Staying Safe While Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

By Barb Boyer Buck

Rocky Mountain National Park is a wonderland of high-country wilderness.  Millions of people from all over the world travel here to experience the beautiful scenery and hike trails every year.  Summer is the most pleasant in RMNP with burgeoning wildflowers, a plethora of varied wildlife, and stunning weather – but it’s very important to keep in mind safety concerns and take the proper precautions. ​

On July 12, a 55-year-old man from Estes Park sustained numerous, serious injuries when he took a 75-foot tumbling fall below the summit of McHenry Peak, reported Kyle Patterson, Public Information Officer for RMNP.  The incident happened on the west face of the mountain at an elevation of 12,900 feet, as the man was hiking from the summit of McHenry to Stone Mountain Pass.

Rescue McHenry Peak, Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

McHenry Incident, July 13, 2020, Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

Patterson reported that due to his location and injuries, a helicopter from the Colorado National Guard performed the extrication of the man, assisting the Park’s search and rescue operations. The helicopter was dispatched from Buckley Air Force Base and extricated him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable.  Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted with the operation which occurred at approximately 10 am Monday.

Tumbling or free-falling from rocks can happen nearly everywhere in Rocky, to anyone regardless of their experience, and impacts from such events nearly never have a soft landing.  Rock climbing requires ​

experience, skill, and the proper equipment.  Bouldering (climbing without ropes) is properly done only with crash pads & spotters.  The best advice would be to keep from scrambling on the rocks at all if you don’t have consistent experience doing so, especially for young children. ​​​

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Wildlife Safety
Few things are more exciting than seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat, especially if they have offspring with them.  But even though Rocky’s wildlife has become habituated to the presence of humans, serious altercations can – and do! – occur when the proper precautions are not taken. ​

According to the NPS, Rocky has experienced an increase in black bears and mountain lions over the past several years.  Grizzly bears do no occupy this national park, and while attacks by black bears and mountain lions are very rare, they happen. To help protect yourself from these animals:

• Food storage lockers are available at some campgrounds and should be used.  
• Avoid storing food, even in coolers, in your vehicle.  If it is necessary to store food in your vehicle, it is recommended to store food in air-tight containers and store coolers in the trunk or otherwise out of sight. 
• Park Rangers are authorized to issue citations for unattended food. 
• All garbage is required to be packed out and littering in the national park is a federal crime. 
• Try to avoid hiking alone and do not let small children run ahead or lag behind while in the wilderness. 
• Never try to retrieve anything from a bear and report all bear and mountain lion sightings to a Park ranger. 
• Never turn your back or flee from a mountain lion or bear; instead, back away slowly and keep an eye on the animal at all times. If attacked, fight back. 

Elk and moose, being the largest ungulates in the area, can be very dangerous as well, especially during certain times of the year.  In the spring and summer both animals are raising young and females will be fiercely protective if approached.  Starting late fall, both animals enter mating season and males can be very dangerous and aggressive.  Keep your distance from these animals and photograph from a safe distance. ​​

Never feed wildlife, not even small creatures such as birds marmots, squirrels, pikas, and chipmunks.  These creatures may carry disease and feeding wildlife makes it more vulnerable to accidents and disease.  Feeding the wildlife in Rocky is a federal crime. ​

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Preparing for changing conditions. If you’ve ever visited Rocky Mountain National Park in any season of the year, you have probably experienced a sudden thunder-storm that clears up within minutes, or have been pelted with hail only to be unbearable hot shortly after, when full sun emerges again. 

Weather is extremely changeable and unpredictable in the Rocky Mountains.  

Lightening strikes happen every year in Rocky, in every location.  There are many areas in the park that allow hiking above or at treeline which increases the chances of being struck.  Watch for storm clouds forming and plan for reaching shelter if the weather suddenly shifts.  ​

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Wear layers, including a hat, to protect against the sun even if it is cloudy.  Sunscreen is essential as you are about two miles closer to the sun than if you were at sea level.  Sunburns can happen even if it’s overcast.  

Wear the proper footwear and plan for changing trail conditions.  A dry, dusty trail can suddenly shift to a snow-packed one and regular hiking boots may not be adequate.  Bring boot spikes or snowshoes (in the winter) along with you on your hikes. ​

Protect your knees & back with hiking poles, especially if you have existing conditions.  Hiking poles are lightweight and may increase your stamina as well as help you down the steep spots.  Many trails in Rocky are elevation gains and it can be difficult for some people to make ascents or descents on these inclines due to injury, disease, or aging. ​

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Stay away from snow patches on inclines as these can give way to avalanches, any time of the year. Check with a ranger about the level of avalanche danger. 

Rocks and trees are not always stationary!  Things that can cause a tree to fall unexpectedly include damage to the tree itself through fire or flood, disease, and high winds. Rocks can be dislodged by human and wildlife activity. Rockslides are possible in these situations. ​

Streams, lakes, and waterfalls are beautiful and look very inviting.  However, rushing streams can be very dangerous, rivers and lakes can be deeper than they look and waterfalls can contain debris. Streamside rocks are often slippery, so special care needs to be taken with children, especially young ones.  Untreated water in Rocky Mountain National Park is not safe to drink. ​​

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Every year, altitude sickness affects people who don’t usually live at elevation - and some  who do, especially if they have certain health conditions. Symptoms include headache, severe thirst, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting and even losing consciousness.  The only cure for altitude sickness is to descend to a lower elevation.  Prevention measures include drinking lots of water, eating, and resting. ​

Electrolytes also help replenish what high elevation depletes from your body.  People with existing health conditions such as heart and lung disease should be very careful as they ascend in elevation.  ​

​Hypothermia is a very real danger in almost every season in Rocky.  Symptoms are sleepiness, impaired judgment, slurred speech and shivering. ​​

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Lack of data reception  You can't count on your phone to communicate dependably, or internet service while in RMNP.  Be sure someone outside the Park knows where you are and when you expect to return.  

Protect from getting lost while hiking Rocky by downloading our free app, which utilizes GPS to power its trail maps, available here: GPSMyHike.com

A "perfect" day in RMNP can turn into a serious situation quickly, so be sure to follow these basic safety precautions while visiting this beautiful national treasure. ​

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