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Fatality On Broadway Ledge On Longs Peak

7/30/2020

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RMNP press release, 7/30/2020
Thursday, July 30, park rangers received an emergency call from a group of climbers on Broadway Ledge, near Fields Chimney, on the east face of Longs Peak, who witnessed an unroped climber in another climbing group fall while traversing Broadway.   

Park rangers responded and reached the 26-year-old male from Golden, Colorado, at the base of the Chimney.  The man died from injuries sustained in an approximate 600 to 800 foot fall.    

The victim’s body was flown by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak to a helispot in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park at 3:45 p.m.  His body was then transferred to the Boulder County Coroner.  The man’s name will be released after next of kin are notified.    

​For more 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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Gunshot Injury Near Emerald Lake,  July 19  Rocky Mountain National Park

7/28/2020

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RMNP press release, 7/28/2020
On Sunday afternoon, July 19, park rangers responded to a report of a 70-year-old male, from Missouri, with a gunshot wound at Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Bystanders assisted the man with initial first aid.  Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members responded and provided advanced medical care.  The man was carried out via a wheeled litter to the Bear Lake Trailhead where he was taken by Estes Health Ambulance to a meadow in the Glacier Basin Campground where he was flown by Lifeguard Two Air Ambulance to Medical Center of the Rockies.
Rescue at Emerald lake
Rescue at Emerald Lake
Park rangers investigated the incident.  The man was hiking in the area with a handgun in his backpack.  When he set the backpack on the rock, the gun discharged firing a round.  The round struck the man in his leg.  The round did not exit the man’s body. There were numerous visitors in the Emerald Lake area when this incident occurred.   

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearm laws before entering the park. Open carry of handguns and rifles, and transport of the same in vehicles, is permitted. Concealed carry is allowed pursuant to a legal Colorado concealed carry permit and applicable state reciprocity laws. Federal law prohibits firearms in certain facilities (visitor centers, ranger stations, government offices); places that are marked with signs at all public entrances. Recreational target shooting or discharge of a firearm is not allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park. Firearms should not be considered a wildlife protection strategy. Bear spray and other safety precautions are the proven methods for preventing bear and other wildlife interactions. 

The investigation is ongoing, no further information is available at this time. 

​For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
​
gunshot incident-lifeguard 2 and park staff courtesy RMNP
gunshot incident-lifeguard 2 and park staff courtesy RMNP

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Alluvial Fan hiking area closed to visitor use July 27- Sept. 21, 2020

7/21/2020

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RMNP press release, 7/21/2020
Beginning on July 27 through September 24, the Alluvial Fan area in Rocky Mountain National Park will be closed for major trail work. This closure will be in effect on weekends as well.  Due to materials and equipment staging, there will very limited parking available on the west side and the east side parking area will be closed.  In September, the west side parking area will have additional closures tied to an exclosure fence project.

 The Alluvial Fan Trail project includes stringent accessibility standards.  Heavy equipment will be used to complete significant grading and rock wall work.  Once this is complete, a new tread surface will be placed.  A large park trail crew, comprising of up to 20 members at a time, will be constructing this trail.

 The Alluvial Fan was created as a result of the Lawn Lake Dam break and major flood in 1982. In 1985, an asphalt trail and pedestrian bridge was built in the Alluvial Fan because it had become a popular visitor attraction.  A major flood event in 2013 destroyed the bridge and trail.

The project is being funded by $200,000 in federal funds as part of the Centennial Challenge program and is being matched by $200,000 from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC), the park’s nonprofit partner.  Approximately $125,000 of recreational fee funds are also being used to assist in funding this project. 

​For more 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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Incident On McHenry Peak In Rocky Mountain National Park

7/13/2020

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Rocky Mountain National Park Press Release, July 13, 2020
Rescue
courtesy rocky mountain national park
Last night, Sunday, July 12, park rangers were notified that a 55-year-old man from Estes Park, Colorado, had taken a 75-foot tumbling fall below the summit of McHenry Peak on the west face at an elevation of 12,900 feet. He was traveling from the summit to Stone Man Pass when he fell.  He received numerous serious injuries.  Park rangers reached him early this morning and provided advanced medical care.
Due to his location and injuries, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members requested assistance from a Colorado National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable.  This occurred at approximately 10 a.m.  Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted with the helicopter hoist operations.  The man was flown to Upper Beaver Meadows, transferred to a Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance and then flown to St. Anthony Hospital.  ​
Rescue

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Fall River Road to open July 3/timed-entry explained

7/2/2020

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Rocky Mountain National Park press release, 7/2/2020
​Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Last year, in July alone, the park received almost 1 million visitors.  To increase park access while providing the public a reasonable opportunity to comply with health guidelines, the park temporarily implemented a timed entry system effective on June 4.

Permits issued using the reservation system allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability between 6 a.m. through 5 p.m.  Entrance passes and reservations are required for all areas of the park, including outlying areas when arriving by a vehicle; no matter whether a visitor parks within the park or outside the park boundary. This includes but is not exclusive to Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet and North Inlet.  

 Timed entry permit reservations are full July 3 and July 4, with limited availability on July 5. Reservations to enter the park are available through www.recreation.gov.  On July 1, reservations became available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July. On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days that have not been booked for August. On September 1, reservations will be available for the month of October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.  

Frequently asked questions on the timed entry permit system can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm

Old Fall River Road and the Endovalley Road and Picnic Area will open Friday afternoon, July 3, to vehicles. Old Fall River Road normally opens by fourth of July weekend.

Park rangers will continue to assist park visitors outside of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Alpine Visitor Center and the Wilderness Office.  Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Stores have reopened inside the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Fall River Visitor Center and the Alpine Visitor Center. 
 
 When recreating, park visitors should follow local area health orders, maintain social distance and avoid high-risk outdoor activities. Please do not visit if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19. Park staff will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.  
 
Keep your distance. Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail or in a parking lot. If staying at least six feet from others is not possible, wear a cloth face covering as recommended by the CDC. Cloth face coverings should be worn while in park visitor centers, park restrooms and on shuttle buses.  
 
Keep it with you. If you brought it, take it with you. Trash pickup and restroom facilities will continue to be limited in many park areas. Follow Leave No Trace principles.  
 
Know your limits. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest search and rescue parks in the country. Many of these incidents could be avoided with visitors planning and making responsible decisions. Winter-like conditions exist in high elevation areas of the park. For example, Bear Lake currently has 14 inches of snow. It is critical to make wise choices to keep our national park rangers and first responders out of harm’s way.  
 
Protect wildlife. Obey speed limits and be aware of wildlife. During the closure, due to lack of vehicular traffic, park rangers have observed more wildlife congregating adjacent to or on internal park roads. 
  
Additional Background:
 
Old Fall River Road was built between 1913 and 1920.  It is an unpaved road which travels from Endovalley Picnic Area to above treeline at Fall River Pass, following the steep slope of Mount Chapin’s south face.  Due to the winding, narrow nature of the road, the scenic 9.4-mile route leading to Trail Ridge Road is one-way only.  Vehicles over 25 feet and vehicles pulling trailers are prohibited on the road. 
 
Old Fall River Road is scheduled to close to vehicles for the season on October 5, 2020.
 
For more 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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  • Home
  • Hike Rocky Magazine
    • Hike Rocky magazine
    • RMNP Updates
    • Trail Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Science & Ecology
    • History & Current Issues
    • Stories & Adventure
    • Culture and Arts in the Park
    • The Continental Divide Story, 1977 by Kip Rusk
  • Trail Guide to RMNP
    • Trails by Location >
      • Wild Basin & Longs Peak Area
      • Bear Lake Corridor
      • Northern Park
      • West Side
    • Trails by Distance >
      • Short
      • Moderate
      • Longer
      • Challenge
    • Trails by Destination >
      • Lakes
      • Waterfalls
      • Peaks >
        • Peaks By Elevation
      • Loop Hikes
    • Index of Trails
  • Wildflowers of RMNP
    • By Color
    • April/May Flowers
    • June/July Flowers
    • August/September Flowers
    • Wildflower Guide Curators
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Supporting Partners
    • Media Kit
    • 2025 Hike Rocky Print Edition
    • 2024 Hike Rocky Print Magazine