The San Luis Valley Outdoor Report for the week of Aug.5, 2024. The SLV Outdoor Report follows the recording of the Outdoor Citizen podcast.
On the latest episode of the Outdoor Citizen podcast we talked with our friend Mike Henderson. He might say he’s not very competitive, but he’s been competing on mountain bikes and gravel bikes for a long time now. Not just in small races, but in grueling and beautiful 150- and 200-mile races.
Sometimes they’re in the rolling hills of Kansas or way up above treeline in the Rockies. Mike’s been riding bikes his whole life, and in this episode he tells us about his first bike, and his new bike, and all the trails he finds himself on in the San Luis Valley.
Tune in here, or wherever you get your podcasts. We hope you enjoy.
OUTDOOR CONDITIONS
The month of August has become the hottest month in the San Luis Valley. Since 2020 there have been 16 new daily record high temperatures established in August, including new high temps for Aug. 1, Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 of this year. In other words, 90 degrees is now normal in August.
Hurricane Debby made landfall as a Category 1 in Florida on Monday, but quickly lowered to a strong tropical storm. As it moves its way north to Georgia and South Carolina, it is expected to drop potentially historic rainfall, creating a high risk of flooding. Debby is the fourth named storm of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season.
This year’s tornado season was one for the history books. In May, 1,100 tornadoes were reported. There was a tornado somewhere in the country every day in May. Multiple states experienced widespread tornado activity – from Texas to Minnesota, and Eastern Colorado to Georgia.
Locally, the Valley, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, is completely drought free. Much of Colorado is also below the line and out of the red.
High Desert Field Notes:
What are YOU noticing? Have any specific birds, plants, or insects caught your eye this season? What changes have you seen in the landscape you live in? Send your field notes or observations to jocelyncatterson@gmail.com or post to social media with #highdesertfieldnotes.
Here is the quarterly journal High Desert Field Notes by Jocelyn Catterson. What you discover feeds into this.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- SLV GO!’s Nature Rx Inclusive community walk and runs are onThursdays at 5:30 p.m. in Alamosa. Meet at the disc golf course and explore the inner & outer oxbow and rio inspire trails.
- Happening Saturday, Aug. 10, at Blanca Vista Park is a Youth Fishing Day sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and instruction begins at 8 a.m. Free fishing rods and tackle, along with lunch, will be provided to all participants.
- The Suds4SAR benefit block party is Saturday, Aug. 17, from 4-10 p.m. This annual celebration directly supports Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue. AVSAR is a non-profit organization so these kinds of events allow them to continue their hard work. There will be plenty of beer, popcorn, and live music from Destination, Fuzzy Nuggets, and Lucky Overton on San Juan and Main Street. A silent auction full of items from local vendors and artists will be ongoing during the event.
- The second community meeting for the Alamosa Riverfront Project is set for Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 6-8 p.m. at the Shooting Stars Cultural Center. This meeting will be focused on reaching the Hispanic community, with full translations available. The Alamosa Riverfront Project is headed by the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, which aims to revitalize Alamosa’s low and slow stretch of river near Cole Park as a place of recreation and connection.
OUTDOOR NEWS
AVSAR
Alamosa Volunteer Search and Rescue has conducted two operations in two weeks near Ellingwood Point in the Blanca Massif. On July 26, AVSAR, with the help of the National Guard, airlifted an injured hiker off the mountain. The hiker was descending the 14,000-foot Ellingwood Point and injured himself. He stayed put and was able to call emergency services. He spent a cold night on the mountain and was hoisted out early Saturday morning. He was taken to the hospital and was released later that day.
This past weekend, AVSAR conducted another rescue of an injured hiker off the same peak. This hiker was injured after descending from Ellingwood’s southwest approach. He was able to alert emergency services with his Garmin InReach’s SOS function. The hiker was unable to move because of a severely broken arm and being pinned by a large boulder in steep terrain. Search crews were able to reach his location from the ground and by helicopter. They were then able to secure him for a National Guard helicopter hoist. He was flown to a front range hospital.
WILDFIRES
Crews have been battling three Front Range and Western Slope fires over the past week, with the Alexander Mountain fire near Longmont consuming nearly 9,668 acres, or 15 square miles, at this point. As of Wednesday morning, the fire is 83 percent contained. At least 26 homes have been destroyed in this fire. The cause of the Alexander Mountain fire is still under investigation. The Forest Service is accepting emailed evidence here.
The Stone Canyon fire, just west of Boulder near Lyons, was reported to be 100 percent contained as of Sunday night. One person was killed and five buildings destroyed. There is no word yet on the cause of this fire, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – the ATF – is assisting with the investigation.
The Quarry fire southwest of Denver was 82 percent contained and burned 578 acres as of Tuesday night. This fire is being investigated as arson.
With the heavy smoke comes poor air quality, which could lead to long-term and short-term health effects. Those with respiratory issues are encouraged to limit their time outside; however, with worsening air quality, everyone is encouraged to limit time outside and exposure to the smoke.
GRAY WOLF UPDATES
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will now have to look for another source for the next round of 15 wolves scheduled to be introduced to Colorado. An agreement was previously set between Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Confederate Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington to aid in the capture and transfer of up to 15 wolves between December 2024 and March 2025. The tribe rescinded its offer, leaving CPW to look for another source.
The offer was pulled off the table after the Colville Tribes had discussions with the Southern Ute tribe, who said state officials did not fully consult with them about the transfer. Tribal leaders have concerns about the impact wolves may have on livestock and deer and elk populations within the Brunot Area hunting grounds, which is reserved for tribal use. Both CPW, the Colville tribes, and the Southern Ute tribes have expressed interest in working together in the future to create a framework that benefits everyone.
BIG CAT HUNTING BAN
Colorado voters will get to decide if big cats can be hunted this November. Initiative 91, backed by a group called Cats Aren’t Trophies, would ultimately ban all hunting of bobcats, lynx, and mountain lions. It would remove mountain lions from the list of big game animals. It is important to note that the lynx is a federally protected animal, meaning it is already illegal to hunt them.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has not taken a stance on the issue, but opponents of the measure have expressed ecological concerns and would like to see the continued state regulation of cat populations and hunts. Those who support the bill would like to see a total decrease in hunting, arguing that even ethical hunts of big cats are trophy hunts. They have highlighted baiting, trapping, and the use of GPS-collared dogs as unethical. If the bill passes, those who hunt mountain lions, bobcats, or lynx could face fines, jail time, and have their Colorado hunting licenses revoked for life.
BIGHORN SHEEP SURVEY
Beginning Monday, Aug. 12, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists will begin helicopter surveys of high-elevation bighorn sheep and mountain goat populations in the Sawatch Range in Chaffee and Lake counties.
The flights will last three to four days, depending on weather. The flights will occur in the Sawatch Range from Mount Ouray to Leadville. Disturbances by the flights typically last a few minutes in any one area.
“The helicopters will only spend a brief amount of time in a specific area to count and categorize individual herds and then move on, searching for more bighorn sheep and mountain goats,” said Julie Stiver, senior wildlife biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region.
“Every year, CPW biologists inventory thousands of big game animals statewide to develop a picture of the productivity and composition of big game in Colorado. The data is critical to our work of forming population models, management strategies and to set future hunting license numbers.”