Rocky Mountain Forests

		[BACK]
Medicine Bow	North Park	Colorado Headwaters

Our first night in the Rockies will be near Fox Park in southern Wyoming. The following morning we continue on through lower and drier North Park, after which we shall cross the Continental Divide at Willow Creek Pass. From Granby CO we backtrack up to the source of the Colorado River before entering Rocky Mountain National Park.

Medicine Bow National Forest

Be ready for cool nights and potentially rapid changes of weather for the rest of the trip. Do not camp in low-lying streambeds; a thunderstorm upstream could prompt flash floods even if we get no precipitation.

OBJECTIVES [BACK]
- HYDROLOGY: Note the importance of streams on recreation use patterns.
- CULTURAL: Observe the many effects of recreation on the landscape.

Special Recommendations: We are now in true mountains, after a week of acclimating to altitude. Still, the lower air pressure can affect human bodies, so report to me if you experience any dehydration, headaches, drowsiness, or other odd symptoms. Further, mountain weather can change very suddenly, so be ready for anything. The three big [dis]comfort factors in the mountains are altitude, sunlight, and wind. Finally, forget whatever you heard about "sparkling mountain spring water"; DO NOT put any untreated water into your mouth!

See also the Medicine Bow National Forest and Evans Creek Campground web sites.
Evans Creek map
32.2N/104.4W elev. = 1336 m

North Park

The mountain ranges of Colorado surround several large down-dropped blocks that local people refer to as "parks", presumably because the hotter and drier climate resulting from lower elevation causes much more open vegetation. We will pass through North Park.

OBJECTIVES [BACK]
- HYDROLOGY: Note the importance of stream drainage on land use patterns.
- CULTURAL: Observe the many human transformations of the landscape.
See also the North Park web site.
32.2N/104.4W elev. = 1336 m

Colorado River Headwaters

This road tour will take us to the source of the Colorado River, which used to empty into the Gulf of California (due to irrigation, it no longer reaches the sea).

OBJECTIVES [BACK]
- HYDROLOGY: Note the importance of stream drainage on land use patterns.
- CULTURAL: Observe the many human transformations of the landscape.

32.2N/104.4W elev. = 1336 m

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For unfamiliar geophysical terms, see the Geology Glossary and the Meteorology Glossary. There is also an extensive Ecology Glossary.

N C Heywood [email] maintains this page, last updated 16MAR08. We monitor our cell phone from 6 to 8 PM CDT each day when in range. That number is (715) 459-8181.