Leave No Trace

The LNT Principles are a relatively simple set of rules to follow while in the backcountry whether you are on BLM land, National Forest, or even somewhere outside of the United States. If all outdoor enthusiasts would follow these simple guidelines, many of the once-open lands would still be open – instead of our current situation where lands are continually being closed off. At Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals, we take pride in allowing visitors the opportunity to access areas that they would not otherwise be able to access without our equipment. Not everyone is capable of hiking deep into the woods – whether it has to do with physical fitness, age, disabilities or other obstacles. Having the opportunity to jump in a side-by-side RZR with the family and ride to the top of a mountain is more often than not a gift. If everyone, motorized and non-motorized adventurers would simply follow the rules of Leave No Trace, we will all be able to help protect our lands for future use.

Below you will find the 7 basic concepts of LNT Principles – Leave No Trace. We recommend that you take the time to set these to memory and follow the principles the next time you find yourself in the wilderness.

#1. Always be Prepared and Plan Ahead.

• Research and educate yourself on the regulations of the area you plan to visit.
• Be prepared for all conditions including: weather, hazards and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip around times of high use – try to avoid over population of one area.
• Travel in small groups.
• Repackage food and supplies to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass. Avoid having to use marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
• Always let others know where and when you plan to be visiting a location.

#2. Travel and Camp on Designated and Durable Surfaces.

• Designated and Durable surfaces include marked trails, campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow. UTV, ATV’s, Dirt Bikes – You must STAY on trails. NEVER drive off of the marked trail/path.
• Always camp at least 200 feet from lakes, rivers and streams.
• Concentrate on using existing trails and campsites – avoid places where new impacts are beginning.
• Always walk single file in the middle of the trail – no matter the conditions.
• Keep campsites small.

#3. Dispose of Waste – Properly.

• Pack it in, pack it out. Thoroughly inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash and other items including spilled foods. Pack out all of your trash, leftover food and litter. This is the most common of all broken rules.
• Deposit solid human waste in foxholes. Your foxhole should be 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, campsites and trails. Cover the foxhole when finished.
• Always pack out toilet paper and all hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from rivers, streams and lakes. Use biodegradable soap in small amounts.

#4. Leave it Alone.

• Preserve the past: look and inspect, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Don’t pick the flowers. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects alone.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures or dig trenches.

#5. Minimize Campfire Impacts.

• When and where fires are permitted, use already established fire rings.
• Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash and put out campfires completely. Do not leave a campfire that is still smoldering.
• Use a small camp stove for cooking to avoid added need for a fire.

#6. Respect Wildlife- Leave the wildlife alone.

• Do not follow approach the wildlife and only view the wildlife from a distance.
• Do not feed the wildlife. 
• Control your own pets at all times.
• Avoid wildlife during times of mating, nesting, and other sensitive times.

#7. Be considerate of others.

• Be courteous. Yield to uphill traffic on the trail.
• When encountering horses and other pack stock, step to the downhill side of the trail.
• Camp away from trails and other trekkers.
• Speak softly to avoid creating loud noises.

Years ago I was delivering some product to a client in Vail Village. It was two days before the opening weekend which for Vail Mountain is always around Thanksgiving. The ski patrol had already posted the runs that would be available for opening day. Per usual, it was just the front side of the mountain that was set to open. Meanwhile, a few feet next to me there was a young man in his early teens standing next to his younger brother. While looking at the large trail map that was mounted on the wall, the younger of the two was pointing out all of the runs he was hoping to ski. In a fit of rage, the older brother threw his arms in the air, tossed out a few choice words and finished by saying “None of those runs are open. They are never open. Every year we come here, they are never open.”

Now you can understand the young mans’ frustration. He most likely traveled a long way with the hopes of skiing the back bowls of Vail in untracked powder. To make matters worse, when the young man looks up on the mountain, he can clearly see that all of the peaks are covered in snow. However, when he reviews the map, he learns that those same runs that are covered in snow will not actually be opening.

You can’t blame the kid for his frustration. You also can’t blame Vail Resorts. Vail Resorts has a responsibility to their guests to provide a safe environment and when it comes to early season snowfall, many times, it takes a while for the snow to settle and form a safe base to ski on. That is a battle that Vail Resorts and all winter-based companies here in the mountains deal with. Even here at Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals, we need to perform early season snow depth checks to make sure the regions are ready to ride. It is the reality of the early season.

Early season snow conditions only represent one of the many challenges that local mountain businesses have to navigate in order to have a successful winter season.

One of the larger challenges is dealing with the professional guessers of the world who call themselves “Weather Forecasters” or “meteorologist.” They are much like Punxsutawney Phil but without the pizzazz and fanfare. Now I’m probably being a little too harsh and maybe a bit childish in my name calling but I felt it was the best way to vent my frustrations with the industry as a whole.

There is a national lack of understanding when it comes to the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the weather patterns of the state of Colorado as a whole. I myself, who is originally from the Detroit area, used to believe that Denver was a cold city and that Denver represented the majority of Colorado. After all, Denver is the most widely known city in the state and the state itself is known for alpine skiing. I moved to the central mountains back in ’98 and have since learned that the direct opposite is true when it comes to weather and temperature. Denver is a very warm, high desert climate and the weather of Denver very rarely represents the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Often times, when Denver is experiencing a warm period in the middle of winter, it is still very much in fact, a winter wonderland here in the mountains. To that point, Denver is currently seeing temperatures in the mid 70’s and yet here in the high country, our snowpack is at 118-124%. Unfortunately, the local weather forecasters around the country feel it necessary to shout to the world that “Colorado” is seeing unseasonably warm temperatures which creates an uphill battle for all of us local businesses that depend on the winter travelers.

When the forecasters of the world lump the entire state of Colorado in with Denver’s weather pattern, you can literally see online searchers and bookings drop severely. Vail Resorts is often times the most susceptible to this penalty but even the local, small businesses feel the pain. What makes the matter even more difficult is that at a micro level, even the mountain towns see warm weather during the winter months that do not reflect the snow on the hill. Here in the Vail Valley, many locals choose to live in Edwards, Colorado because of the “Banana Belt” as it’s called. The belt is a strange occurrence where the western canyon causes a split in the weather pattern. Edwards will stay sunny and warm while the mountains to the north and south stay covered in snow. Even as I write this article, I am sitting in shorts and a T-shirt while watching my neighbors heading out to go cross-country skiing.

To even further complicate the forecast, the mountains can create their own weather pattern and their own precipitation – known as the Orographic Lifting. Orographic lifting refers to the changes in air flow when the topography of the land forces the air up a mountain. When the weather system moves across the land, it has no choice but to follow the topography of the land below it; air must go over mountains and through the valleys. As elevation changes with terrain, the pressure and temperature of the weather system change as well. All of this combined can cause the Mountains to create their own weather system and precipitation.

We recently had a family call us from South Carolina concerned about their travel plans. After hearing their local weathermen speak of the unseasonably warm temperatures in “Colorado” they began to question their own vacation plans. Thankfully, they had the foresight to call us and confirm whether or not the reports were true. We were able to quickly explain what the snow conditions were versus the in-town temperatures.  They made the trip out and at the end of their stay, they thanked us because they had the time of their life being able to ski and snowmobile in great snow conditions while enjoying the warmer temperatures in town.

Small businesses can’t afford to mislead people here in the mountains; we are too dependent on loyal customers. If you do plan on coming to Colorado to enjoy the snow, please do not put your travel plans in the hands of a weather forecaster in Toledo. Simply call the local shop that you plan on visiting or at the very least visit the Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals Snow Report which displays the base depths of all of the Colorado snow basins. You can also visit sites such as snotel which are more scientific in their approach and unlike local weathermen, snotel is not trying to create a story out of nothing.

You worked hard for your vacation, don’t let it pass you by because of an irresponsible forecaster who didn’t take the time to research the difference between Denver and the state of Colorado. Many forecasters’ around the country fail to even recognize that the snowiest months in Colorado are actually in March and April.

I write this piece on behalf of all local mountain businesses here in the great state of Colorado. It’s a topic that has been bothering me for years and I felt now was the time to put those thoughts to paper due to the increase in faulty reports nationwide.

It’s almost impossible to predict what to expect on a river. It’s a living, moving, and ever changing body of water. To help you prepare for a day on the river, there have been certain rapid classifications set-up to help you better understand what to expect for specific sections of river. Though not an exact science, Whitewater Rapid Classifications are set between Class I and Class VI. We have assembled this list to help you understand how River Rapids are Classed and Characterized. Always keep in mind that the rapid classes are often times left for debate as to whether or not a particular rapid is actually a class ll or say a class lll – it is often times up to the paddler(s) to decide what the class is based on their own level of skill. For this reason, the Whitewater Rapid Classifications are really more of a guide and they are used to represent how difficult the rapid is to navigate – not how much fun the rapid is.

Class I Rapids

Class I Rapids include fast moving water with ripples and small waves. Their are few obstructions, which are for the most part obvious and can be easily avoided with basic training and knowledge. The risk to swimmers is marginal and self-rescue is fairly easy.

Class II Rapids

The class II rapids are usually wide and clear with channels that are evident without scouting. Maneuvering maybe required but to a trained paddler, rocks and waves should be easily missed. Rapids that are borderline in this class are often referred to as “Class II+” and swimmers are rarely injured and group assistance is rarely needed.

Class III Rapids

Class III Rapids are moderate with irregular waves which can be difficult to avoid and can swamp an open canoe, kayak and/or Ducky. Good boat control in tight passages or around ledges is often required and large waves or strainers may be present but should be easily avoided. Eddies and powerful current effects can be found most commonly on large-volume rivers. Inexperienced parties should always scout the river before taking on the rapids. Injuries are often rare while swimming but having group assistance might be required to avoid long swims. Class III- and Class III+ labels are often times given to rapids that are on the lower or higher side of difficulties within the “Class III” rapids.

Class IV Rapids

Both intense and powerful rapids that require precise boat handling. Depending on the river, the rapids may include large and unavoidable waves, holes, or constricted passages which require quick thinking and maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be a needed skill to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Some rapids may include “required” moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting recommended for the first time down. Swimmers will experience a moderate to high risk of injury and water conditions could make self-rescue impossible. Group rescue is preferred, if not essential, and requires an experienced set of skills. Having a solid eskimo roll is highly recommended. Class IV- and Class IV+ labels are given to rapids that are on the lower or higher side of difficulties within the “Class IV” rapids.

Class V Rapids

These rapids can be extremely long, obstructed and very often times violent and leave the paddler exposed to risk. Drops most likely contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep chutes with complex, demanding routes. Class V rapids will continue for long distances between pools which demands experience and core fitness. Few eddies will exist and most likely will be small, turbulent, and difficult to reach. Scouting is essential and can often times be difficult. DON’T Swim, but if you do, swims will be dangerous and rescue is usually difficult even for trained and experienced experts. You must have a very strong and reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience and appropriate rescue skills. Their is a large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV and Class V is a multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, and so on.  Each level is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: going from a Class IV to a Class V is the equivalent of going from a class 5.0 to a 5.1.

Class VI Rapids

These are impossible and mostly left to the crazies who have a death wish. In fact, the overwhelming majority of these rapids have never been attempted and they exemplify the extremes of river difficulty, unpredictability and danger. Errors are very severe and rescue is probably impossible. These rapids are left to teams of experts/professionals at favorable water levels. Upon proper inspection and taking all necessary precautions professional teams will run these rapids many times over and upon relative continued success, the rapids will be re-classed to the appropriate rating if changed at all.