 Photo of the trail to the Loch by Dave Rusk. RMNP Update - June 20, 2021
Late Friday afternoon, June 18, park rangers were notified that a woman’s body was discovered below the outtake of The Loch in Rocky Mountain National Park. The body was noticed by park visitors in the drainage below the outlet of The Loch. Park rangers attempted to reach the location on Friday night, but lightning storms and darkness hampered those efforts. On Saturday, June 19, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members were again hampered by weather while conducting field operations. Today, Sunday, June 20, thirty-eight RMNP Search and Rescue Team members were involved, twenty-eight of which were in the field. The woman’s body was extricated up 60 feet through steep, rocky, hazardous terrain to the Loch Vale Trail and then wheeled out by litter to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Her body was transferred to the Larimer County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office. She has been positively identified as a 33-year-old female from Arvada, Colorado. The woman’s name will be released after next of kin are notified. As is standard protocol the incident is under investigation.
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 Sundance Mountain snowfield on June 13, 2021. RMNP photo RMNP News Release - June 13, 2021
This morning, Sunday, June 13, park rangers responded to reports of an unconscious skier on Sundance Mountain on a north facing aspect midway between Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. The 68-year-old male from Loveland, Colorado, died from injuries sustained in an approximate 400 to 500-foot uncontrolled slide on a snowfield into rocks. The man was wearing a helmet. The man was skiing alone but bystanders witnessed the fall and tried to render aid and notified Rocky Mountain National Park. The victim’s body was flown by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak to a helispot in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park late this afternoon. His body was then transferred to the Larimer County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office. The man’s name will be released after next of kin are notified.  RMNP News Release, June 4, 2021
Additional climbing closures have been implemented on the Left Book, The Bookmark, and Bookmark Pinnacle in the Lumpy Ridge Area of Rocky Mountain National Park. Peregrine falcons have been observed displaying continuous aggressive territorial behavior toward climbers in the vicinity of an active nesting area. Peregrine falcons can dive at speeds of over 200mph and may cause bodily harm to humans when defending their territory. If disturbance pressure from climbers is sustained near a nesting area, falcons will abandon their nest causing chick mortality. For the safety of both visitors and this federally protected wildlife species these additional climbing closures have been put in place. Closures will be monitored regularly and lifted once breeding activity is no longer observed. Each year to protect raptor nesting sites, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in areas of the park. To ensure that these birds of prey can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife managers. Due to high nesting activity last year closures began earlier this year on February 15, rather than March 1. These closures will continue through July 31, if appropriate. These closures are actively monitored and may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on nesting activity. Closures that have been in place since February 15 include Cathedral Wall in the Loch Vale area. The areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off trail travel. In the Lumpy Ridge area closures include Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, The Book, and Twin Owls, Rock One and now also include Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle. These closures include the named formations. Closures include all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber access trails to the named rock formations. Check the park’s website at www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/area_closures.html for updated information on raptor closures. The National Park Service is committed to preserving birds of prey. If nest sites are located or territorial behaviors such as aggressive divebombing/vocalizing or birds fleeing nest sites due to human disturbance are observed, please report the location to ROMO_Information@nps.gov. The same cliffs that are critical for raptors also appeal to climbers. The cooperation of climbing organizations and individuals continues to be essential to the successful nesting of raptors in the park. For further information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  New map of recently-opened trails and those that still remain closed as of June 3, 2021. RMNP map RMNP UPDATE, June 4, 2021
We wanted to share the latest information regarding trail status in the park pertaining to impacts from last year's historic fires. The best source of information is on the park's website at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm Since this past November, we have posted an updated interactive map as well as an updated pdf map of the areas that are open and closed. * If you have this link bookmarked, you may want to refresh your browser to see the latest updates. Some recent changes that have occurred: East side: The Cub Lake Loop Trail between the Cub Lake Trailhead and the Fern Lake Trailhead is open. However, the Fern Lake Trail, past the Pool, remains closed. The trail junction above Cub Lake to Mount Wuh and Steep Mountain remains closed. West side: The Onahu Trail and the Continental Divide Connector Trail to the inholder road has reopened.  Carry-out of injured patient at Loch Vale on June 1. RMNP photo RMNP News Release - June 4, 2021 On Tuesday, June 1, park rangers responded to two separate incidents where individuals suffered leg injuries from falling on snow. Early Tuesday morning, park rangers received a 911 call of an injured hiker near Loch Vale. The 32-year-old male had suffered a lower leg injury after slipping and falling on snow. A hasty team of park rangers reached the man around 8:30 a.m. and provided emergency medical care. A team of twenty Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members carried the man via a litter. A paramedic from Estes Park Health also assisted in the rescue. The rescuers dealt with unfavorable trail conditions at high elevations due to soft, melting snow. Rescuers arrived at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead around 3:40 p.m. The man was taken by ambulance to Estes Park Health. At 2 p.m. a second request was received from the Loch regarding a 28- year-old female who fell from standing height at Timberline Falls. She was reported to be slowly moving down the trail. During her self-evacuation, park visitors provided care to the patient and assisted her with walking. A two-person park hasty team was dispatched and encountered the patient just below Loch Lake. They provided micro spikes and trekking poles, and further assisted the patient down the trail. They arrived near the Glacier Gorge trailhead at 7:15. The patient self-transported to Estes Park Health. Neither patient was wearing traction devices at the time of their falls. This spring, RMNP’s Search and Rescue Team have responded to numerous incidents with leg injuries in the Loch Vale and Sky Pond area. Deep snow and fluctuating spring temperatures make for tricky trail conditions. Park visitors should expect icy, narrow, and steep trails on the way to Loch Vale. Past Loch Vale visitors still have two more miles left to Sky Pond where the snow gets deeper, the trails get icier, and the terrain is difficult to navigate. Conditions at similar elevations in the park are comparable. Be prepared for winter like conditions at higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park. Planning ahead and bringing traction devices, warm winter clothes, sturdy boots and poles, headlamps, and a knowledge of how to navigate the terrain are crucial.  Second incident at Loch Vale on June 1. RMNP photo  Wild Basin Road, full of potholes and ruts in March of last year. Photo by Barb Boyer Buck RMNP Press Release - June 2, 2021
Beginning Monday, July 19 through Friday, July 23, the Wild Basin Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will be closed to all uses, including vehicles and pedestrians. This closure will occur at the Wild Basin Entrance station and will include the entire two-mile section of the road to the Wild Basin Trailhead. Due to this year’s heavy wet spring snowstorms and increased visitation this spring, the Wild Basin Road has major potholes and residual drainage issues. Visitors should drive slowly, stay on the road and not drive around potholes onto the surrounding vegetation. Rocky Mountain National Park’s road crew will be spreading gravel and grading this narrow road to eliminate ruts and potholes as well as improving drainage. Due to the road being closed to all uses from July 19 through July 23, visitors should avoid this area of Rocky Mountain National Park during this time. For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. |
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