A flurry of search-and-rescue operations at Rocky Mountain Park over the past week confirms that hikers and campers must be fully prepared to deal with just about any condition offered at the park, say park officials.
Rangers had to guide a 29-year-old man and 27-year-old woman from Lake Haiyaha in the Bear Lake area after they had become disoriented Tuesday night, said park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson. The couple called park staff on their cell phone about 8 p.m and said they were unsure how to get back to the Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Trailheads.
Rangers tried to use lights in the Glacier Gorge parking area about 9 p.m. to try and assist the lost pair with general directions. An hour later, the couple said they could see the lights but were too far in the distance to determine what direction they should go, Patterson said.
Rangers told the couple to stay where they were, suggested techniques to stay warm throughout the night, and indicated they would head up the trail at 6 a.m. Wednesday to find them.
Rangers reached the couple at about 7:12 Wednesday morning.
Also on Tuesday night, an 18-year-old female had to be evacuated by horse from the Ouzel Falls in the Wild Basin area of the park after she had injured her ankle.
On Monday night, a 56-year-old man called a family member by cell phone and said he was disoriented at the base of Flattop Mountain in the Bear Lake area, Patterson said. Rangers were able to reach the man and told him to continue moving east.
But his cell phone battery ran out. On Tuesday morning, at 9 a.m., rangers were notified by cell phone by other park rangers that they were with the man along the Flattop Trail.
Patterson said many visitors are not expecting deep snow trail conditions on higher elevation trails in the park. Because of the snow on trails, good route-finding skills are important and just following tracks in the snow may lead a hiker to go off route and become disoriented, she said.
Also many visitors are not prepared for an overnight stay at the park. Visitors should come prepared with water, high-energy food, layers of insulating, windproof clothing, sturdy footwear and extra socks, storm gear for rain and snow, hats and glovers, sunglasses, sunscreen, first aid kit, topographic map, flashlight or headlamp, waterproof matches, pocket knife and whistle.
Cell phones are helpful but often unreliable, she said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
