gray foxes have some red on the side Karen Almquist

of their neck and legs. So if you see a gray-colored fox, no ce: Does it have black observed a red-tailed

stockings? (red fox); Does it have a white tail p? (red fox, although some mes hawk that had American pikas don’t hibernate during the winter, so
precariously landed throughout the summer months they gather tundra
lacking this feature, a gray fox defini vely does not have a white- pped tail); on the very p of a vegeta on to stockpile in prepara on for their winter
spruce tree in Estes survival. A er collec ng a mouthful of plants they speed-
Does it have a white underside, especially no ceable at the throat and hind legs? Park. Needless to say, ily return it to their den. Photographer (and frequent
the spindly branch Quarterly contributor) Gene Putney (PutneyNatureImages)
(gray fox); Does it have a black strip running down the top of the tail? (gray fox). was struggling to stay wanted to capture an image that would emphasize how
upright, rather akin to fast these small mammals are, so he elected to do a pan-
AND (drum roll please) … are its pupils slits (red fox) or oval (gray fox)? If you placing a star-shaped ning image in combina on with the appropriately slow
rock on the p of shu er speed that would capture the effect of mo on
can answer this last one, you’re definitely too close. c While skiing at Hidden a Christmas tree. and speed.
Add to this the extra
Valley in the park, Erik Murdock caught sight of two winter mammals that exhibit

crypsis (see new vocabulary word, page 15): two white weasels, and a snowshoe

hare in January at Hidden Valley.

c RMNP Public Informa on Officer

Kyle Pa erson reported that a

decision document has been signed

by the Intermountain Regional challenge of 50 mph wind gusts that rocked the bird and all its feathers into fluffy

Office, Na onal Park Service, that indigna on before it flew off in search of a more stable perch. c RMNP Woodcra er

will enable the park to permanently Cory Johnson was walking to work on the east side of the park in late January when

close the one-mile-long Crater Trail, he spo ed a big, healthy-looking bobcat prowling around the park housing cabins on

on the park’s west side, to protect Marmot Circle. It had a beau ful, thick coat and was marking the corners of some of

sensi ve natural and cultural the cabins, sniffing around for a tasty breakfast. It didn’t seem to mind him watching

resources. For the past three years, from about 30 feet away for a few minutes before he con nued his walk to work.

the Crater Trail has been closed Oh, that we all should have such a nature-illuminated experience on our way to work

year-round pending the outcome of in the morning! c Early one morning in March, Estes Park visitor Ron Mar nson

public input and a decision on the watched two coyotes out in a grassy meadow as they hunted for their breakfast. One

Environmental Assessment. Prior to of the coyotes sat it out as an observer about 20 feet away while the other hunted

that, the trail was typically closed more ac vely, listening to the sounds near the ground, pausing, then pouncing,

annually from May to August 15, rising with a vole or shrew clamped in its mouth. In two sleek moves, the coyote

during the bighorn lambing season, then flipped the tasty morsel up in the air, catching it in its wai ng jaws. c In early

A collec on of intrepid Conservancy staff ventured and only open two months from February, at noon in Horseshoe Park, park visitors Dave and Pat Basch spo ed three

out to Palm Springs, California, to a end the Public mid-August through mid-October. huge moose browsing together in the meadow. Two of them had smaller antlers and
Lands Conference in late February. Who knew they Park staff will remove the exis ng
would be lost in me? (From le to right: Mary one sported a full set. Thrilled to see three at once, much less on the east side of the

Morgan, membership manager, Estee Murdock, footbridge near the trailhead and park, they were more than content to watch them forage. c As you plan your trips
execu ve director, Chris Wenzel, sales director,
Nancy Wilson, publica ons director, Geoff Elliot, place signs informing visitors of the to Rocky this summer, be sure to strategize your experience to reduce frustra on and

conserva on director and Rachel Balduzzi, educa- closure. The abandoned trail sur- maximize the good mes — and keep in touch!
on director)

RMConservancy.org