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DLESE 2003 MEETING:
Field Trip
Tuesday, August 5 - Optional Field Trip
Rocky Mountain National Park Tour
10:45 AM - 9:30 PM
Cost: $65.00 (Includes boxed lunch, transportation, dinner.) We are limited to 52 attendees.
The group will travel to RMNP via tour buses and will be offered a driving tour of the park and a hike.
Schedule
10:45- Depart from Williams Village.
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Travel to RMNP.
Noon - 1:00 PM: Arrive at Rocky Mountain National Park and have lunch at the Moraine Park museum amphitheater.
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: The members of the group will decide if they would like to hike to The Pool
(this trail follows the Big Thompson River for 3.4 miles - round trip - elevation gain 245 feet) or relax at the Moraine Park Museum
. (Interactive exhibits on the past and present landscape, a bookstore, restrooms, and an elevator between first and second floors are all available.) Since there will be construction during the time of our visit a shuttle will take those that want to do The Pool
hike to the Fern Lake trailhead - and back.
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM: We will then continue on for a driving tour of the park led by a RMNP naturalist. This tour is expected to last for almost 2 hours. We will travel a portion of the famous Trail Ridge Road, which spans 48 miles from Estes Park on the east to Grand Lake on the west. We will stop at the Alpine Visitor Center (11,796 feet above sea level)
. Along the way we are sure to see wildlife, including elk and mountain goats.
5:45 PM: En route to dinner.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at the Stanley Hotel.
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM: Return to Boulder.
Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
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Weather:
Expect temperatures from hot (95° F) to cold (40° F) and everything in between. Afternoon thunderstorms are a definite possibility.
What to bring: Please be sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, walking/hiking boots, rain jacket, water, day pack, snacks, sunglasses, and to use them. It is important to layer your clothing. The average temperature at 12,000 feet is 65-70° F.
Warnings
Hiking at RMNP: Keep in mind that park elevations range from 7,500 to over 12,000 feet. Even very fit individuals coming from lower elevations may experience altitude problems. Symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat. To minimize symptoms drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, don't skip meals, and get plenty of rest. Although you may not feel thirsty, the "thinner" air at high elevations actually results in increased water evaporation from your lungs. Again, drinking extra water may prevent a bad headache or other altitude symptoms. Ultraviolet light is stronger in the mountains because there is less atmosphere for the sunlight to pass through. Wear sunscreen, a hat, sun glasses, and consider covering up with a long sleeved shirt if you are out in the sun for extended periods.
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