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By Estee Rivera Murdock, Executive Director at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Not all heroes wear capes, as they say—some wear neon yellow jackets with arrowhead patches. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) hosts more than four million visitors a year, and with that high level of visitation, typically has the third highest number of major search and rescue (SAR) events in the National Park Service (NPS) each year. The Rocky Mountain Conservancy is proud to support the law enforcement and other rangers and staff on Rocky’s SAR teams. In 2021, the Conservancy purchased a new custom-outfitted AWD SAR van for the park’s east side, and this year purchased a SAR utility vehicle for the park’s west side. The Conservancy also funds some of the extensive recurring training necessary to safely evacuate patients from impossible places as well as to replenish supplies and equipment. To take care of the people who put themselves at risk looking after the rest of us, the Conservancy underwrites the cost of first responder-focused mental health services that are available 24/7. “Behind every RMNP SAR or emergency response you might read about or follow on the scanner are a lot of people,” says Jay Shields, Rocky’s Chief Ranger for Law Enforcement and Emergency Services. “We put our park rangers and staff in extraordinary circumstances that involve intense physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. With professionalism and compassion, Rocky’s SAR teams and first responders rise to challenges most people can only imagine.” It's easy to oversimplify who gets in trouble in the backcountry. It’s not just visitors unfamiliar with “know before you go” principles. Trouble can find anyone. Just ask former two-time Olympian and Mayor of Estes Park Wendy Koenig who required a SAR evacuation for a leg injury. Loose rocks and tree roots on a trail don’t care if you’re a first-time hiker or a world class mountaineer. In July 2022, an experienced hiker from the Midwest suffered a severe injury in a remote area of the park. Rocky’s SAR team responded, and, working with a flight medic and a Colorado Army National Guard helicopter crew, airlifted the patient off the mountain for transfer by Northern Colorado Med Evac air ambulance to advanced medical care. The hiker was in a coma for more than a month and continues his journey of rehabilitation—but he survived. This summer, the hiker’s family wrote a heartfelt thank you letter to the SAR team and donated to the Conservancy’s Search & Rescue Fund. They wrote, “How can we ever repay you and the rest of the wonderful folks who played a part in this story? Take heart in knowing that you made a difference in many people’s lives because of what you and others did that day.” Behind the scenes, people might be surprised at how few professionals are responsible for working these major incidents, especially when a relatively straightforward patient carry-out might take up to 30 people. “Our bench of rescue personnel is limited,” Shields continues. “SAR qualification requires extensive training and a huge level of commitment. SAR team members are drawn from all divisions in the park, but the majority are our climbing staff as well as our law enforcement rangers. Our professional law enforcement staff also are trained as SAR, Fire, and Emergency Medical Service professionals; no other group in our agency is tasked with this level of emergency service to our public.” My family and I spend a lot of time exploring Rocky’s backcountry, and knowing the park has a SAR capability with such passionate and capable members gives me a lot of peace of mind. If so inclined, consider donating to our SAR fund at www.RMConservancy.org/SAR or to any professional or volunteer SAR organizations in your local community. Even more importantly, the next time you encounter a law enforcement ranger or other SAR team member, shower them with gratitude and appreciation for their sacrifices. We owe them more than we can say.
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Rocky Mountain National Park Announces Winter Pile Burning Operations on Both Sides of Park11/1/2023 November 1, 2023 Fire managers from Rocky Mountain National Park plan to take advantage of any upcoming wet or winter weather conditions to burn piles of slash generated from several fuels reduction projects and hazard tree removals. Slash from these projects has been cut and piled by park fire crews and contractors over the last two years and are now dry enough to burn. Burning could start in early November and continue through April as weather permits. Pile burning operations will only begin when conditions allow. The piles are in a variety of locations including areas near the boundary of the park with Allenspark, near Lily Lake, west of Deer Mountain, near Moraine Park Campground, in the Willow Park area off Old Fall River Road and on the west side of the park along US Highway 34/Trail Ridge Road near the Green Mountain and Coyote Valley Trailheads. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects aided considerably in stopping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road. Years of hazardous fuels reduction projects and bark beetle tree removal on the west side were instrumental in the successful burnout operations around the town of Grand Lake and helped minimize structure loss in the main park housing area. The fuels reduction projects are designed to reduce significant accumulations of forest fuels that can generate extreme or problematic fire behavior adjacent to wildland urban interface. By reducing the potential fire behavior, the wildland fire risk to firefighters and the public is significantly reduced. However, these projects are not designed as a stand-alone defense against wildfires, nor are they guaranteed to hold a wildfire in the worst of conditions. Please do your part and complete wildfire mitigation on your property. To learn more about wildfire mitigation around your home visit www.firewise.org Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality and other environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health. For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health. For questions about this project or information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit www.nps.gov/romo  October 30, 2023
Rocky Mountain National Park is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the park’s long-range day use visitor access plan. This plan is needed to provide day use visitor access in a way that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences. The park experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation from 2012 to 2019. In 2021, the park received 4.4 million visits. Even with a timed entry system in place the park received some of the highest visitation in its history. The park's top five visitation years are as follows: 2019, 4.67 million; 2018, 4.59 million; 2016, 4.51 million; 2017, 4.437 million; 2021, 4.434 million. Rapid growth in day use visitation and changing use patterns in the park have degraded natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of the visitor experience, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and created a heavy strain on the park’s facilities and ability to perform daily operations. The goal of the plan is to identify strategies that will help protect park resources, offer varied opportunities for high quality visitor experiences, and enhance visitor and staff safety. Between 2016 and 2023, the park piloted several day-use visitor management strategies to address crowding, congestion, and impacts on park resources. The park also asked the public for their participation in envisioning the future of day use visitor access at Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer of 2021 and the winter of 2022-2023. Based on public feedback and information gathered during the pilots, the preferred alternative described in the EA would establish two timed entry reservation systems, one for the Bear Lake Road Corridor and one for the rest of the park, similar to the 2021, 2022, and 2023 pilots. Park staff are eager to continue engaging with stakeholders and park visitors about the purpose and need for action; the environmental issues and impacts being addressed, and the proposed alternatives. We hope to hear from members of the public who have visited the park, local businesses, and the surrounding community. Park staff invite members of the public to submit their comments via the park’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_DUVAS beginning October 30, 2023, through December 14, 2023. The park will host public open houses on Tuesday, November 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grand Lake Center in Grand Lake, Colorado and Monday, November 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Estes Valley Community Center in Estes Park, Colorado. These open houses will provide an opportunity to drop in, meet with National Park Service (NPS) staff, and learn more about the EA and the proposed alternatives. The park is also hosting a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, November 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to provide opportunities for the public to learn more about the EA, ask questions of NPS staff, and learn how to provide formal written comments through the PEPC website. To participate in the virtual meeting, please register at the following link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the Teams Webinar. We recommended joining the webinar via computer to have full use of the webinar tools that Teams provides. Registration URL: https://forms.office.com/g/cn47htFcjD Unable to attend the virtual meeting? A recording of the meeting will be posted on the park planning link below. The park will provide live captioning of the meetings. Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. Public comments are invited beginning October 30 through December 14, 2023. Comments can be submitted online beginning October 30, by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_DUVAS click on ‘Open for Comment’ on the left side of page to submit a comment. Comments may also be sent to the following mailing address: Superintendent Rocky Mountain National Park 1000 US Highway 36 Estes Park, CO 80517 Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. If you would like more information about the park’s long-range planning efforts please visit go.nps.gov/romo/duvas. If you would like more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. The park will announce operational plans for summer 2024 in the coming weeks. RMNP Update - August 13, 2023  Air Rescue Operation on August 12, 2023 - Photo Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park On Saturday afternoon, August 12, a 21-year-old female from Severance, Colorado died after an approximate 300-foot fall. A 25-year-old male from San Angelo, Texas also fell approximately 300 feet and suffered critical injuries. The two individuals fell while descending in the Flying Dutchman couloir. This couloir is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park between Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. Park visitors in the area contacted park rangers via cell phone in addition to activating a personal locator beacon. Bystanders provided initial care to the seriously injured male. Park rangers, a park paramedic and an Estes Park Health paramedic provided advanced medical care on scene. Because of the severity of the 25-year-old male's injuries, park rangers asked for assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via hoist operation, using a winch operated cable. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group assisted with helicopter hoist operations. This occurred last night. The man was transferred to a Flight for Life air ambulance at Upper Beaver Meadows and flown to Medical Center of the Rockies. Overall, 31 people were involved in this rescue operation including Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members assisted by Estes Park Health, Rocky Mountain Rescue and Colorado Air National Guard. As is standard protocol, this incident is under investigation. Recovery operations for the female were hampered by weather today and will take place on Monday, weather and resources permitting. Her body will be transferred to the Boulder County Coroner's Office. The woman's name will be released after positive identification has been made and next of kin are notified. Late Friday afternoon, August 11, a 64-year-old male from College Station, Texas took an approximate 60-foot tumbling fall above the Ledges on the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak. A bystander provided critical care to him until park rangers arrived on scene. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members provided advanced medical care. Because of the location and severity of the man's injuries park rangers asked for assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate him via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group assisted with helicopter hoist operations. The man was transferred to a Flight for Life air ambulance at Upper Beaver Meadows and flown to Medical Center of the Rockies. RMNP Search and Rescue Team members hiked out and reached the Longs Peak Trailhead at midnight on Friday night.  View Looking up from Chasm Lake on August 12, 2023 - Photo Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park  Dr. Beatrice “Bettie” Willard, RMNP alpine research pioneer (Chase Davies, NPS Photo) The Rocky Mountain Conservancy invites women and those who identify as female to explore a new series of Field Institute courses at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) called “Bettie Courses.” These educational opportunities are designed to encourage women to experience the outdoors while learning about the natural environment, conservation efforts, and building confidence in outdoor skills.
Bettie Courses honor the legacy of Dr. Beatrice “Bettie” Willard, a ground-breaking scientist in the field of alpine ecology and botany. Willard spent 40 years in RMNP researching plant life and impacts of visitor use on RMNP’s delicate tundra. Willard authored “Land Above the Trees: A Guide to American Alpine Tundra,” influenced public policy, and was also instrumental in securing protective designation for the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument located west of Colorado Springs. Her research plots located at Forest Canyon and Rock Cut along Trail Ridge Road are included on the National Register of Historic Places because of the influence of her work. “Dr. Bettie Willard overcame numerous institutional barriers in her life and career to become a noted expert on the alpine environment and pioneer outdoor education,” said Carlie Bangs, education director for the Conservancy. “She was the first instructor in the Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s Field Institute—and thus the first in the National Park System--in 1962. She was as passionate about sharing her knowledge with the public and policy makers as she was in protecting the environment, especially the alpine tundra.” In her name, new courses focus on building outdoor skills and knowledge to connect women to the environment and to foster a conservation ethic in a welcoming and encouraging setting. For example, on multiday fishing courses, participants learn about stream ecology, fish and macroinvertebrate identification, and riparian habitat creating a holistic understanding of the waterways. A local guiding company, Rambling Ruby Rose, provides expert instruction in casting and fishing techniques. Registration for courses is available at www.RMConservancy.org/learn-with-us/ and selecting the button for upcoming Bettie Courses. Late summer and fall courses include: August 19-20, “Up and Over” Bear Lake to Grand Lake August 26, Black Lake Guided Hike Sept. 5-6, Stream Ecology and Fly Fishing Sept. 9-11, Summiting Longs Peak Oct. 7-8, Intermediate Climbing Fees are nominal, but scholarships are available by contacting the Field Institute directly. These scholarships are funded through the Magnificent Mountain Women Scholarship Fund in honor of Janet Robertson, author of the classic book “The Magnificent Mountain Women, Adventures in the Colorado Rockies” who herself is an expert on many of the trail-blazing women whose stories are intertwined with RMNP and a dear friend of Dr. Bettie Willard. In addition to honoring the life of Bettie Willard, the Conservancy will also host learning opportunities this fall to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lady Isabella Bird’s notable visit to the Estes Valley. Visit Estes Park sponsors historical tours that will be offered throughout October and November. Dr. Ruth Alexander will give a history of women in Rocky Mountain National Park on October 21 at the Estes Valley Community Center. Tickets for Dr. Alexander’s presentation and more information on Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute and educational programs are available at www.RMConservancy.org. The Rocky Mountain Conservancy promotes stewardship of Rocky Mountain National Park and similar lands through education and philanthropy. Since 1931, the Conservancy has raised more than $35 million to enhance and protect the park’s trails, lands, youth education, historic structures, and more. RMNP Update - July 19, 2023 On the afternoon of Monday, July 17, a 51-year-old male from Carencro, Louisiana was found unresponsive a little over one mile from the Mount Ida Trailhead by park visitors hiking in the area. They notified park rangers via a personal locator beacon and began CPR on the individual. Park rangers responded to the scene and continued CPR and initiated advanced medical care. The man was later pronounced deceased.
As is standard protocol the incident is under investigation. Park staff conducted recovery efforts via a litter carryout to the Mount Ida Trailhead. The man’s body was transferred to the Grand County Coroner’s Office who will determine the cause of death. The man’s name will be released by the coroner’s office after next of kin are notified. The park was assisted by Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County EMS, Grand Lake Fire and Classic Air Medical, stationed in Steamboat Springs. Update from Grand County Cororner, July 20, 2023: The 51-year-old male who was found unresponsive on the Mount Ida Trailhead on July 17, 2023 has been identified as Mr. Robert Landry, from Carencro, Louisiana. Autopsy findings show that his death is consistent with an acute coronary event, as well as high altitude pulmonary edema. The manner is natural. Tawnya Bailey Grand County Coroner  Longs Peak rescue operation on July 12, 2023/ photo courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park On the evening of Tuesday, July 11, 2023, park rangers received a report of two climbers stranded and unable to complete their climb on Longs Peak. Neither party was injured. Rangers remained in contact with both climbers overnight and Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue team members set out at first light on Wednesday, July 12. The two climbers set out on the morning of July 11 from Chasm Lake and began to ascend the Casual Route on the East Face of Longs Peak, also known as the Diamond. The climbers were unprepared for conditions on Longs Peak and did not have the equipment necessary to self-rescue or to spend an unplanned night in cold temperatures. Members of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Search and Rescue Team were involved in this rescue operation. NPS staff assisted the two climbers out of steep technical terrain. After climbing to the summit, the two climbers and the NPS rescue team came down together via the North Face of Longs Peak and hiked out, returning to the Longs Peak Trailhead on Wednesday evening. At 14,259 feet, Longs Peak is the highest elevation peak inside Rocky Mountain National Park and towers over all other summits. Climbing Longs Peak is a serious objective with serious outcomes. For most of the year, Longs Peak is in winter conditions, which requires winter mountaineering experience and knowledge of equipment. Disregard for the mountain environment any time of year has inherent danger. All climbers should have knowledge of climbing routes, the necessary equipment and knowledge to self-rescue, and necessary gear in the event of an unexpected overnight stay on the mountain.  Photo depicts the top of the Diamond and the North Face of Longs Peak on July 12, 2023 /photo courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park RMNP UPDATE - July 10, 2023 On Sunday, July 9, 2023, a 26-year-old female from Boulder, Colorado died after an approximate 500-foot-fall while free-solo climbing on the Four Aces of Blitzen Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. Blitzen Ridge is located on Ypsilon Mountain on the east side of the park.
A 27-year-old-male climbing partner, also from Boulder, notified park rangers, via cell phone, of her fall. Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members were able to reach him last night. Because of his location, the park requested assistance from a Colorado Air National Guard helicopter from Buckley Air Force Base to extricate the male climbing partner via a hoist operation, using a winch operated cable. He was uninjured. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group assisted with the helicopter hoist operations. Early this morning, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members hiked to the area above Ypsilon Lake to prepare for a helicopter long-line recovery. The victim’s body was flown by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak to a helispot in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park. Her body was then transferred to the Larimer County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office who will determine the cause of death. The woman’s name will be released after next of kin are notified. In addition to the Colorado Air National Guard, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, and the Northern Colorado Helitak, the park was assisted yesterday by a Flight for Life Air Ambulance for initial air reconnaissance. Update from Larimer County, July 14, 2023 On July 9th, 2023, the Larimer County Coroner's Office was informed of a death in Rocky Mountain National Park at the Blitzen Ridge after reports of a fall. The decedent was identified as Bailee MULHOLLAND, age 26, of Boulder, CO. A forensic autopsy was performed at the Larimer County Forensic Sciences Center by Dr. Joe White, DO with the following results: Manner of death: Accident Cause of Death: Multiple Blunt Force Injuries RMNP UPDATE - July 9, 2023 Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is temporarily closed between Deer Ridge Junction and Rainbow Curve due to a 3-vehicle accident at Many Parks Curve on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. No serious injuries are reported.
This section of road is estimated to reopen at 2 pm. For updates, please check the Trail Ridge Road recorded status line at (970) 586-1222. No further information is available at this time. RMNP UPDATE - (corrected, July 8, 2023) On July 2, 2023, the Larimer County Coroner’s Office was notified about a death of a 24-year-old male, Luis Monteiro of Las Vegas, Nevada, at the West Creek Falls Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to the location of the incident, recovery efforts were made on 07/03/2023. The decedent was recovered and flown to Upper Beaver Meadows where he was taken into the care of the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.
An autopsy was performed on July 4, 2023, at the Larimer County Forensic Sciences Center by Dr. J. White, DO. Manner of Death: Accident Cause of Death: Drowning |
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