2017 Winter Q

Q UA R T E R LY
Winter 2017
R
with some of his friends, formed a non-
by Charles Money profit organiza on in 1938 to con nue
the prac ce in the other southwestern
As I consider the pending close to monuments he oversaw.
my career of service to na onal parks
and other public lands, it is hard not to For more than 50 years, these
be drawn into reflec on of what chang- small organiza ons func oned without
es have occurred in those four decades, significant change, selling books, guides
especially during the years dedicated to and maps in park visitor centers. Some
nonprofit organiza ons. In some ways, generated enough money to invest
the forces that changed the landscape in publishing their own books, filling
of support for our na onal heritage informa onal gaps that commercial
were mirrored in the chapters of my publishers couldn’t. The more successful
own journey. organiza ons generated enough money
to donate to the park, primarily to sup-
Thirty-plus years ago, I took a port the park’s educa onal mission.
chance. I le a management posi on However, in 1981, an incident involving
with the Na onal Park Service (NPS) to the then Secretary of the Interior, James
join the small staff of a “coopera ng Wa , changed the course of coopera ng
associa on.” At that me, Southwest associa ons.
Parks and Monuments Associa on
(SPMA) was one of the few nonprofit For several years, coopera ng as-
organiza ons formed by the Na onal socia ons were asked to contribute to
Park Service to have paid staff beyond a the Na onal Park Service “Director’s
few part- me bookstore clerks. In fact, Fund” to support na onal ini a ves and
most of the associa ons were actually programs. Cas ng about to find funds
managed by the NPS to do those things to host a private recep on in Arlington
that the agency was not allowed to do, House, Secretary Wa procured the
principally, to sell books. necessary money from this Director’s
Fund. When Wa ’s private use of the
SPMA’s own origins in the 1930s funds and the Arlington House came to
emerge from the efforts of legendary the a en on of the Inspector General’s
superintendent Frank (Boss) Pinkley, to Office, the close rela onship between
stem the increasing vandalism to Ari- the coopera ng associa ons and
zona’s Casa Grande Na onal Monument Na onal Park Service employees also
by improving visitor knowledge of the came under scru ny. Soon therea er, a
site. With no staff and li le financial re- policy order was issued prohibi ng NPS
sources, Pinkley personally printed small employees from si ng on cooperat-
informa onal booklets, placed them in a ing associa on boards of directors and
coffee can at the entrance to the monu- from directly engaging in the business
ment and posted a request for a few of the associa ons. These ac ons forced
cents to be le behind by visitors. Since
charging the public for informa on was (ReflecƟon, con nued on page 2)
frowned upon by the NPS, Pinkley, along

I : MEET ROCKY’S NEW SUPERINTENDENT! (SEE PAGE 8)

2 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

(ReflecƟon con nued) launched campaign a er campaign to created about li le-known parks, like
rebuild decaying infrastructure; building the six-million-acre Gates of the Arc c,
and the largely misunderstood Arc c
the nonprofits to expand their boards new trails, construc ng visitor centers, Na onal Wildlife Refuge, were now
priori es, as well as publishing books
to include a broader representa on of and crea ng educa onal programs that on climate change and the preserva-

their communi es, and to hire manage- sought and welcomed children and on of wildlife habitat. We then turned
our a en on to the youth of Alaska, a
ment staff. With greater independence families from previously underserved genera on that would eventually face
decisions that would determine the fate
and increased exposure to innova ve popula ons. of the Arc c. Working hand-in-hand
with our partner agencies, we formed
approaches in the nonprofit sector, the While championed by the park and youth advisory groups and service learn-
ing programs to help ins ll conserva on
stage was set for associa ons to create local communi es, the GGNP Conser- values and the importance of intact eco-
systems. The organiza on started to see
a new vision of support to vancy was not without its mission beyond working within the
boundaries of those public lands, and
na onal parks. With greater indepen- its cri cs, especially working more on behalf of their survival.
In 1988, I was lured dence and increased within the more tradi-
exposure to innova ve Our family relished its 14 years in
back to San Francisco to be onal leadership circles Alaska, and each of us carried its wild-
a part of a newly organized approaches in the of the Na onal Park ness within us as we migrated south
nonprofit focused on the nonprofit sector, the Service. Cries to break to a new adventure, this me back to
Golden Gate Na onal up the organiza on by the first park in which I ever set foot. I
have found within the Rocky Mountain
Recrea on Area (GGNRA), stage was set for separa ng its cooper- Conservancy elements of each of the
organiza ons for which I have had the
a park for which I worked associa ons to create a a ng associa on role honor of serving. From offering high-
several years earlier. The new vision of support from its development quality visitor services and programs, to
Golden Gate Na onal Parks and fundraising role improving and growing the park through
Conservancy, with new- to na onal parks. resounded. However, the philanthropic support of the com-
munity, to engaging the next genera on
found freedoms and the the success of the Con- of park stewards, the Rocky Mountain
Conservancy is playing vital roles that
support of a progressive servancy had become will ensure the park’s relevance and
survival into the next 100 years.
park management team, set about to widely known and other organiza ons,
And just as my personal journey
create a new model of private-sector sup- including the Rocky Mountain Nature has followed changing opportuni es to
make a difference for these lands, so
port for a na onal park. Up to that point, Associa on (RMNA), were beginning to will the con nued evolu on of nonprofit
organiza ons like the Rocky Mountain
GGNRA was only known by its individual see the value of such “hybrid” en es. Conservancy support and nourish our
na onal parks and other treasured lands
parts, a random collec on of abandoned Though some like RMNA were eventually in ways we have yet to imagine.

military posts and a few neglected city forced to split, the GGNP Conservancy, Charley Money
has been the
and state parks. Knowing that it could with the help of a vocal community, resist- execu ve
director of the
take decades and tens, if not hundreds, ed such a empts and con nued to be an Rocky Mountain
Conservancy
of millions of dollars to transform these example of a highly effec ve park partner. since 2012.

disparate parts into something deserving A er more than a decade of work-

of the name “na onal park,” the organi- ing to help build a na onal park in the

za on established a full-scale fundraising San Francisco Bay Area, in 1998, the

program. “call of the wild” became irresis ble and

By building on the revenues from our family moved northward to Alaska.

sales of innova ve products and fee- There I was asked to lead what would

based interpre ve programs in highly later be known as Alaska Geographic. A

popular venues in the park such as significant departure from Golden Gate,

Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods, we this organiza on was chartered to sup-

port all of the na onal parks,

forests and wildlife refuges in

Alaska, well over 100 million

acres. Yet, despite the size of

these public lands, annually,

the number of visitors to just

Alcatraz Island alone exceeded

all those that would visit Alaska.

Given the low number of visi-

tors, Alaska Geographic became

focused less on visitor ameni es

and more about reaching those

who could have an impact on

the protec on of Alaska, but

whom may never see its broad

expanse of wilderness. Films

photo: Jim Ward

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 3

Ask Nancy

Quarterly Editor Nancy Wilson a empts to unearth answers
to any ques ons asked by Conservancy members and park
visitors. If you are curious about something in or about the
park, email [email protected] or write:
Nancy Wilson, Rocky Mountain Conservancy, PO Box 3100,
Estes Park, CO 80517.

The Conservancy Publishes: What is the word origin of “ptarmigan”? The word ptarmigan
comes from the Sco sh Gaelic tàrmachan, which literally means
A Unique Paper Collage “croaker.” The silent p was added in 1684 by Robert Sibbald through
Alphabet Book for Rocky the influence of Greek, especially pteron, meaning “wing,” “feath-
er,” or “pinion.” — The Oxford Dic onary of Bri sh Bird Names
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy is pleased to
present its newest publica on for kids: ABC Rocky! Why do aspen trees form buds for the next season in the
A Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Alphabet Book. late fall when they will soon be exposed to many months of
This unique book is a fabulous collec on of Rocky- freezing temperatures and desicca ng winds? Why not wait
specific scenes rendered in paper collage, pastels un l spring to develop these seemingly tender and vulner-
and prin ng inks by San Francisco ar st Bob Barner. able growths? Aspen, as do many trees, form the next year’s buds
See for yourself (below) how vibrant and playful during the current year’s growing season — o en these buds are
these works of art are depicted, with fun alphabet fully developed by August. Buds may be condensed flowers, leaves
block le ers and fun facts of the natural history of or branches, and they contain all the parts necessary for growing
the park. Funded through the Conservancy’s Next those structures in a complex, reduced form. The complex form
Genera on Fund, this book will delight kids and includes bud scales that protect the buds against pathogens and
parents alike! Hardcover, 32 pages. low temperatures during the winter, as well as “winterized” cells.
Similar to many animals, aspen increase solutes and decrease water
Order online at RMConservancy.org, in the cells of these buds to lower their freezing point. Between the
or call 970-586-0121 to order your copy today! many condensed layers of leaves and winteriza on of cells, buds are
very hardy. In fact, they must be released from this winter condi on
Cover photo credits (called “bud break”) prior to growing in the spring. The reason the
buds are produced during the prior growing season is that it takes
(Upper): “Winter Long-tailed Weasel” by Conservancy mem- so much energy, something that is not in high supply at the begin-
ber Putney Nature Images, Longmont, CO; (Lower) “Taylor ning of the spring season because leaves are not fully developed to
and Sharkstooth” by Conservancy member Walt Kaesler, produce the needed energy. Indeed, an aspen flowers before it leafs
Estes Park, CO. out. For that to be possible, the flower structure must be premade
(in the bud) and energy reserves must be present. The tree’s only
Please send high-resolu on images to nancy.wilson@ energy source in the early spring is what was stored the previ-
RMConservancy.org by March 1 for publica on in the 2017 ous growing season, in the form of starch in the roots of the tree.
Spring Quarterly. Those reserves are needed for flowering, leafing out, and any other
growth, so no one func on receives all of these resources. —
Photos are always appreciated! Scenery, wildlife and wild- UNC-Greeley Professor Dr. Sco Franklin

flowers greatly enhance this publica on, so get out there and Why are there no green or blue mammals? Or true red, for
that ma er! Some mammals DO have bright colors on some body
take a hike! Thank You! parts — think primates like the mandrill — and sloths can get pre y
green from the algae that live on their fur. In general for mammals,
however, it’s key to consider the natural selec on driver of preda-
tor — prey rela onships. As such, muted earth-tone colors and the
ability to blend into the habitat, offer a dis nct advantage that bright
colors would not. A brightly colored prey morsel would be at a disad-
vantage in avoiding capture. Conversely, a brightly colored predator
would have difficulty sneaking up on its meal. In this world, bright
colora on is generally related to reproduc on — adver sement and
mate selec on, most familiarly in male birds. Mammals more typi-
cally use behavioral and olfactory cues in their reproduc ve ac vi es.
— Re red RMNP Wildlife Biologist Gary Miller

Why do coyotes howl? Howling is a basic communica on behav-
ior in coyotes that serves a couple of different purposes. One is to
call the pack, which consists of a first-genera on family group, back
together a er a period of solo hun ng. A second purpose is to an-
nounce their presence to other packs in the area, basically warning
other family groups against trespassing across territorial boundaries.

4 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Science-Informed
Decision-Making

Case Study:

Grand Ditch Breach
Restoration Project

Sco Esser and Carissa Turner

View of the erosion gully directly below the Grand Ditch created by the

breach event in 2003. Noted as Zone 1 in Figure 1. Photo: NPS

On May 30, 2003, the Grand Ditch, the restora on of the Grand Ditch breach. Dr. David Cooper and Dr. Sara Rath-
a trans-basin, water-diversion canal in burn from Colorado State University (CSU)
the northwest corner of Rocky Mountain Science-Informed Decision Making studied sediment deposi on and wetland
Na onal Park (RMNP) breached its bank. Prior to the breach, in 1999, the Na onal and river impacts and func ons. In 2004,
The breach saturated an adjacent hillslope Park Service (NPS) developed its Natural LiDAR (Light Detec on and Ranging — an
which gave way, sending an es mated Resource Challenge (NRC) which aimed infrared imaging technique) and ground
47,000 cubic yards of sediment and debris to ensure that natural resources are surveys were used to determine the ex-
into Lulu Creek and the headwaters of preserved for future genera ons. The
the Colorado River. Damage to 22 acres
of upland, stream, riparian and wetland NRC holds that science and
habitat occurred over a distance of 1.5
miles (Figure 1). More than 20,000 trees research are “our best hope
were lost and approximately 50 different
plant species were impacted. to maintain and restore the

The streambed of Lulu Creek was rich natural heritage found
gouged nearly seven feet deep, widen-
ing the channel by as much as ten mes. in the na onal parks,” both
When the torrent arrived at the low-
gradient confluence with the Colorado of which are cri cal in the
River, it deposited sediment and debris
in an alluvial fan up to six feet thick. The planning and implementa-
sediment-filled waters con nued down-
stream along the Colorado River, clogging on of projects on na onal
the channel and covering the Lulu City
wetland and the Colorado River floodplain park lands. The Grand Ditch
with gravel, sand and other debris.
Breach Restora on project
In 2006, the U.S. Department of Jus-
ce filed a civil lawsuit against the owners is a noteworthy example
of the Grand Ditch under the authority of
the Park System Resource Protec on Act of how RMNP has used
(PSRPA). In May 2008, par es reached
an out-of-court se lement in which the scien fic research to assess
owners agreed to pay the United States
$9 million in damages to restore the area. environmental impact,
Since then, Rocky Mountain Na onal Park
has u lized science-based decision making understand changes to eco-
and adap ve-management principals in
systems, and develop overall

restora on design.

Star ng directly a er

the breach, RMNP part-

nered with local researchers

and agencies to study the

ecosystem components

affected by the breach.

Colorado State University,

the NPS Rocky Mountain

Network Inventory and

Monitoring Program, and

the NPS Water Resources Figure 1: Overview Map of the Grand Ditch Breach Resto-

Division were key partners ra on Project Area. Outlined area depicts the 22 acres of

in this effort. impacted area including the Colorado River and Lulu City

Wetland. Photo: NPS

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 5

tent and depth of the sediment deposited and ecological and wilder-
from the breach. A repeat LiDAR survey
was conducted in 2012 to quan fy ad- ness values.
di onal changes that had occurred since
the ini al survey. Extensive changes to The Rocky Mountain
the river channels, such as widening and
shallowing and increased amounts of logs, Inventory and Monitoring
were documented along Lulu Creek and
the Colorado River. Furthermore, changes program and the Water Re-
to the groundwater hydrology of the wet-
lands and floodplains were noted (Figure sources Division established
2). This research revealed that river func-
two monitoring sites to col-
ons and depths to and fluctua ons in
groundwater were not adequate to sup- lect baseline and reference
port the wetland and riparian vegeta on
that once inhabited the area. Ul mately, data on vegeta on, biodi-
this informa on was used develop a very
specific sediment and wood removal plan versity, and water quality
to restore the river channel, floodplain
and groundwater hydrology to support (Figure 3). These sites, one
na ve and riparian wetland vegeta on
located inside the impacted
Dr. Sara Rathburn (right) and park staff
measure cross sec ons of Lulu Creek. area and the other located

Photo: NPS outside the impacted area

to serve as a reference site,

are surveyed on a cyclic

basis to monitor changes. Ground Survey soil pits measured the extent and depth of
These ini al surveys will sediment deposits from the Grand Ditch breach as well as
be compared to surveys other sediment deposits da ng back to the early 1900s.
conducted a er the resto-
ra on to ensure that the Photo: NPS

restora on is effec ve and Lulu City wetland. Monitoring of the river

meets the objec ves of restoring na ve restora on and the associated ground-

vegeta on and preserving water quality. water hydrology is currently underway to

Restora on through Adap ve Man- understand the changes. Phase II of the

agement The Grand Ditch Breach Resto- ecological restora on includes the re-

ra on team has compiled the valuable moval and redistribu on of sediment and

knowledge and informa on learned from wood from Lulu Creek, the Colorado River

these scien fic studies to develop an and Lulu City wetland, and is scheduled to

adap ve management-based implemen- begin during the summer of 2017.

ta on strategy. Sco Esser is an ecologist, and Carissa
Phase I of this strategy began in 2015, Turner a biologist, for the Con nental

and included the restora on of a small Divide Research Learning Center.
segment of the Colorado River in the

Whatever Happened to Wilbur Dean (aka M56)?

by Re red RMNP Wildlife Biologist Bierstadt. He became the poster child Note: Whether or not wolverines
Gary Miller for Rocky’s BioBlitz in 2012 when Jim
Salestrom wrote and performed, “Wilbur deserve to come under the protec on of
Conservancy members may recall Dean the Wolverine” rela ng the saga of the Endangered Species Act has been an
the excitement accompanying the sight- his travels. ongoing issue for many years. A er many
ing and photo of a wolverine in Rocky years of study, in 2013, the U.S. Fish and
Mountain Na onal Park in June, 2009. The The last radio contact was in October, Wildlife Service issued a preliminary
species is na ve to Colorado, but has long 2012, but there were occasional reports proposal to list wolverines in the “lower
been ex rpated as a viable popula on, that seemed somewhat credible for a 48” as threatened. Then, in its 2014 final
and this was the first confirmed occur- couple of years a erwards. In any case, ruling, the agency reversed itself and de-
rence in many decades. This young male at some point he le these mountains, cided to not list. Lawsuits objec ng to the
was captured and fi ed with an internal eventually travelling across the lowlands decision followed and in the same month
radio transmi er at Togwotee Pass near of Montana into North Dakota. Sadly, in Wilbur Dean lost his life, a federal District
Grand Teton N.P. in 2008. April, 2016, he was shot and killed by a Court judge overturned the agency’s de-
ranch hand in western North Dakota near cision, finding its ra onale for not lis ng
Known as M56, researchers tracked the Montana border, who said the animal flawed. The Fish and Wildlife Service has
his travels across the Red Desert and over was harassing ca le. To his credit, the fel- begun a new review of the best avail-
Wyoming’s Shirley Mountains to northern low did report it to North Dakota wildlife able science regarding wolverines, their
Colorado and Rocky Mountain Na onal authori es, and their necropsy found habitat, and whether wolverines meet
Park. He spent a good part of subsequent the radio implant confirming that it was the criteria for ESA lis ng.
years in the park and the Indian Peaks, Wilbur Dean. Rest in peace, Wilbur Dean.
but also wandered well south of Lead-
ville, and was again photographed at Mt.

6 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er photo: Marlene Borneman

Rocky Mountain Conservancy – Field Institute

2017 Program Highlights

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy – Field Ins tute Program is excited
to announce new course offerings for 2017! Catalogs are available now and registra on is
open online and by phone – read on to learn more about some tantalizing new offerings in
store for the coming season!

New Bus Tours!

Have a free morning? Try these half-day tours to explore the lower eleva ons in Rocky
Mountain Na onal Park.
From Meadow to Tree Line examines the montane and subalpine ecosystems while
staying alert for sigh ngs of meadow animals such as coyote, squirrel and elk. Delve into
park history and Longs Peak as you travel along Trail Ridge Road as high as Rainbow Curve
to view the park’s eastern side from a higher vantage point.
From Elk to Aspen takes par cipants to view elk in the meadows in the early morning
during the rut ,and exploring, driving corridors known for spectacular fall aspen color
displays. A great tour for photographers and wildlife watchers alike!

New Classes for Kids

Cloudy with a Chance of … Graupel? inves gates mountain weather in a fun
and interac ve way at Trail Riv
r Ranch on the park’s west side.
Rocky Mountain History Hike explores the history of RMNP during a hike to Eugenia
mine, discussing ques ons like: Why did people se le here? How did they survive?
Our top favorites! Kids’ Flyfishing and Stream Ecology, Who Pooped in the Woods? and
Upper Beaver Meadows Nature Hunt: A Virtual Geocache Adventure will be offered on a
regular basis throughout the summer.

New Classes for Adults

A variety of new adult classes in 2017 include:
Night Sky Landscape Photography with award-winning teacher/photographer Stan Honda
The Ghost of Fall River Road with historian and author Mary Taylor Young
Learn to Use a Dichotomous Key with author and plant expert Marlene Borneman
Along with these new class offerings, the Field Ins tute is delighted to bring back some of
last summer’s favorites, including The Orchids of RMNP, Hummingbirds: Field Research,
and many more!

RMConservancy.org

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 7

Tribute to Madeline Framson:

A Volunteer Extraordinaire

1922–2016

With heavy hearts and deepest efforts of the CMC’s Shining Mountains

gra tude, we share the news of Madeline Group required skill, dedica on and physical
Framson’s death on October 13, 2016.
endurance for many tasks that were o en
For the last 35 years, Madeline was
grimy and unglamorous but needed to be
ac vely volunteering, for Rocky, the Colorado done. Not as glamorous were the count-
Mountain Club (CMC) and the Conservancy. less hours she recruited other volunteers
Her ac vi es included trail maintenance, fire for Conservancy mailings — something we
preven on through fuel reduc on, figh ng relied on for more than two decades.
invasive weeds, bighorn sheep herd health,
Her early life is an amazing story of
barbed wire removal, revegeta on along Trail WWII involvement, civil rights ac vism
Ridge Road, automobile wreckage removal, and so much more. Learn more about
natural landscape restora on of the Hidden this amazing woman at www.legacy.com/
Valley ski area, trimming bushes and trees obituaries/eptrail/ and search the list for
along Fern Lake Road and assis ng with the Madeline Bass Framson. Sayonara Madeline! With love,
Ride the Rockies bicycle tour. The volunteer
from your Conservancy buddies.

Park Puzzler 11 A narrow park valley that was carved by rivers of ice moving from south to
north, which now contains Mills Lake and Black Lake, is appropriately named
by RM Conservancy Member Joel Kaplow Glacier ___.
12 F.O. Stanley, a very rich man from his inven ons, suffered from consump on
Across (tuberculosis) and was advised to move to Colorado in 1903. His health im-
proved, and in 1909 the eponymous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park was completed.
6 Rhodiola integrifolia, aka ___ crown, is a flower with thick, succulent leaves that It’s white now, but what color paint was used on the original structure?
can be found in either wet or dry areas of the tundra. The blossoms are in a flat- 14 On the north end of 11-Down is found ___ Mountain, so named because it
topped cluster, and are a deep wine-red in color. appears that glaciers have carved away 50% of the original peak.
7 Living organisms and their environment, taken collec vely on a planetary scale, 15 Fall Creek arises on the north flank of Fall Mountain on the northern border
comprise the ___. of Rocky, then flows northeast and meets the South Fork of the Cache la ___
9 The ___, a striking pinnacle found on the east side of Loch Vale towering above Sky River.
Pond, is 500 feet tall with sheer walls. Successful technical climbers will tell you it has 16 Not to be confused with Frozen Lake, ___ Lake is clustered with the rock
a surprisingly flat summit that’s 15 x 30 yards wide. outcrop at 2-Down and the glacier at 18-Across at the west end of Wild Basin.
10 About ___ percent of your entrance fee for RMNP stays within the park, and is 19 When the Stanley Hotel was built, it had all the modern conveniences of
used for the benefit of all things Rocky. the me, including electricity that came from a hydroelectric plant built by F.O.
13 The top three answers from visitors surveyed for their main reason for a park visit: Stanley on Fall River, and, unusual for a remote loca on, running tap ___.
recrea onal opportuni es, wildlife viewing and the ___. 20 Located east of Ypsilon Mountain in RMNP’s Mummy Range are three lakes
17 Rocky straddles three coun es: Boulder, Grand and ___, which contains the larg- named for C.E. ___, the first president of the American Alpine Club.
est chunk.
18 There is a glacier at the west end of Wild Basin named for Jack ___, a Rocky ranger
who, in 1925, helped install the cables that aided climbers near the summit of Longs
Peak.
21 Located on the west side of Estes Cone is ___ Pass.
22 ___ zones are the areas of land that are adjacent to streams or lakes, usually with
more diverse flora and fauna than the surrounding drier areas.

Down

1 F.O. Stanley was a remarkable inventor and innovator, with many patents that went
beyond the Stanley Steamer, and he helped fund Enos Mills’ traveling expenses dur-
ing his RMNP campaigns. Surprisingly, F.O. also handcra ed his own ___, which are
sought by musicians, and are worth thousands of dollars today.
2 Just to the east of the glacier at 18-Across is a rock forma on known as Eagles ___.
3 The devasta ng rains of September 2013 caused several landslides within RMNP.
The ___ Trail, which starts behind the Lily Lake Visitor Center, sustained heavy damage
when a slide wiped out several switchback sec ons. A study for repairs is slated for
2017. (2 wds.)
4 A close cousin of 6-Across, Clementsia rhodantha, aka ___ crown, aka rose crown,
is par al to boggy, squishy areas of the tundra. It has a pink blossom, and succulent
leaves which are useful for storing water.
5 A large, 42-acre inholding known at the ___ Co ages parcel, is being absorbed into
RMNP’s 415 square miles. The Davis family, owners of the property as of 1941, ar-
ranged to give RMNP first crack when it came me for it to leave the family.
8 A biological community of interac ng organisms and their physical environment,
taken on a local level, is known as an ___.

8 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

New Superintendent
Darla Sidles

Accepts the Challenge

by Suzanne Silverthorn

It was the 1970s, and a choice as Superintendent of Saguaro Na onal hiking early or hiking
visit to Rocky Mountain Na onal Park Park in Arizona. A 26-year veteran of late, checking the weather forecast in
would be her first and only chance the Na onal Park Service, her diversity advance to be er plan the day, car-
to experience the outdoors with her of experiences and opportuni es have pooling or using the shu le system,
family. As an impressionable 8-year- prepared her for this role. She’s held and being addi onally proac ve by
old, it was the snowball fight with both administra ve and boots-on- reserving a campsite six months out.
her sister and father that lingers as the-ground posts across the country,
a favorite memory. And for Darla including Washington, D.C., Philadel- Even then, during busy days in the
Sidles, the new Superintendent of phia, Texas, Alaska, Washington and summer and fall, Sidles describes an
Rocky Mountain Na onal Park, that Utah. Before Saguaro, she spent nine endless stream of idling vehicles snak-
childhood visit of hers looms large in years at Zion, which included work on ing through the communi es of Estes
how she’s approaching her role in the similar crowding issues. For Sidles, 53, Park and Lyons as long lines formed
park’s 101st year and beyond. this new combina on of place, people at the park entrances. Like clockwork,
and issues has become the perfect this daily arrival en masse took its toll
Sidles stopped by the Rocky intersec on and one can’t help but on the park’s infrastructure. Parking
Mountain Conservancy offices in feel inspired by her sense of purpose. lots overflowed, toilets and trash cans
December to share insights from her were overrun, wildlife-human encoun-
first few months on the job and to To that end, the most press- ters increased, tundra was trampled,
provide a glimpse of what’s ahead. ing priority iden fied by Sidles is to and perhaps most disconcer ng for
As she clasps her hands around a hot define the park’s visitor capacity and Sidles was the escala on in frustra on
cup of tea, she describes the chal- to begin a conversa on about long- by visitors — some even lashing out
lenges facing the park with candor term solu ons. Visita on in the park is at Rocky’s staff and volunteers, which
and determina on, pondering what on track to reach 4.5 million in 2016, compromised their safety. News
the experience will be like for future another record and a near double- announcements during the summer
eight-year-olds and the role she hopes digit increase from its record-breaking blended urban-like topics of car break-
to play in helping to shape it. Will they centennial year in 2015. Only Great ins and visitor reminders about how
have a lifelong connec on to Rocky’s Smoky Mountains and Grand Canyon to behave in the park with the more
natural wonder? Will there be access had higher visita ons in 2015. And typical informa on on groundbreaking
to snowfields 100 years from now? neither of those parks will see an research and park stewardship.
Sidles is op mis c that there’s a won- explosion of popula on growth as is
derful future ahead for the park. But projected for Colorado’s Front Range For Sidles, ensuring resource
that comes later. communi es. preserva on while simultaneously
providing a quality visitor experi-
The conversa on quickly turns to As a prelude to the past summer ence at Rocky is at the core of what
Sidles’ immediate focus on the topic season, Rocky’s Public Affairs Office mo vates her. She envisions a future
of overcrowding, which has consumed launched an awareness campaign sug- where intense traffic conges on and
much of her me here since arriving ges ng ways to plan ahead for a more harried visitors are a thing of the past
in August following a seven-year run enjoyable visit. Sugges ons included and where opportuni es to explore

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 9

Rocky’s front country and backcountry is now encouraging visitors to pay

are safer and more enjoyable. their entrance fee online before

To help guide the visitor-use they get to the park, which allows

transforma on, an assessment is taking them to use the smartphone receipt

place to document best management as their entrance pass.

prac ces that have been undertaken Yet, with all the focus on visita-

at other high-visita on parks. “If we on, Sidles wants to ensure that

can learn what others have done and there are increased visi ng opportu-

poten ally apply them here through ni es for underrepresented popula-

an inclusive public process — which ons as well as a more diverse staff.

means ge ng input from the com- “We have so many people coming

muni es, park staff, and visitors, on a to the park right now, but when you

na onal scope, I think we’ll be ahead look at the diversity of those visitors,

of the game,” Sidles said. Examples of they don’t reflect the face of the na-

management strategies being intro- on. And that’s a concern.” As a first

duced at other high-use parks include step, Sidles has set out to work more

med-entry systems, reserva on robustly with the Rocky Mountain

systems, and other mechanisms. Sidles Conservancy and its Next Genera-

likens these measures to permit sys- on Fund, as well as other partners, Superintendent Darla Sidles describes herself
tems used by river ra ers on popular to develop strategies that will make as energe c, forward-thinking, and inclusive.
waterways. Modifica on of the shu le the park relevant to underserved She values strong partnerships and looks
system will also be explored. “We’re youth from the Front Range. In this, forward to bolstering the park’s rela onship

just hoping that we can learn from she draws upon her experiences at with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

these other parks to understand what Saguaro where she led an effort to climate change as an opportunity to
conduct research and share with the
works best, and what provides a quality increase visita on from Tucson’s inner public the impact that is relevant to
them, such as clean air and water that
visitor experience that simultaneously city and to expand the staff’s diver- are necessary for wildlife and humans.
“If we can tell that story from the
does not impair park re- sity. “Whether it’s perspec ve of an ‘indicator park,’ this
may help people understand the cri -
sources.” These compari- “We have so many diversity in ethnicity cal nature of what we’re dealing with
as a society.”
sons, she says, along with people coming to the or race or age or in-
other data to be collected, terests, we need to Along the way, Sidles believes
park right now, but when make sure we’re on that it will be impera ve to priori ze
will help determine what’s most important for the park
and to work as efficiently as possible
what the recommended you look at the diversity the cu ng edge of given current budget limita ons and
strategy will be moving that because if we the transi on to a new administra on
forward. Sidles expects of those visitors, they keep doing things in Washington, D.C.
there may be a phased
don’t reflect the face of the way we’ve She ponders for a moment before
offering a final thought, “Our job is
approach, to address the na on. And that’s a always done, then to protect the park forever and to
provide an outstanding visitor experi-
des na on-specific strate- concern.” we’re probably not ence. It’s that simple. And it’s that
gies first, followed by a going to be impor- difficult.” With that, Sidles finishes her
last sip of tea, offers well-wishes to
broader comprehensive tant 50 years from the Conservancy staff, and heads out
the door to prepare for her next meet-
visitor-use management strategy. The now when there’s a different need, a ing. There is more work to be done.

park is intent in involving the gateway different desire out there.” Suzanne Silverthorn is a frequent con-
tributor to the Quarterly. When she’s not
communi es of Estes Park and Grand With help from expanded partner- wri ng or visi ng the park, she serves as
Director of Communica ons for the town
Lake at the outset of the conversa on. ships, Sidles sees opportuni es to be-

In the short term, the park’s come even more strategic and vision-

staff and volunteers will con nue ary in char ng the park’s future. She’s

to mi gate impact where they can, looking to forge greater involvement

encouraging use of the shu le system by the Conservancy, universi es and

and restric ng vehicle access when other organiza ons, plus increased

parking lots are full and traffic conges- collabora on with the gateway com-

on is at its peak, especially in the muni es, as well as making the most

Bear Lake and Wild Basin areas. Also, of the park’s rela onship with its

encouraging visitors to plan ahead 2,700 volunteers to ensure that the

before their arrival will be emphasized services they’re providing are mee ng

at every opportunity to help manage the park’s highest priori es.

expecta ons. To that end, the park She sees the global discussion of of Vail, Colorado.

10 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

photo: Jim Ward

Fear Not Rocky's Fierce Winter Facade

by Barbara Sco I stop to examine some tracks that cross the wind comes, you might even see the
wing marks made when the great-horned
The snow crunches under my feet as the trail in front of me – tracks that I never owl catches the weasel that didn’t move fast
enough to escape.
I shuffle up the trail. A few new inches of would have seen had it not been for the
That’s why I like winter. There’s no hid-
snow has fallen overnight adding to the spar- snow. Loping in a small, angled gait, it was a ing. Everything is refreshed and manifest for
the world to see.
kling blanket of white over the brown and two-print track pa ern the size of finger ps
As I con nue my hike I feel the s ng of
crunchy vegeta on. The park is transformed! touching the snow. They alternate between the cold air on my face. My breath streams
around me as my heart begins to pound.
Early winter, before the snow falls, short and long leaps from about 6 to 30 I move faster to try to coax the circula on
back into my fingers and toes. I’m just begin-
always makes me a bit sad. The brown and inches apart. I follow them off the trail un l ning to warm up my body when I turn a
corner and get hit full on by the wind.
dormant landscape holds li le joy, instead they disappear into a small snowbank. Not
Rocky Mountain Na onal Park would
epitomizing winter’s symbolism of old age far away I see them reappear, this me with not be what it is without the wind. Prevail-
ing winds from the west are funneled down
and death. Even the animals seem to be an extra set of drag marks alongside. This mountain valleys, crea ng locally divergent
and perpetual wind pa erns. Summits and
ambivalent about it, methodically foraging short-tailed weasel had caught a meal! crests can have gusts in excess of 200 miles
per hour. Farther down the slopes, winter
the last remaining bits of nutri on from the I scan the forest around me with the winds may load dangerous cornices or bring
extreme temperature swings. Savvy park
dead and dying plants and duff. hope of catching sight of the li le white recrea onists know to dress not for the
temperature, but for the wind which can
Once the snow falls, though, Rocky mustelid, but no luck. It is probably snooz- find its way into even the niest aperture.

Mountain Na onal Park becomes a world ing the day away in the borrowed burrow I almost didn’t begin my hike this day
because of the wind. I could have stayed
of sparkle and light. A new coa ng of snow of its prey, wai ng for the cover of dark- warm at home and waited for the wind to
die down. That would have been the easy
turns the familiar into the ness to emerge and thing to do. But then I would have missed
the renewal of new snow. I would have
novel, the well-known into The snow tells stories hunt again. I imagine missed the snowflakes and the weasel
the undiscovered, the dy- that we don’t hear in this ferocious li le tracks. I would have missed seeing my
ing into the reawakened. other seasons – stories predator wiping its breath and feeling the p of my nose go red.
I prac cally bounce down
ny brow in relief that There’s always wind. You can’t let it get
you down. Instead, let it blow your doubt,
the trail deligh ng in finding about life and death, the snow has finally your insecuri es and your fears away.
shapes and pictures in the survival and hardship. come. In winter, the Embrace the sparkling world around you.
cloud-like mounds of white weasel changes its Seasons pass quickly. Get out and enjoy this
beau ful winter. You’ll be glad you did.
around me. color to match the sur-
Barbara Sco is a park ranger interpreter at
The wind spins ny snowflakes across rounding snowpack — to become invisible Rocky Mountain Na onal Park.

my face and onto my jacket where I examine to both prey and predators. The weasels’

their ny crystalline forms. Each snowflake color change comes with the changing of the

is born as a speck of dust or debris that photoperiod. The shorter days trigger the

flies through the air, eventually ge ng cold hormonal change and mol ng of one color

enough to collect water vapor. These frozen fur for the next. But white fur in a brown

water droplets a ract more and more water landscape where the snow keeps coming

vapor that grows and, because of the chemi- later and later in the season makes it hard

cal makeup of water, freezes into hexagonal to blend in. Natural selec on may eventually

ice crystals. Depending on the temperature change when the molt begins, but un l then

and the water content of the clouds around my weasel friend may have some challenges.

them as the fly, the ice crystals take on The snow tells stories that we don’t

unique shapes — some stars, some plates, hear in other seasons — stories about life

some columns. The environment around and death, survival and hardship. These

them causes them to change and grow as struggles go on around us every day, but in

they descend through the cloud layer. They the snow, you can see them. You can see

are rarely perfect, but beau ful all the same. the tunnels of the voles that live just where

And as these ice crystals form and fall, they the snowpack meets the earth so they can

s ck together, forming the snowflakes that stay warm. You can see the drag marks of

transform the Rocky Mountain scenery into the weasel that catches that vole and hauls

a winter snow globe. it off for dinner. If you get up early before

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 11

Colorado Gives Day Beats Records!

What an exci ng day we had

on December 6 for Colorado

Gives Day! Statewide, dona-

ons totaled $33.8 million!

More than 233 Rocky Moun-

tain Na onal Park fans donated

more than $30,000 to the Con-

servancy, blowing past our goal

Local nonprofits gathered at various busi- of $25,000 and exceeding 2015
nesses to promote this year’s Colorado
Gives Day event (from le to right): totals by more than $9,000. Conservancy and Partners Gift
It is a fun day for us, not Wild Basin Property to Rocky
Mountain National Park
Alison Rivers, Estes Park Nonprofit Re- just to see the dona ons
source Center,Alice Burkholder, Harmony It could have been a worst-case scenario for Rocky Mountain Na onal
Founda on, Julie Kle , Rocky Mountain coming in, but also to see how Park: a “Land for Sale” sign going up in one of the most popular areas
Conservancy, Jill Lancaster, Estes Park much you love Rocky Mountain of the park and within lands designated as Wilderness. If not for a quick
response from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, a 12.5-acre property was
Nonprofit Resource Center and Cynthia Na onal Park and the work we about to be listed for sale for only the second me in the last 70 years.
Combs Krumme, Estes Park Nonprofit Re- With a 2,000-square-foot house perched on a rocky overlook and easy
source Center at Kind Coffee in Estes Park. accomplish together. Thank you motorized access, the demand for this private property within Wild Basin
for your par cipa on and for would have been great. Instead, the Conservancy, with assistance from the
Wilderness Land Trust and the Na onal Park Trust, secured its purchase for
your support. Your dona ons will be put to excellent use in 2017! the park. The property was purchased on December 14.

We also thank generous local businesses Kind Coffee, Poppy’s Saving this land for permanent protec on had been a high priority for
the Conservancy since 2009, when the property was originally listed for
Pizza and Grill, and Snowy Peaks Winery for hos ng special events sale. At that me, a generous conserva on buyer agreed to purchase and
hold the property un l the Conservancy or the park was in a posi on to
and being super-enthusias c fundraising professionals that day. purchase it for final protec on. When that buyer decided that they wished
to sell and transfer the property this year, “we knew right away that we
We’re already looking forward to Colorado Gives Day 2017! had to step in quickly with what land protec on reserves we had,” Charles
Money, Execu ve Director of the Conservancy said.
Conservancy Annual Appeal
a Rousing Success Thanks to the successful comple on of the Cascade Co ages Cen-
tennial Capital Campaign earlier this year, the Conservancy was able to
As of press me in mid-December, the annual appeal was provide $300,000 in Land Protec on Fund reserves for the purchase of
going strong with more than 900 dona ons made for a total of the Wild Basin parcel. However, more assistance was needed to meet the
more than $227,700 (including the Colorado Gives Day gi s). $750,000 purchase price. The Conservancy subsequently engaged the as-
Approximately half of those funds are directed to Best Use, sistance of the Wilderness Land Trust and the Na onal Park Trust. The Wil-
and the other half is divided almost equally in thirds to Trail derness Land Trust nego ated the purchase contract with the landowner
Improvement, our Conserva on Corps, and the Next Genera- and agreed to provide addi onal funds for the purchase. The Na onal Park
Trust engaged the support of a generous local donor who wished to make
on Fund. We should have final tallies by the end of January. a significant gi to the park during the centennial year of the Na onal Park
Whatever amount you gave, or which fund you donated to, we Service. The financial contribu ons of these partners and the Conservancy
are fantas cally grateful for your generous support of our 2017 enabled the purchase of the parcel.
season. We also appreciate your kind and though ul notes—we
read every single one! Thank you for being the most important Located approximately one mile from the Wild Basin entrance, this
part of our team. Together, we take good care of RMNP and parcel along the access drive is within the Wilderness Area boundary in
other public lands, and inspire our youth. We’ll keep you posted the park. As a result of this purchase the land will finally be able to be
about how your contribu ons are being put to work in 2017. managed as wilderness (the highest level of conserva on protec on for
federal lands). The addi on of the property to the park and removal of the
Rocky License Plates access drive will eliminate a developed 33-acre incursion into the wilder-
Reach 3,000! ness area, including the road. However, the house and access drive must
be removed. The Wilderness Land Trust will undertake the deconstruc on
Good news! process, which will be funded by the Conservancy. The planned decon-
struc on process, scheduled for spring of 2017, will recycle as much of the
By mid-December, the Conservancy building material as possible.
had processed dona ons for more than 3,000 plate sets (the
minimum required to ensure that they are available in 2017). Darla Sidles, superintendent of Rocky Mountain Na onal Park said, “We
This program has raised over $90,000 so far, with 100% sup- are extremely grateful to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, The Wilderness
por ng YOUR Rocky Mountain Na onal Park! It is fun and Land Trust, and Na onal Park Trust in acquiring this private piece of land inside
rewarding to see so many of these plates on the road already. the park. This is a gi that will live on forever as protected wilderness.”
A significant number of donors to the License Plate Program
also made addi onal Best Use gi s amoun ng to more than Thank you to you, the Conservancy’s donors and members,
$10,900. Thank you! If you s ll need your plates, just head to for making this project possible!
www.RMConservancy.org and make a $30 minimum dona on
(per vehicle) to our License Plate Program. Full details and
FAQs are available at RMConservancy.org.

12 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

Conservancy Funds New Park Greenhouse Fence
to Support Restoration Projects in the Park

by Trish Stockton ously used. To avoid an overly “industrial” Some of the projects will require
The greenhouse and nursery at Rocky look for the nursery, it was decided the more than the usual grasses and forbs
slats would cover just four feet of the that the park has grown in the past. This
Mountain Na onal Park has a long rela on- 7-foot-high fence. This allows for the fall, we concentrated on collec ng seeds
ship with the Rocky Mountain Conservan- much-needed wind protec on without from more than 20 different tree and
cy. Ini al funds for the greenhouse were closing the area off to those passing by. shrub species, most of which we have
raised by the Conservancy in 1995 through never grown in the park greenhouse. Be-
generous dona ons from donors and The greenhouse and nursery support cause of these new demands, the original
members of the park’s nonprofit partner. mul ple restora on projects in the park plant bed layout wasn’t sufficient for the
every year. Some of the projects include need. The new fence encloses a larger
Thanks in large part to the Conser- restora on around the new comfort area than the original fence, allowing for
vancy’s support, the greenhouse now sta ons at Aspenglen and Glacier Basin easier access as well as a different layout
grows between 20,000 and 35,000 na ve campgrounds, the new Grand Lake en- of beds. The new layout has larger sunken
grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees each year. trance booths, the shu le stops, and tree beds with wider isles to accommodate
Park staff and volunteers collect seed in plan ngs at Timber Creek Campground. carts, two new shade structures that
various loca ons within park boundaries The most challenging project was restor- allow for less watering, and all-new wind-
during the fall to process and propagate ing the Alpine Ridge Trail (aka “Huffer resistant sprinklers.
the seed in the winter. We are constantly Hill”) a er the new stairs were installed.
researching and experimen ng to ensure Using na ve plants for a successful resto- A formal “cemetery” was also added;
that we are maximizing produc on and ra on offers a dis nct advantage over in- this area enables us to bury hard-to-
propaga ng the best na ve compe tors propagate seeds for the winter so nature
possible. In addi on to plants grown inside vasive weeds by allowing the na ve plants can do the work for us. New gates were
the greenhouse, many mature plants over- to establish a disturbed site first, before also installed with an eye for easy access
winter in the nursery beds outside. the onslaught of quick-growing invasive that can be opened from inside or out —
plants move in, or to stabilize hillsides what a concept! All these improvements
Most recently, through Conservancy and slopes with deep-rooted growth to were on hold while we waited for the new
dona ons, we were able to replace our fail- prevent erosion and sediment deposi on fence to be installed. Now it looks shiny
ing fence. The old fence was constructed into streams and lakes. Of course, using and new, and very modern — in a moun-
in 1999, and years of sun and wind had na ve species also supports local fauna tain kind of way.
taken their toll on the fencing and the wind and pollinators.
protec on fabric. The first sec on of fence Thanks to the con nuing support
fell during the winter of 2012, with a larger from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy
sec on following in the winter of 2015. our nursery now is a shining example of
efficiency and longevity. Come for a visit
The installa on of chain link was on Earth Day, April 22, 2017.
chosen over the original wood alterna ve
material for its longevity and cleaner ap- Trish Stockton has been a seasonal Biological
pearance. During the research process we Science Technician, Greenhouse Opera ons, at
found out that chin link can be recycled, the park greenhouse for the last nine seasons.
which was an important bonus feature.
Much considera on was given to the inclu-
sion of the brown slats that are needed
to block out winter winds (not pictured),
replacing the wind fabric that was previ-

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 13

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy
expresses special thanks to the following people

for their donations toward projects
in Rocky Mountain National Park:

September 20, 2016 – December 13, 2016
803 gifts ~ total donations $316,923

C Barbara Francis, Aurora, CO: Walter & Marlene Borneman, Walt and Sandra Cox, Blue Grass, IA David Magar, Woodstock, IL
In memory of Harry Smith Estes Park, CO Barbara Crangle, Moline, IL Debra Major, Loveland, CO

CF Linda Goff, Estes Park, CO: Curt & Heidi Buchholtz, Estes Park, CO Lloyd and Cathy Dahlberg, Minong, WI Gene Mammenga and Char Brooker,
In honor of Kerry Morimoto
Jim and June Copeland, Coffeyville, KS Christopher and Patricia Daly, Maplewood, MN

Diana Dahart, Ypsilan , MI Elizabeth Grant, Denver, CO Brian and Louise Desmond, Bryn Mawr, PA Norman & Shirley Mar n, Leawood, KS

Howard and Dana Fry, Castle Rock, CO Richard & Elaine Greenwood, Estes Park, CO James Davis, Somers Point, NJ Nancy Matson, Estes Park, CO

Melanie Grant, Denver, CO Oviedo, FL Gregg and Dana Dupree, McKinney, TX David Dent, Warrenton, MO Margaret Ma , Estes Park, CO

Patrick and Carla Grant, Denver, CO Donald Groves, Glen Haven, CO Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Carol Devlin, Houston, TX: James & Tricia Medlock, Ft. Collins, CO

April and Tim Gruber, Oviedo, FL Susan K. Harris, Estes Park, CO: Paul and Rosemary Eide In honor of Jim Avant K C and Regine Mericle, Denver, CO

Hallidie and Donald Haid, Sea le, WA In memory of Jim De erline Fred & Catherine Gaupp, Covington, LA John and Dolores Dolan, Mahwah, NJ David and Joy Mohr, Estes Park, CO
Janet I. Kilgore, Estes Park, CO Rebecca Hart, Indianapolis, IN: John and Lynne Geweke, Estes Park, CO Colleen Dupuis, Loveland, CO Carleton and Diane Moore, Mesa, AZ
Terry and Catherine Nance,
Overland Park, KS In honor of Patrick Mar Margaret & Brian Greene, Larry and Linda Emsing, Estes Park, CO Dr. & Mrs. Robert Moore,
Robert & Ellen Hostetler, Longmont, CO Rasmus & Marian Erdal, Ft. Collins, CO Li le Rock, AR
Marlys and Lyle Polson, Estes Park, CO Tony and Beth Fabrizio, Broomfield, CO
Thomas Stanar, Highlands Ranch, CO Monument, CO Marianne Holmes, Arvada, CO Robert and Mary Farmer, Athens, TX Nancy and Robert Morton,
Steven King, St. Louis, MO Ron Hughes, Lees Summit, MO San Marcos, CA
L PFJohn Capp, Fort Collins, CO Mike and Mary Ko ke, Cave Creek, AZ James Immelt, Worthington, OH Neil and Barbara Fiala, Ballwin, MO
Veronika Gaia, Lyons, CO Leslie and Mary Ann Nesbi ,
Fred and Catherine Gaupp, Joseph Krol, Joliet, IL Robert & Mary Ann Jackson, Lafaye e, CO
Covington, LA Gary Kubik, Omaha, NE Houston, TX Marianne Gaynor, Taylor, MI:
Ginger Lewis, Lawrenceville, GA In honor of Martha and Gene Stehman Patsy Nevill, Estes Park, CO
Derk & Marjorie Osenberg, Chicago, IL Karl Long, Houston, TX Carolyn Kilgore, Estes Park, CO: Michael and Jane Olson, Loveland, CO
Be y J. Lu kus, Aurora, CO: In memory of Mark Pallissard Janice Gibb, Berthoud, CO Mark and Angel Pavlik, Lone Tree, CO
E L FKenneth Gamauf, Boulder, CO In memory of George Lu kus Kristy Killian, Henderson, NV Deryl Gingery and Marla Schiebout, Paul & Alison Pierpoint, Bethlehem, PA
Sherburne MacFarlan, Boulder, CO Mark and Cathy Koch, Elmhurst, IL
Wayne and Jane Larsen, Loveland, CO William Mahoney, Louisville, CO Mike and Mary Ko ke, Cave Creek, AZ Loveland, CO Mark and Ellen Prechtl,
Seth McCarus, Denver, CO David Magar, Woodstock, IL Judith Graziano, Poland, OH Colorado Springs, CO:
N GFAnschutz Family Founda on, Meredith Williams Founda on, Barbara McClellan, Dallas, TX: Donna Hahn, Estes Park, CO In honor of Adelaide Q. Prechtl
In honor Mr. and Mrs. Don Wilcox Carl and Nancy Hane, Fort Collins, CO Janet Prehn, Arvada, CO
Denver, CO Opelika, AL Mary Ann McHale and Jeffrey Corson, Janene & Steven Hawkins, Sco e Priesmeyer, Chesterfield, MO
Na onal Park Founda on, Charles and Shirley Morgan, Cheryl and Ben Reyes, Sycamore, IL
Loganton, PA Burnsville, MN Robert Rich, Denver, CO
Washington, DC Pla eville, CO Canton and Ann O’Donnell, Denver, CO Marvin and Marilyn Heller, William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE
Brenda L. Adamson, Aurora, CO Nancy Moser, Raleigh, NC Parks Project, LLC, Marina Del Rey, CA Nancy Roberts, Longmont, CO
Thomas & Sandra Ames, Longmont, CO Joseph and Penelope Orth, Loveland, CO: John Rossie, O umwa, IA
Joanne Peterson-Falcone, In memory of Gen and Glenn Channer Patricia Schaumberg, Greeley, CO
Anonymous Williamsburg, VA Colorado Springs, CO: Dennis & Bonnie Henley, Estes Park, CO Marla Schiebout, Loveland, CO
Patrice Arndt, Denver, CO: James and Terry Pfister, Wichita, KS Marla Schiebout, Loveland, CO
In memory of Paul and Marian Nelson In memory of Ellen Perry Josephine Hereford, Saint Louis, MO Raymond & Nancy Sellers,
Mike Phillips, Omaha, NE Rodger K. Poage, Montrose, CO Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO:
Dianne and Richard Pra , Durango, CO Dianne and Richard Pra , Durango, CO Sevierville, TN
William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE In honor of Richard and Shirley Tucker John & Patricia Shearer, Johnstown, CO
Alyce Richardson, Aus n, TX Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO: Kenneth & Barbara Stallings, Leland, IL
William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE John Rossie, O umwa, IA
Thomas Stanar, Highlands Ranch, CO In honor of Helen and Rocky Lee Thomas Stanar, Highlands Ranch, CO
Joan and Terry Roberson, Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO: Sharon Stauffacher, Granby, CO
West Des Moines, IA David Warfel, Bloomington, IL:
In honor of Abigail Warfel In honor of Robin Howard’s birthday Chris ne & Donald Steger, Placitas, NM
Susan Sanchez, Greeley, CO Ben and Judy Wentworth III, Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO: Erik Stensland, Estes Park, CO
Richard & Karen Sandberg, Omaha, NE Colorado Springs, CO In honor of Inez Kelley Kevin Stout, Dillon, CO, Trails:
Bob and Karen Sanders, Houston, TX Ruth Hess, Loveland, CO: In honor of Janice Stout
Vicky and Dan Schommer, Greeley, CO: Joy Wolf, Mount Pleasant, WI In memory of Sco Corliss
Marvin and Hannah Woolf, Boulder, CO Mark and Joan Strobel, Saint Paul, MN
In memory Stella B. Aubuchon Barry and Patricia Hia , Li leton, CO
Robert and Mary Seifert, Estes Park, CO Susanne Hicks, Nashville, TN

Thomas & Regina Hisey, Estes Park, CO:

Karla Bachman, Lincoln, NE TMark and Gwen Sparn, Boulder, CO I In memory of Ed and Ann Dvorscak Grant and Joyce Strombeck, Berwyn, IL
Paul Baringer, Elverson, PA:
Thomas Stanar, Highlands Ranch, CO Carol Holden, Tiburon, CA Barbara & Ralph Swanson, Phillips, WI

In memory of Dr. James Lee De erline Keith & Jackie Stephenson, F Marianne Holmes, Arvada, CO Mike & Cynthia Sweeney, Lone Tree, CO
Shirley J. Bas lla, Highland, IL: Estes Park, CO Charles and Joan Hoyt, Clare, IL The Family Mayer Founda on,

In memory of Bob Bas lla William and Shirley Sterling, Jr., Lorraine Alleman, Highlands Ranch, CO: Don and Rie a Huddle, Houston, TX Closter, NJ:
Jeane e and Carl Benson, Dallas, TX Georgetown, TX In memory of Rodger Alleman Jim and Peggy Hudson, Waco, TX In honor of Kathryn Jenulis
Richard & Sarah Amos, Jorah Huibregtse, State Center, IA David and Marcia Tavel, Estes Park, CO:
Kathy Bolinsky, Loveland, CO Lynn and Michael Stover, Aurora, CO Minneapolis, MN In memory of Madeline Framson,
Jon and Catherine Pe to Boyce, Houston and Ma lda Swenson, Kathi Barnes, Rock Island, IL David and Nancy Hurt, Loveland, CO Jim De erline and Gus Wolf
Indianapolis, IN: William and Esther Bas an, Jean and Walter Jazun, Parker, CO Rachel & Kenneth Towbin,
Sea le, WA In memory of Gary Langer Mount Prospect, IL
Joe and Martha Burt, Houston, TX Debra Bidwell, Fort Collins, CO Beth Jenkins, Mentor, OH Potomac, MD
Madelynn Coldiron, Frankfort, KY: Wilber and Sondra Voss, Tucson, AZ Janet Keller, Estes Park, CO Ron and Marilyn Tu le, Loveland, CO
Stacy Westerholm, Phoenix, AZ David and Mary Ann Bliley, Erie, PA Andree C. Kienitz, Greeley, CO
In memory of Joyce Brabec Richard and Judith Bliley, Erie, PA Peter and Janet Kim, Olympia, WA Barbara Van Doren, Estes Park, CO
Janice K. Dame, Bolingbrook, IL Cynthia Zarkowsky, Buffalo Grove, IL Maureen Kiphart, Arvada, CO Marilyn & John Vergoth, Estes Park, CO
Mark Dickherber and Stephanie Hoff, Jenny & Gary Zi ergruen, Deanna Boihem, Metairie, LA Gretchen & Thomas Kirk, Robert and Brenda Ward, Windsor, CO
Van Horne, IA Gerald and Darcy Boock, River Falls, WI
Chesterfield, MO: Germantown, TN Jennifer Warner, Greenwood, IN
In honor of Santa OF Arnold Braasch, Rensselaer, IN Robert Koncier, Denver, CO Arthur and Edith Wartburg, Boulder, CO
Ernie and Nancy Diedrich, Denver, CO FF Ann Bullock, Cincinna , OH M.L. & Chris ne Korphage, Wichita, KS
Cecily Drucker, Mill Valley, CA: Judy Byrd, Atlanta, GA Mike and Mary Ko ke, Cave Creek, AZ Thomas & Rachelle Washburn,
In memory of Doris Drucker Alan and Carol Ann Olson, Boulder, CO Paul Krusa & Marie Curry, Estes Park, CO
David & Jane Dunatchik, Marjorie A. Carr, Gladstone, MO
Bloomington, IN C Beth Christensen, Rockford, IL: Longmont, CO Judy Wild, Emporia, KS
Phyllis A. Easley, Loveland, CO CF In memory of Jean Christensen Gary Kubik, Omaha, NE Janet Winterrose, Aurora, CO
Bruce & Lois Ellingwood, Estes Park, CO James Leupold, Erie, CO: Pamela & Bill Zarrella, Boca Raton, FL
LaVerne Anderson, Boulder, CO Paul and Linda Cla erbuck, In memory of Marilyn Leupold
Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/Allen and Prairie Village, KS Shirley Lindley, Ft. Collins, CO
Mary Anne Sanborn, Boston, MA: James and Donelle Lowham,
In memory of their daughter, Jenny Robert Cleary, Westlake, OH
Paul Clemens, Metuchen, NJ Ft. Collins, CO
Joyce Condon, Englewood, CO

14 Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er

TR R Lois Calvert, Denver, CO William & Sharon Dodt, Broomfield, CO Gertrude Grant, Denver, CO Karen Inman, Denver, CO
Douglas & Patricia Campbell, Alex Drummond, Salida, CO Robert and Beatrice Graves, James and Gerry Irvine, Estes Park, CO

F Greeley, CO Margaret Drury, Huron, OH: Hun ngton Beach, CA Anne Isbister, West Har ord, CT
Tyler & Debby Campbell, Carolyn Jarmin, Lyons, CO
In memory of Gordon (Gordie) Shaw C. William and June Gray, Powell, OH

Judy Burke, Grand Lake, CO Chestertown, MD James DuHadway, Berthoud, CO Stanley Gray, Urbana, IL Peter Jaumann, Erie, CO
Jane Sto s, Blue Ash, OH Laurent & Betsy Cannon, Dorothy H. Dunn, Augusta, NJ
Marcia and Jeff Dysart, Bal more, MD Greater Kansas City Community Foun- Jewish Community Founda on of
Englewood, CO da on/John P. Fletcher Family Fund, Greater Kansas City/Bergman Family

B U John Capelle, West Bend, WI Rosemary Eagan, Longmont, CO Kansas City, MO Charitable Fund, Overland Park, KS

Sco Caranna, Centennial, CO H. Paul Eberhardt II, Thornton, CO Greater Kansas City Community Cynthia Johnson, Durham, NC
Founda on/Timothy and Beth Parker John & Cynthia White Johnson,
Kenneth & Barbara Card, Andy Edmondson, Boulder, CO
Charitable Fund, Kansas City, MO Alexandria, VA
Anne Abele, Mesa, AZ Sco sdale, AZ: William & Gretchen Edwards,
Richard Acheson, Windsor, CO
Larry Adams, Longmont, CO In memory of Lucy Sharp Dikeou Centennial, CO Susan Greenquist, Louisville, CO Kay I. Johnson, Evergreen, CO
Elvira G. Ale a, Williamsville, NY
Leslie and Neil Alexander, Nashville, TN John H. Carpenter, Longmont, CO Jed Eide, South Bend, IN Lindy Grote, Bailey, CO Richard K. Johnson, Kenosha, WI
James Alfred, La Grange Park, IL
Kermit and Judy Allard, Fort Collins, CO Peggy L. Carr, Denton, TX: Bart and Judy Eisfelder, Fairway, KS Rosemary & Daniel Gruber, Belleville, IL Keith & Mariane Jolly, Angels Camp, CA
Kenneth & Donna Allen, Estes Park, CO
In memory of Elizabeth Elser Dooli le Charitable Roger Gunlikson, Fort Collins, CO Jean Ann Jones, Holmes Beach, FL
Allsate: The Giving Campaign/Kurt Peggy Askew and Virginia Rose Miller Trusts/Philip & Elizabeth Nicholson,
Knutson, Vernon Hills, IL Margaret Guthrie, Estes Park, CO Rod Jones, Fountain, CO
AllianceBernstein/ Peggy L. Carr, Denton, TX: Milwaukee, WI:
In memory of Paul Osborne In memory of Elizabeth Elser Dooli le Harold Gutjahr, Denver, CO Jon Judd, Greer, SC
Douglas W. Carpenter, Princeton, NJ Robert and Mary Ann Carter,
Annikki Elkind, Fort Collins, CO Reginald and Judy Guy, Estes Park, CO William & Dorothy Julian, Loveland, CO
Allstate: The Giving Campaign/Kurt Longmont, CO Dan and Lucy Ellerhorst, Li leton, CO
Knutson, Norfolk, VA George C. Casey, Denver, CO Sonja Hahn, Arvada, CO David Kalainoff, Boulder, CO
Barbara Emerson, Li leton, CO
The Guests of Alpine Trail Ridge Inn, Tammy & Joseph Casias, Constan nos Emmanuel, Boulder, CO Hamilton-Boyle Charitable Trust, John B. Kalla, Elizabeth, CO
Estes Park, CO Broomfield, CO
Chris Engleman & Joan Alexander, John B. Simonson, Leawood, KS Terry & Paul Kane,
AmazonSmile Founda on, Sea le, WA Adrian and Melanie Chamberlain, Boulder, CO
Bob and Audrey Ambler, Boulder, CO Fort Collins, CO Dr. and Mrs. O.W. Hampton, Berkeley Springs, WV
Swami Anantananda, Hurleyville, NY Carolyn Ennis, Dallas, TX Estes Park, CO Seth Karol, Germantown, TN
Steve & Janet Andersen, Estes Park, CO Bridget Chavous e, Parker, CO: Kurt & Heidi Erchinger, Vernon Hills, IL Charles Kau old, Cincinna , OH
In memory of Rich Sebern Larry and Shirley Hannert, Phoenix, AZ Peggy Keefer and Mike Sargeant,
Roger Alan Walton and Helen T. Sarah Estes, Longmont, CO Camille Hansen, Fort Collins, CO
Anderson, Lakewood, CO Robert Checkley and Susan Kummer, Gary and Kathleen Falk, Boise, ID Nicholas and Patricia Hanson, Geneva, IL:
High Ridge, MO Cincinna , OH In honor of our children
Jon and Alissa Anderson, Estes Park, CO Karen Farley, Davis, CA Marian Hardin, Aus n, TX
Kendall Angevine, Lafaye e, CO Dan and Patricia Childers: Bob Feathers, Huber Heights, OH & grandchildren
Lanwood Aperto, Fountain, CO In memory of Theodore Mouche Elinor and Stephen Feiss, Towson, MD Franklin and Ruth Harold, Sea le, WA Lydia Kelley, Tucson, AZ
Ethelwyn Fellinger, Phoenix, AZ Susan and Ron Harris, Estes Park, CO Lauren Kellogg, Denver, CO
Paul and Elaine Arguien, Granby, CO Roger Chilson, Windsor, CO Monte and Terri Harrison, Tulsa, OK Anthony Kelly, Longmont, CO
Christopher Armenta, Tanner Cho, Boulder, CO Mary Ferguson, Memphis, TN: Nileen & James Hart, Westminster, CO: Clement & Elizabeth Klaphake,
Colorado Springs, CO In honor of
Ed Clark, Grand Junc on, CO In memory of John Sunins Bellevue, NE
Barbara and William Armstrong, Erin S. Clark, Normal, IL Mr. & Mrs. Wyndell Thomas Darby Hartman, Estes Park, CO: Gilbert and Mary Knapp, Spencer, NY
North Ridgeville, OH Mary Ferguson, Memphis, TN:
Michael and Rochelle Clayton, In memory of Ralph Bogart Alice E. Knox, Denver, CO
William Askey, Magnolia, TX Riverwoods, IL In honor of Jo Ann Hasselmann, Monroe, IA Cur s & Tonya Knudsen,
Michael Atkins, Katy, TX Mr. & Mrs. David Markham Eric Haugdahl, Tallahassee, FL
Ronald O. Coburn, Jr., Golden, CO Mary Jo Havlicek, Omaha, NE: Highlands Ranch, CO
Jim and Cathy AuBuchon, Leawood, KS Kenneth and Jo Anne Cocking, John and Louise Koss, Fort Collins, CO
Adam Auerbach, Boulder, CO In memory of Mike and Mary Ko ke, Cave Creek, AZ
Prophetstown, IL Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Carroll Dermody and Don Overholt
Laurie Augspurger, Broomfield, CO Jan & Mike Hecht, Fountain Valley, CA Julie Krueger, Thornton, CO
Edwin A. Aus n, Rochester, NY: Charles and Olga Cofas, Estes Park, CO Mark and Katherine Young, Boston, MA Mary Ann Kundtz, Estes Park, CO
In honor of Harold G. Aus n Jr. Kathleen and Louis Hegeman, Christopher and Lynn Kyle, Galloway, NJ
Robyn Collins, Fountain, CO Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/Amy La Grange, IL Bob and Susie Ladenburger, Denver, CO
Carol Bachhuber, Kansas City, MO Phil and Sharon LaFoe, Wichita, KS
Bach & Nancy Bakehouse, Has ngs, IA Colorado Gives: Community First Foun- Derbyshire and George R. Carr Jr., David & Marjean Heidt, Englewood, CO
da on/Thomas J. Daly, Denver, CO Boston, MA Roberta Heisterkamp, Denver, CO Donald Lambert, Arvada, CO
Jim and Sue Baldwin, Loveland, CO The Colorado Trust/Gwyn Barley, Mark Helseth, Highlands Ranch, CO Karla Lankford, Boulder, CO
John & Marlene Barnes, Ft. Madison, IA Denver, CO: Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Beverly Henderson, Estes Park, CO: Ronald and Dee Larue, Longmont, CO
Carolyn and James Barne , Salida, CO John and Karen Mize, Boston, MA In memory of Bob Mitchell
In memory of Maggie O’Malley Luck Karla Henderson, Estes Park, CO Mary Leal, Firestone, CO
Page Basse , Denver, CO Community Founda on of Northern Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Katherine Hermann, Stanford, CA Joseph Lebel, Cornwallville, NY
Donald Bauman, Wilmington, DE Colorado/David and Carol Anderson Bob and Susie Ladenburger, David Hewi , Castle Rock, CO Paul & Georgina Lee, Westminster, CO
Jeff and Cindy Beavers, Parker, CO Ulla and Mani Lee, Loveland, CO
Leslie Beckstrom, Loveland, CO Family Fund, Fort Collins, CO Boston, MA James and Marjorie Hewi , Lincoln, NE Gary Lehr & Suzanne Trueblood,
Claire & Richard Beesley, Estes Park, CO Fidelity Charitable Gi Fund/ Lance & Heidi Hoffman, Omaha, NE
Corrin Condon, Steamboat Springs, CO Ruth E. Medak, Boston, MA Peter and Linda Hogue, Katy, TX Longmont, CO
J.D. & Rose Marie Benisek, Roy Conley and Rita Hart, Aurora, CO Ron and Delores Hoisington, Wesley and Heather LeMasurier,
San Angelo, TX Robert Connelly, Lees Summit, MO Tom and Fran Fike, Brighton, CO Commerce City, CO
Anne e Finley, Broomfield, CO Susan Hollinger, Prairie Village, KS Boulder, CO
Terry Benjamin, Longmont, CO Keith Cook, Thorton, CO Guido and Annemarie Finocchiaro, Richard W. Holmes, Boulder, CO Malcom and Edith Lerch, Conover, NC
David Benner, Roscoe, IL Allen & Molly Cooke, Williamsburg, VA William Hoppe, Broomfield, CO Alice and Judah Levine, Boulder, CO
Bill and Cindy Cooper, Fort Myers, FL Estes Park, CO Susan Horvath, Lansing, MI
Jeanne Bensema, Boulder, CO Robert & Nora Copeland, Ft. Collins, CO Steven M. Fishburn, Aus n, TX Andrew Hosier, Cedar Falls, IA Melissa Levy, Philadelphia, PA
Barb Biedenstein, Centennial, CO Daniel and Tara Flynn, Sparta, NJ Charles Houck, Grand Lake, CO Michael H. Levy, Broomfield, CO
Brian Bienemann, Thornton, CO Carole Cotham, Corvallis, OR Richard J. Flynn, Boulder, CO Zach House, Arvada, CO Jason & Linda Lillegraven, Laramie, WY
Hope Covey, Morgantown, WV Steve and Ann Marie Houser, David and Barbara Lindsey, Arvada, CO
Sigrid Bower, Ann Arbor, MI Ann J. Folz, Dallas, TX Estes Park, CO John and Marilyn Lines, Clarkston, MI
Lewis E. Boyle, Fredericksburg, VA: Trudy & Charles Cowman, Ryan Foo, Denver, CO Richard and Jaylene Howard,
Woodbury, MN Lloyd Fosdick, Estes Park, CO Estes Park, CO James & Margaret Li le,
In memory of Brian Boyle Patricia Fox, Johnstown, CO Larry & Jane Howe, Los Alamos, NM
William & Louise Bradley, Boulder, CO Josh Cramer, Estes Park, CO Samuel and Kathleen Franco, Nutley, NJ Highlands Ranch, CO
Dennis and Marcia Braff, Boca Raton, FL Carolyn Crane, Lakewood, CO Kelly Hughes, Fort Collins, CO John W. Li le, Loveland, CO
Toni and Daniel Brennand, Boulder, CO Deyan Crow, Fort Wayne, IN: Jeff Frese, Ely, IA Dianna Hulbert, Estes Park, CO Charles V. Lorentz, Saint Louis, MO
Nancy & Edward Brigden, Loveland, CO Jerome and Norma Fricke, Golden, CO
In honor of Paul Burris Clara Lou Humphrey & Frank Williamson, Jim and Barbara Louk, Lutz, FL
Julie Bri , Lone Tree, CO Benjamin & Michele Culp, Carsten Fritz-Gruber, Denver, CO Lakewood, CO Mike & Marilynn Loustalet, Greeley, CO
Rufus Lee Brown, Newport News, VA Helga Gaffron, Niwot, CO
Estes Park, CO Chloe Garcia, Boulder, CO Carol Hundley, Homer Glen, IL Robert Lundy, Louisville, CO
Scot Brown, Aurora, CO Duane and Deborah Culver, Kers n Hunzicker, Highlands Ranch, CO William E. Malina, New Baden, IL
Katherine Bruce, Bedford, TX Sarah and Sergio Garcia, Aus n, TX: Kathleen & Lindell R. Hurst Jr., Katy, TX Rala Mandelson, Estes Park, CO
Kenneth & Susan Brunk, Centennial, CO Fort Collins, CO In memory of Sally Shipman Ned & Patricia Husman, Centennial, CO Sue Ellen Markey and James Boyd,
Rachel Brunner, Northglenn, CO Richard & Donna Cur s, Brewster, MA: Linda Gardner, Grand Lake, CO
Diane Lenicheck Hutchinson, Fort Collins, CO
Barry Bryan, Glenside, PA In memory of her parents, Mary C. and John F. Gardner, Lake- Aurora, CO Kathleen and David Markwood,
Steve Buck, Castle Rock, CO Glenn & Eleanor Greenfield, wood, CO
Carol Buckingham & James Morris, and her brother, Jim Greenfield George Hutchinson, Estes Park, CO St. Petersburg, FL:
Mary Dale, Westminster, CO David E. Garland, Waco, TX Michael Hu , Wheat Ridge, CO In honor of Megan and David Purdy
Gober, TX Kevin and Aida Garrity, Dublin, OH
Diane Buell, Denver, CO Joe Davis, Greeley, CO Dan and Mary Hymans, Loveland, CO Lea Martel, Aurora, CO
Doris Burd, Denver, CO Adele de Ryk, Loveland, CO Chris George, Golden, CO Rosalie Ierardi, Urbana, IL Leslie Mayer, Phelan, CA
Charlene Byers, Denver, CO Linda Delano, Boulder, CO Thaddeus Gibney, Nederland, CO Laird and Carol Ingham, Jane and David McAfee, Estes Park, CO
Darryl & Carolyn DeMara, Lafaye e, CO Hollywood Park, TX Michael and Janice McAnulty,
Robert and Ellen Dern, Fort Collins, CO James & Margery Giguere,
Richard & Becky Dickinson, Estes Park, CO Longmont, CO
Garland and Sue McAulay, Paris, TX
Wakarusa, KS Marykay L. Gillam, West Des Moines, IA
Ernie and Nancy Diedrich, Denver, CO James and Chris ne Glenski, Vicki McConnell, Lafaye e, CO
Shawnee Mission, KS: Barbara McCornack, Fort Collins, CO
Dennis Dintelmann, Godfrey, IL In memory of John A. Morgan
Steve & Marian Dodge, Los Angeles, CA Margaret L. McCranie, Irvine, CA
Lee Katherine Goldstein, Golden, CO
Gene Graham, Houston, TX

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Newsle er 15

Mr. & Mrs. Dale McCutcheon, Plano, TX Janet Prehn, Arvada, CO Charlene A. Smythe, Longmont, CO In memory of Frank and Marion Yancik Karen M. Waller, Saint Joseph, MO

Mary Ann and Alexander McLanahan, Joel and Linda Prehn, Lakewood, CO Peter & Linda Sommer, Fort Collins, CO Chris ne H. Young, Broomfield, CO: Mr. and Mrs. William E. Webb, III,

Houston, TX Art Price, Erie, CO: Ryan Sommers, Lyons, CO In honor of Becky Young Statesville, NC

Colleen A. McLaren, Hygiene, CO In memory of Deb Price Mark Sorensen, Westminster, CO Nelly Young, Aus n, TX: All in Memory of David Chambers:
In memory of Wayne C. Young Earl H. and Carol Clark, Estes Park, CO
Raymond and Margaret McMahon, Lillys and Hugh Price, Fort Collins, CO Tracy and Rudy Spano, San Diego, CA

Omaha, NE Frank Priest, Jr., Englewood, CO Mr. & Mrs. Peter Sprenkle, Boulder, CO YourCause/Pacific Gas and Electric Dorothy & George Gibbs,

Charla and Ronnie McManus, Hurst, TX: Jesus Ramos, Denver, CO Peter Springberg, Fort Collins, CO Company/Bryan Barr, Plano, TX Estes Park, CO

In memory of Madeline Framson Glenn Randall, Boulder, CO Thomas Stanar, Highlands Ranch, CO YourCause/Pacific Gas and Electric

Michael Meili, Castle Rock, CO Karen Randini s, Estes Park, CO Stanley Black & Decker/ Company/Caroline Francis, Plano, TX S P
Phyllis Zumwinkel, Denver, CO F
Lisa Meltzer, Denver, CO Susan Records, Thorton, CO: Lynda Bohager, New Britain, CT All in Memory of Gus Wolf:

Virginia Merrill, Mission Hills, KS In memory of John W. Records, MD Kari Star, Li le Compton, RI

Chris Metzger, Estes Park, CO Frank and Nancy Reilly, Phillipsburg, NJ Ken and Diane Staroscik, Firestone, CO

Daniel & Suzanne Michaud, Tina Reilly, Erie, CO: Shirley Starr, Minneapolis, MN Ralph and Carolyne Bowles, Tucson, AZ
Patricia J. Boynton, Estes Park, CO
Berthoud, CO In honor of John Stauffer, Topeka, KS Anonymous
Kathy and Mike Bri , Westerville, OH Paul and Carolyn Blaze, Tigard, OR:
Colleen Miller, Livermore, CO Glenn and Melva Harrington Bridget Stauring and Michael Garmon, Gretchen Collingwood, Richardson, TX In honor of Francis and Dorothy Jones

Guy Miller, High Rolls Mtn. Park, NM Phillip and Margaret Reinaas, Divide, CO

Mary & Charles Miller, Landenberg, PA San Antonio, TX Doug Stearn, Golden, CO Jane V. Colrud, Sun City West, AZ Community Founda on of Northern

Julie and Garry Mitchell, Katy, TX Robert M. Renwick, Phoenix, AZ Gene & Martha Stehman, Ft. Collins, CO Elizabeth Cu er, Colorado Springs, CO Colorado/Tom and Jennifer Shoemaker

Fred Moore, Boulder, CO Sandra Richelmy, Denver, CO Mary W. and Dick Daley, Phoenix, AZ Family Fund, Fort Collins, CO
Nancy and Connor Morris, Leawood, KS Rick’s Electric Service, Loveland, CO John & Marian Stencel, Estes Park, CO
Erik Stensland, Estes Park, CO James & Karen Daugherty, Estes Park, CO Concordia on the Lake, Li leton, CO
Teresa & O s Morrow, Arkansas City, KS Mike Riegel, Highlands Ranch, CO: Raymond and Laura Fink, Frisco, TX
Richard Stewart, Longmont, CO Daytripping, Santa Rosa, CA
Sue and Lester Morss, Columbia, MD In memory of Jane Y. Riegel Brownie Gass, Omaha, NE
Daniel O. Stock, Tabernash, CO Pendleton Woolen Mills, Portland, OR
Tara Morton, Fort Collins, CO Bob and Sandy Righter, Denver, CO: Laura C. Grantham, Estes Park, CO Rocky Mountain Na onal Park rangers
Jane Sto s, Blue Ash, OH
Richard Moseley, Boulder, CO: In memory of James Shaner Marilyn & Donald Grisham, Mission, KS Damon Strharsky, San Francisco, CA:
James and Linda Riles, Saint Louis, MO Robert & Maryann Strain, Evanston, IL
In honor of Laura Skinkle Wilbur & Geraldine Stutheit, Mary J. Havlicek, Omaha, NE In honor of Lore a and Harry

Richard Moseley, Boulder, CO: William and Norma Riley, Omaha, NE Fort Collins, CO Emerson & Elizabeth Hazle , Strharsky’s 70th birthdays

In honor of the holidays Dee Ritz, Highlands Ranch, CO Cynthia Sundberg, Santa Rosa, CA Lawrence, KS
Headley Financial Group, LaVista, NE Toledo Jewish Community Founda on/
Bre & Candice Muratori, J. P. and Marjorie J. Roberts, Ann Su on and Moe Sherman, Larry and Diane Friedman, Sylvania, OH

Broomfield, CO Jersey Village, TX Westminster, CO D.J. Hulsing, Estes Park, CO

Karl Muriby, Johnstown, CO Janet and David Robertson, Boulder, CO Nelson Murphy Insurance & Investment,
Chris and Elizabeth Rollinson, Erie, CO Nancy and Ned Sworts, Arvada, CO Omaha, NE
Joyce Meyer, Redmond, WA: Karen Szews, Greenfield, WI: S R
Truman & Beverly Nicholas, Topeka, KS F
In memory of Kim West Larry and Twila Rosenow, Grinnell, IA Stanton Peterson, Niceville, FL
Bruce and Joy Myrick, Sterling City, TX Judy Ross & James Carr, Estes Park, CO In memory of Ed and Jean Szews F. J. Phillips, Cheyenne, WY
John and Pat Taylor, Silverthorne, CO
Naktenis Family Founda on, Nian c, CT Donna Rosser, Estes Park, CO
Karen TenHuisen, Mountain Lakes, NJ
Dr. Ray R. Nassimbene, Denver, CO Ann Roy, Plymouth, WI John and Kenney Pickens, Dallas, TX
The Boeing Company Gi David and Janet Robertson, Boulder, CO Renate Edmundson, Estes Park, CO
Margaret J. Na on, Waterford, ME Josef Ruhl, Arvada, CO Roger Roffman, Sea le, WA:
Match Program, Princeton, NJ Douglas M. Rood, Fort Wayne, IN In honor of Kevin Sturmer
Candace Nelson, Fort Collins, CO Joseph & Barbara Rumburg, Rio Rico, AZ Roberta Saalfeld, Columbus, NE
Herbert and Sharon Thompson,
Enos Nelson, Indianapolis, IN Henry & Laurine Russell,
Decatur, IL
Ruth Nelson, Simsbury, CT: Lees Summit, MO: Pam & Douglas Schnetzler,
Nathan Thomson, Parker, CO Vero Beach, FL FR V
In memory of William H. Nelson In memory of
Gregory and Heather Thorwald,
Network For Good/Lendell Cummins, Laurence and Catherine Werges Westminster, CO Anna Schonlau, Estes Park, CO C E F
Washington, DC Joan Russell and Charles R. McElwain, Ellen Schroeder, Estes Park, CO
John and Tate Todd, Greeley, CO
Network For Good/Chadwick Griffin, Boulder, CO Leonard R. and Be y Todd, Lenexa, KS Don Seedle, Estes Park, CO Dr. and Mrs. John G. Chris ano,
Washington, DC: Dragos & Veronica Sabau & John & Carole Tomaras, Bloomingdale, IL Molly Stephens, Fort Lauderdale, FL Jupiter, FL:
Corina Nailescu, Indianapolis, IN Jerry & Tom Tomlinson, Hughesville, MD David and Marcia Tavel, Estes Park, CO
In memory of Gary Griffin Rebecca Saccardi, Broomfield, CO Robert and Karen Umscheid, Olathe, KS In honor of Marilyn Hubbard
Network For Good/Timothy Metcalf, Glenn and Donna Sacke , Travelers Community Connec ons Dr. and Mrs. John G. Chris ano,
Matching Gi s Program, Andover, MA M. D. Vaughn, Lawrence, KS
Washington, DC Highlands Ranch, CO William White, Estes Park, CO Jupiter, FL:
Network For Good/Deborah Nagy, Kay J. Saltus, Denver, CO Barbara Tro olz, Estes Park, CO Rachel & Tom Williams, Estes Park, CO In memory of John P. Chris ano
Gary Sammonds, Loveland, CO Daniel W. Trujillo, Hugo, CO
Washington, DC: Lars Sande, Windsor, CO Chris an & Be y Trummel, Mary Wilson, Grand Rapids, MI
In memory of Mr. Larry Casson Don Sanders, Dallas, TX Crystal Lake, IL
Michael Saunders, Niwot, CO Nancy Tuck, Morris, OK: All in Memory of Harry Smith:
Be y Neale, Estes Park, CO Dan and Tami Scace, Estes Park, CO In memory of Be y Wheeler Carl Jordan, Falls Church, VA
Patsy Nevill, Estes Park, CO Carl and Pam Schaal, Longmont, CO Kathleen Mcginnity, Lambertville, NJ
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Newendorp, Deborah Scharp, Valparaiso, IN Arthur Turpin & Shirley Neely-Turpin,
Neil and Judie Schmachtenberger, Estes Park, CO All in Memory of Jim De erline:
Estes Park, CO Kathleen Drees, Greensboro, NC
Elizabeth & Donald Niemi, Gowen, MI Gerry and Beth Vander Meer,
Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik, Nicholasville, KY The Paula Edwards Family,
Andover, MN Estes Park, CO
Mary & Rolf Ni mann, Fort Collins, CO Walpole, NH Robert Venohr, Aurora, CO
Sandra Schmoker, Ann Arbor, MI Ricardo Vilchis, Aurora, CO Terry and Sandra Olschlager, Mead, CO
Duayne Nyckel, Glendale Heights, IL Ron & Linda Schneider, Estes Park, CO Mark and Jodi Voyles, Luther, OK: Chris ne Thompson, Bechtelsville, PA
Sally O’Brien, Monument, CO Elizabeth Schoeberlein, Boulder, CO
Robert & Susan Schubert, San Jose, CA In honor of PARK PUZZLER SOLUTION
Deborah Ogden, Fort Collins, CO Jeannine Seagren, Wheat Ridge, CO their first wedding anniversary
James and Mary O’Hara, Denver, CO John and Vicki Seeck, Be endorf, IA
Garland and Marlys Seibert, Ankeny, IA Richard O. Walker, Butler, PA
Karen Oliveto, Centennial, CO Mark & Kathryn Semerad, Estes Park, CO Brian Wallace, Westminster, CO
Sylvia and Dan Ostos, Kerrville, TX Roger Shaw, West Lafaye e, IN Weldon and Eva Wamble, Houston, TX
Ross and Nancy Ward, Huntsville, AL
Brian Padfield, Boulder, CO Janice Shirey, Louisville, CO
Jus n Papierz, Boulder, CO Susan Shivas, Glen Ellyn, IL Renee and Mike Warren,
Steven Parewski, Franklin, WI Dana Shonbeck and James Orshaw, Bloomington, IL
Peggy Parro , Strafford, MO
Jus n Parsons, Denver, CO Somerville, MA: Prudence Waters, Newfane, NY
Jacqueline Pa erson, Fredericksburg, TX In honor of Sco & Michelle Shonbeck Barbara Weber, Denver, CO
Jennifer Pearce, Lakewood, CO Michelle & Sco Shonbeck, Bellaire, TX Tom Wedell, An och, IL
Judith Pearson, Fort Collins, CO Ralph and Theresa Shroba, Boulder, CO
David & Teresa Pendell, East Kingston, NH Cara and Eric Welch, Brighton, CO
Jim and Betsy Petersen, Metairie, LA Herman Sievering, Boulder, CO Suzanne Westgaard, Boulder, CO:
Franz and Carol Peterson, Oviedo, FL Robert & Jo Anne Slizeski, Estes Park, CO In memory of Sophia and Misty
Karen Peterson, Saint Paul, MN Carol Ann & Randolph Smith, Spring, TX G. G. and Dorothy Wheeler, Tucson, AZ
Chris Petrizzo, Broomfield, CO Dorinda Whitse , Cincinna , OH
Dennis & Candice Phillips, Merriam, KS Jean and Gad Smith, Kansas City, MO Pamela & Roger Whi ed, Springport, IN
Diane Phillips, Grayslake, IL Lara Smith, Denver, CO:
Gregory Phillips, Arvada, CO Larry Williams, Loveland, CO
Shirley J. Pine, Li le Rock, AR In memory of Archie & Carolyn Spencer Nancy Williams, Sea le, WA
Rebecca Plumer, Colorado Springs, CO Ma hew Smith, Colorado Springs, CO Becky Williamson, Longmont, CO
Rodger K. Poage, Montrose, CO Ruth M. Woodward, Loveland, CO
Victor and Ann Pollak, Boulder, CO Robert & Deana Smith, Joyce & Richard Woolley, Ft. Collins, CO
Ethel M. Pope, Boulder, CO Oklahoma City, OK Stephanie A. Wuenstel, Pi sburgh, PA

Sue Yancik, Boulder, CO:

Charles Money, execu ve director Nonprofit
Nancy Wilson, Quarterly editor Organiza on
P.O. Box 3100 US Postage
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-0108 PAID
Permit #184
Estes Park, CO

Keeping a low profile

Photo: Conservancy Member Jim Ward

Nature Notes

Winter is finally shi ing into high gear here in Rocky with estremely high winds — During the rut in late September, in Horseshoe Park across from Sheep Lakes, this belea-
we’re talking up toward 90 mph winds! Eek! Weak sunlight seeping through the
clouds turns the air into ny flying crystals and pine needles shine silvery bright in guered buck came walking down with his harem, trailing the tail of this heavy extension
the sparse a ernoon light.....On Black Friday at Black Lake (10,620 feet), Conser-
vancy member Marlene Borneman reported lots of great deals — in fact — FREE! cord about 30-feet behind him. The bull separated from the herd and started rubbing
Including but not limited to: deep blue skies, glorious warm sunshine, splendid
views, refreshingly crisp breezes, bri le sounds of ice cracking, echos of a wood- his antlers on the willows — either to try to get the cord off, or just exhibi ng normal elk
pecker hard at work... and the best deal of all — the sound of silence.....While hiking
up Glacier Gorge on the slopes down from Shelf and Solitude lakes, Marlene was behavior for this me of year. He somehow succeeded in ge ng the cord off just when a
delighted to catch her first sigh ng of the uncommonly seen American three-toed
woodpecker, formerly called the Northern three-toed woodpecker. This one was nearby ranger was ge ng ready to call for assistance. Photo: Putney Nature Images
a male with its dis nc ve bright yellow cap. It was vigorously pecking on a large
dead tree, but paused just long enough for her to get a quick snapshot.....Marlene’s ter weasel story to tell: RMNP Woodcra er Cory Johnson was up at McGregor Falls in late
next surprise in late autumn was while hiking in the Indian Peaks with Conservancy November replacing a ro en signpost. He had just set his pack down when he caught some
member Cindy Sission. Right below Blue Lake was a large accumula on of snow movement out of the corner of his eye. Sure enough, it was a weasel in its white winter
with nine ptarmigans going crazy, diving and rolling around in the snow. Were they coat and the li le black p on the tail. In the blink of any eye, it ran across the trail and then
making snow angles, Cindy asked? Unlikely! The suspicion is that this group of across the stream and disappeared among the dead trees on the far side.....Fire managers
ptarmigans were preparing to molt. Perhaps the recent snowstorm triggered them from Rocky plan to take advantage of any upcoming wet or winter weather condi ons to
into ac on.....Conservancy member and nature photographer Gene Putney was burn piles of slash generated from several fuels reduc on projects and hazard tree remov-
thrilled to witness a white-coated long-tailed weasel along the Bear Lake corridor als. The fuels reduc on projects are designed to reduce significant accumula ons of forest
in mid-November. The creature was pure white (see cover picture) and Gene was fuels that can generate extreme or problema c fire behavior adjacent to urban interface.
beside himself with delight, having sought to photograph this elusive creature in its Slash from these projects has been cut by park fire crews and contractors during the last
winter colora on for more than 21 years. He could follow its progress as it tunneled two years and are now dry enough to burn. Pile burning opera ons will only begin when
under the surface by watching the upward push of snow beneath the surface as it condi ons allow and may begin as early as January and con nue through April as condi ons
progressed. “Pop Goes the Weasel” came to mind the way the sleek creature tun- permit. The piles are located in a variety of loca ons on the east side of the park, including
neled and ... popped! Tunneled and... POPPED! When it did appear, it was visible west of Deer Mountain, around Eagle Cliff Mountain, along upper Fall River Road, near the
for less than a second. Then it would pop up somewhere else. It was hard to track Mill Creek Ranger Sta on off of Bear Lake Road, and west of Beaver Meadows Entrance.....
it was moving so fast. The shu er speed on the cover picture of this publica on In late December, Conservancy staff was alerted to a kerfuffle in the woods near the office
was 1/8000 of a second, so, very fast.....Park Naturalist Kathy Brazelton and re red by a horde of crows and ravens gathering with a racket of calls in a tree nearby. More than
RMNP Wildlife Biologist Gary Miller also were lucky enough to observe a long-tailed 50 of them flew into the tree and the sound was deafening for a good 6 minutes. It’s likely
weasel (Mustela frenata) in its white winter pelage in late November, but at a lower that the birds were mobbing an owl that one of them had found, which is not uncommon.
eleva on. Without the snowy context, the sinewy creature was startlingly white Apparently, crows and ravens will harass owls because owls eat them, so a good way to lo-
against the brown background vegeta on as it searched for voles.....Yet another win- cate owls is to listen for the racket crows make when they find an owl, or a bobcat, or some
other predator.....When mid-winter looks bleak, set your sights on your next trip to Rocky —
Entrance Passes Now Available for Purchase Online it’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel!

Visitors can now purchase 1- or 7-day entrance passes online for Rocky using pay.
gov. It’s easy! Go to www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm and begin the
payment proecess. Your email confirma on is your pass and you can either print
this confirma on to show at the entrance sta on or you can simply show the
email confirma on on your mobile device (you may need to take a screen shot of
the email since there is spo y cell coverage throughout the park). Signs will be
coming in the near future for visitor centers. Check it out!

www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm

RMConservancy.org