Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Monday, January 21, 2019
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
CAIC Completes Investigation of Avalanche School Skier Killed in Slide on Red Mountain Pass
News Link
“The group failed to plan and execute their descent in a way that minimized their exposure to a potential avalanche and that allowed the members to communicate."
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Monday, January 14, 2019
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Frisco Park Offers Backcountry Skiers Chance to Practice Beacon Finding Skills
News Link
A good idea - Forest Service rep comments that many people have the equipment but don't know how to operate it properly.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
Avalanche School Student Dies in Avalanche During Training Exercise on Red Mountain Pass
News Link
Investigation underway. What in the world were they doing there during High Danger Avalanche Warning?
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Firefighters Rescue Dog That Chased Ducks on Icy Lake in Westminster
News Link
Pretty wimpy compared to the Golden Retriever in Lakewood. Didn't even go through the ice.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Friday, January 4, 2019
Where to See Bald Eagles During Their Annual Visit to Colorado
News Link
Generally, you can see bald and golden eagles during the winter along the Front Range in cottonwoods near lakes or reservoirs.
Generally, you can see bald and golden eagles during the winter along the Front Range in cottonwoods near lakes or reservoirs.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Car Plunges 130 Feet Off Red Mountain Pass, 1 Seriously Injured
News Link
Not wearing a seat belt. Anyone that has driven that extremely narrow and exposed section of the Million Dollar Highway has experienced that sense of vertigo when you glance over the edge.
1 to 2 Feet of Snow Dumps on San Juans to Start New Year
News Link
34" at Wolf Creek Pass, snowpack now at 68% of average gaining on severe drought conditions.
34" at Wolf Creek Pass, snowpack now at 68% of average gaining on severe drought conditions.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Colorado Natural Hazards in 2018 Dominated by Drought, Wildfires and Smoke
2018 was similar to last year with drought and wildfires more intense than 2017 and less intense but comparable to the previous record holders of 2002 and 2012-13. Drought conditions kicked off the new year in January with record low snowpack in the mountains at only 21% of the median value for January 1 resulting in record low snowmelt streamflow in the Colorado River at Grand Junction. High winds and dry conditions fueled the start of wildfire season early in March with 10 small wildfires reported across the lower elevations of Colorado during March. High winds continued throughout April, knocking down trees, powerlines and semi trucks.
It was wilder and wetter in May with an outbreak of damaging tornadoes and hailstorms. More than 10,000 insurance claims were filed after hail up to 3" demolished cars and roofs in Colorado Springs and Fountain. By the end of May record heat intensified drought conditions to a point that allowed 3 major wildfires to start near Durango, Fairplay and Fort Garland that eventually burned over 175,000 acres and were not extinguished until November. The Spring Wildfire was started by a Danish man who cooked some meat in an outdoor, unlined fire pit at his cabin near the town of La Veta. This man is in big trouble - in the US illegally, started an open fire during a fire ban, and has been charged with 141 counts (for each home destroyed) of arson. The 108,000 acre Spring Wildfire was the 3rd largest in Colorado, nearly eclipsing the West Fork Wildfire's 110,000 acres in 2013 and the 138,000 acre Hayman Wildfire in 2002 also started by an arsonist.
As the summer of 2018 progressed, more than 2,000 wildfires started in Colorado - most were less than 100 acres and quickly contained. 10 wildfires eventually grew to over 10,000 acres in size - List
430,000 acres burned and 450 homes were lost in 2018, less than half the 926,000 acres burned in 2002. With fires came weeks of heavy, unhealthy smoke from Colorado and the Pacific Northwest best summarized in a post on August 20. Colorado officials discovered that half of Coloradoans live in areas at risk of wildfires.
Life went on as usual for bad bears as they broke into cars throughout Colorado in search of donuts and anything edible. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the clumsy critters didn't completely destroy the interior of the cars during their frantic search. Subarus continue to be the most popular target with particularly ambitious bears in Steamboat Springs breaking into 5 vehicles.
The rabies epidemic in wildlife that started in 2017 continued through 2018 as a recent headline highlights: "El Paso County Has 6X the Average Number of Wildlife Rabies Cases This Year". 21 people in Greeley were vaccinated after exposure to a rabid racoon. West Nile cases didn't get started until late August but ramped up to 94 cases of West Nile reported for Colorado in 2018 with 2 deaths.
Climbing incidents declined from 2017's record number. Longs Peak took the lead in 2018 from Capitol Peak in 2017 as the most frequent site of climbing falls. An Air Force cadet last seen on the Longs Peak trail has not been found after extensive search and rescue efforts in October. Skiing and avalanche incidents also declined from 2017. 7 skiers and 1 snowmobiler were killed in 2018 after hitting trees. 5 skiers and 1 snowmobiler were killed in backcountry avalanches and an additional 3 skiers were injured.
Happy New Year to all the outdoor enthusiasts that visit or live in Colorado. Over time, ongoing educational efforts by Colorado officials and blogs like this one are helping people avoid serious harm from random acts of nature.
It was wilder and wetter in May with an outbreak of damaging tornadoes and hailstorms. More than 10,000 insurance claims were filed after hail up to 3" demolished cars and roofs in Colorado Springs and Fountain. By the end of May record heat intensified drought conditions to a point that allowed 3 major wildfires to start near Durango, Fairplay and Fort Garland that eventually burned over 175,000 acres and were not extinguished until November. The Spring Wildfire was started by a Danish man who cooked some meat in an outdoor, unlined fire pit at his cabin near the town of La Veta. This man is in big trouble - in the US illegally, started an open fire during a fire ban, and has been charged with 141 counts (for each home destroyed) of arson. The 108,000 acre Spring Wildfire was the 3rd largest in Colorado, nearly eclipsing the West Fork Wildfire's 110,000 acres in 2013 and the 138,000 acre Hayman Wildfire in 2002 also started by an arsonist.
As the summer of 2018 progressed, more than 2,000 wildfires started in Colorado - most were less than 100 acres and quickly contained. 10 wildfires eventually grew to over 10,000 acres in size - List
430,000 acres burned and 450 homes were lost in 2018, less than half the 926,000 acres burned in 2002. With fires came weeks of heavy, unhealthy smoke from Colorado and the Pacific Northwest best summarized in a post on August 20. Colorado officials discovered that half of Coloradoans live in areas at risk of wildfires.
Life went on as usual for bad bears as they broke into cars throughout Colorado in search of donuts and anything edible. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the clumsy critters didn't completely destroy the interior of the cars during their frantic search. Subarus continue to be the most popular target with particularly ambitious bears in Steamboat Springs breaking into 5 vehicles.
The rabies epidemic in wildlife that started in 2017 continued through 2018 as a recent headline highlights: "El Paso County Has 6X the Average Number of Wildlife Rabies Cases This Year". 21 people in Greeley were vaccinated after exposure to a rabid racoon. West Nile cases didn't get started until late August but ramped up to 94 cases of West Nile reported for Colorado in 2018 with 2 deaths.
Climbing incidents declined from 2017's record number. Longs Peak took the lead in 2018 from Capitol Peak in 2017 as the most frequent site of climbing falls. An Air Force cadet last seen on the Longs Peak trail has not been found after extensive search and rescue efforts in October. Skiing and avalanche incidents also declined from 2017. 7 skiers and 1 snowmobiler were killed in 2018 after hitting trees. 5 skiers and 1 snowmobiler were killed in backcountry avalanches and an additional 3 skiers were injured.
Happy New Year to all the outdoor enthusiasts that visit or live in Colorado. Over time, ongoing educational efforts by Colorado officials and blogs like this one are helping people avoid serious harm from random acts of nature.
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