If you are thinking about birding RMNP this summer but are not sure of your reservation status for entering the Park or just not wanting to battle the crowds, think about visiting the Snowy Range in south central Wyoming. The Range is about forty miles north of RMNP or about a three hour drive from Denver.The Snowy Range shares similar geology and habitat with the Park. The base elevation of Centennial, WY is about 8200' as compared to 7500' for Estes Park resulting in corresponding cooler temperature. Based on the hikes Sandy and I have taken, it appears there is more and easier access to the spruce-fir forest and the tundra zone starts about 10,500, considerably lower than at RMNP. In 2018 a California Condor, number 72, visited the tundra in the Snowy Range and who knows what else could show up!
Bob Righter
Denver CO
No comments:
Post a Comment