What must we do in Colorado?
The mountains are calling and we must go. Last summer, our trip to Yosemite and Oregon was beautifully interrupted by the birth of our first grandson. We're definitely leaving Florida and heading West...
Forum Discussion
In normal times, I would recommend checking out the northern Colorado area, places like Red Feather Lakes, Poudre Canyon (CO 14) from Fort Collins to North Park/Walden area, then exploring the North Park area for it's isolated beauty. But these are not normal times.
Why? H E R E Colorado Fires is a map that shows the 2 biggest fires ever in Colorado, that finally came to an end last year with continuous snowfall. The Cameron Peak Fire burned a lot of territory in the area between Red Feather and the Poudre Canyon, particularly from Rustic up to Cameron Pass, as well as a lot of area south of the Poudre Canyon. Miraculously, only 1 campground (Jack's Gulch) was damaged by the fire.
The East Troublesome Fire initially was a huge fire in the Grand Lake/Granby area, but it JUMPED the Continental Divide and destroyed a lot of area in RMNP east of the Divide and west of Estes Park. The maps show that it was dangerously close to Estes Park and areas in Rocky, around Moraine Park and the Fern Lake/Cub Lake trails area was impacted. There could have been some damage to the D loop of the Moraine Park CG.
With the now on-going spring snowmelt, we will have a clearer picture of what these areas look like, particularly in the Poudre Canyon. I'd like to be optimistic about the recovery for both of these fire areas, recognising that it will take a long time for recovery. Now, mudslides and flooding become an issue.
Avoidance of these areas for any camping would probably be warranted, for safety reasons, at least for now. The areas impacted by the fires are some some of my favourites, for the beauty and solitude and the "real" Colorado experience. Huge forests just waiting to be hiked and explored. BUT...safety considerations must prevail. At least until we have a clearer picture of the extent of devastation.
Why? H E R E Colorado Fires is a map that shows the 2 biggest fires ever in Colorado, that finally came to an end last year with continuous snowfall. The Cameron Peak Fire burned a lot of territory in the area between Red Feather and the Poudre Canyon, particularly from Rustic up to Cameron Pass, as well as a lot of area south of the Poudre Canyon. Miraculously, only 1 campground (Jack's Gulch) was damaged by the fire.
The East Troublesome Fire initially was a huge fire in the Grand Lake/Granby area, but it JUMPED the Continental Divide and destroyed a lot of area in RMNP east of the Divide and west of Estes Park. The maps show that it was dangerously close to Estes Park and areas in Rocky, around Moraine Park and the Fern Lake/Cub Lake trails area was impacted. There could have been some damage to the D loop of the Moraine Park CG.
With the now on-going spring snowmelt, we will have a clearer picture of what these areas look like, particularly in the Poudre Canyon. I'd like to be optimistic about the recovery for both of these fire areas, recognising that it will take a long time for recovery. Now, mudslides and flooding become an issue.
Avoidance of these areas for any camping would probably be warranted, for safety reasons, at least for now. The areas impacted by the fires are some some of my favourites, for the beauty and solitude and the "real" Colorado experience. Huge forests just waiting to be hiked and explored. BUT...safety considerations must prevail. At least until we have a clearer picture of the extent of devastation.
