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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 25 June 2010 15:09 |
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Yesterday aerial observation indicated there was a small fire burning one mile south of Mount Dickinson in Rocky Mountain National Park. The location is roughly seven miles from the nearest road and is located in heavy timber in a remote area. It is roughly six miles west of Glen Haven in the West Creek drainage in the North Fork area of the park. The fire yesterday was reported as 3 to 5 acres and has increased to 10 to 12 acres.
Yesterday, five airplane loads of retardant were dropped on the fire. At approximately 4:30 p.m. eight smokejumpers deployed in to the area. The retardant loads helped knock down the fire but it is not yet contained. A
ground crew from Rocky Mountain National Park reached the vicinity of the fire last night. This morning 20 crew members from the Roosevelt Hotshots with the United States Forest Service began hiking to the area. They
arrived on scene this afternoon. A medium size helicopter has been ordered and is scheduled to arrive this afternoon dedicated to support firefighting efforts. Another large helicopter for water drops as well as two additional air tankers have been requested.
All designated trails in Rocky Mountain National Park are open. However, due to aircraft and firefighters working in the West Creek and Fox Creek drainages; off-trail travel is not allowed in the area south of the North Fork of the Big Thompson River, west of the North Boundary Trail, north of Cow Creek and east of Mummy Mountain and Mount Dunraven. This closure area is a remote section of the park and has very low visitation.
The cause of the fire is still undetermined.
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Written by Aaron
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Thursday, 24 June 2010 19:45 |
Air observation indicates there is a three to five acre fire burning one mile south of Mount Dickinson in Rocky Mountain National Park. The location is roughly seven miles from the nearest road and is located in heavy timber in a remote area. It is roughly six miles west of Glen Haven in the West Creek drainage in the North Fork area of the park. No one is on scene of the fire.
Four air tankers have been requested from Jefferson County Airport and six to eight smokejumpers based out of Grand Junction are en route. Smokejumpers will only be used if there is a safe and suitable area for them to jump in to the vicinity. Smoke was reported around 1:00 p.m. today.
Resources initially included Rocky Mountain National Park staff as well as Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department and Glen Haven Volunteer Fire Department while the location of the smoke was being determined. Currently the resources include three interagency engines and approximately 20
personnel. However, no ground crews will be accessing the area today because of the aerial resources requested.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. |
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Written by Aaron
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Monday, 14 June 2010 09:16 |
On the evening of Saturday, June 12, a 20 year old female reported to park rangers that she had been attacked near the Glacier Creek Trail in Rocky
Mountain National Park. She was trail running in the area and while taking a break, she stated that she was attacked from behind by a white male. The
assailant was reported to be wearing a black windbreaker, had a fit build and was between 5’4” and 5’9,” no other description is available at this time. She was able to fight the attacker off and ran down the trail to call for help. Rocky Mountain National Park dispatch was notified by phone by the victim of the attack.
A park ranger took the female to Estes Park Medical Center where she was treated for a minor injury and released. The investigation is ongoing. Saturday night rangers performed containment around the area and increased patrols in nearby Glacier Basin Campground. The location of the attack is
roughly one half mile from the Glacier Basin Campground. Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office were notified.
Park rangers continue to gather information and have increased patrols in the area. If anyone was in the vicinity of the attack Saturday night or has
information pertaining to this incident, they are encouraged to call Rocky Mountain National Park at (970) 586-1204. |
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Written by Aaron
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Friday, 28 May 2010 10:01 |
 Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened this morning, May 28. Park rangers anticipate that the road will likely be closed overnight through the weekend, due to melting and freezing temperatures at night causing thick layers of ice. Due to heavy snowpack the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store, as well as restrooms affiliated with those facilities, will not open until late next week. The Mayors of Grand Lake and Estes Park will cut a ceremonial ribbon this morning to celebrate the opening of the road that connects their two communities.
Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 21. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 12,183 feet and connecting the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 21; however, it never reopened after October 9.
National Park Service plow operators begin clearing the snow in April. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is the highest in the National Park Service, sitting at 11,796 feet above sea level. Spring storms often impact plowing activities and this spring’s heavy storms certainly challenged snowplow operators. Plow operators can encounter drifts from 18 to 22 feet.
Because weather conditions may change rapidly, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at (970) 586-1222. Park staff will update the recorded line during and after regular office hours, when the road status changes.
During this summer and possibly the summer of 2011, a major resurfacing project is taking place on a 19 mile section of Trail Ridge Road from the Colorado River Trailhead to Rainbow Curve. This project will also involve resurfacing of all major overlook parking areas, pull offs and the parking lot at Alpine Visitor Center. The $17.2 million project is funded by the Federal Lands Highway Program.
Park visitors can expect 20 to 30 minute delays through the construction area on Trail Ridge Road. There may be multiple areas of construction occurring concurrently, and in that case the combined delay time will not exceed 60 minutes. There may be some temporary night closures as well, which will likely occur sometime after mid-July. Work will not take place on weekends or holidays. Cyclists and motorcyclists should expect extremely rough road conditions throughout the summer.
For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park please contact the park information office at (970) 586-1206 or check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/romo |
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Written by Aaron
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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 19:56 |
 At approximately 12:45 p.m. today, May 26, a 27-year-old female from Golden, Colorado was involved in a single rollover motor vehicle accident in Rocky Mountain National Park. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its wheels in Glacier Creek along Bear Lake Road one half mile above Hollowell Park. The woman sustained severe injuries and was airlifted by Northern Colorado Med Evac to Medical Center of the Rockies at 2:10 p.m. The woman was not wearing a seatbelt. Due to the accident Bear Lake Road was closed for over an hour and reopened at 3:00 p.m.
Park rangers greatly value the critical assistance from Estes Park Volunteer Fire Department and Estes Park Dive Rescue to extricate the victim from the vehicle. Estes Park Medical Center Ambulance staff also
provided valuable assistance. Colorado State Patrol is assisting park rangers with the accident investigation. At this time, the cause of the accident is unknown. The woman’s name will not be released until family members are notified.
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