Natural History of Trail Ridge Road, A: Rocky Mountain National Park's Highway to the Sky

by Amy Law

Overview

Constructed from 1929 to 1932 and opened to tourists and drivers the following year, Trail Ridge Road earned immediate inclusion among the scenic wonders of the world. The new path through the park followed the ancient trail across Tombstone Ridge and offered visitors breathtaking views and a privileged glimpse at unique ecosystems. Today, Trail Ridge Road endures as a truly otherworldly place. It is the country's highest continuous paved road, peaking at over twelve thousand feet and running forty-eight miles. Join author Amy Law on a tour across the Continental Divide and through the history of Colorado's most famous byway.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626199354
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	03/16/2015
Series:	Natural History
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Amy Law has been lucky enough to live near Trail Ridge Road and so has made many trips over this fascinating highway. To learn more about the natural history of Trail Ridge Road and other ecosystems, Amy earned a master's degree from the College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. In the years since, she's spent much of her time filling in the gaps in her education. Amy lives west of Denver with her husband, two kids and two dogs.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 13

Introduction 15

Chapter 1 Estes Park to Fall River Road: Mountain Meadow Community

Estes Park 17

Horseshoe Park 21

Fall River Road Turnoff 24

Chapter 2 Fail River Road to Rainbow Curve: Spruce-Fir Forest

Up Deer Ridge-South Moraine 29

Deer Ridge Junction 30

Many Parks Curve 34

Rainbow Curve 35

Chapter 3 Rainbow Curve to Forest Canyon Overlook: Krummholz

Tombstone Ridge 39

Chapter 4 Forest Canyon Overlook to Alpine Visitor's Center: Alpine Tundra

Forest Canyon Overlook 45

The Rock Cut 46

Lava Cliffs and Iceberg Lake 50

High Point 52

Gore Range Overlook 52

Alpine Visitor's Center 54

Chapter 5 Alpine Visitor's Center to Kawuneeghe Valley: Lodgepole Pine and Aspen Forests

Medicine Bow Curve 57

Poudre Lake, Milner Pass and the Continental Divide 59

Farview Curve 60

Chapter 6 Colorado River Trailhead to Grand Lake: Valley Floor

Colorado River Trailhead 71

Holzwarth Trout Lodge 73

Bowen-Baker Gulch 76

The Town of Grand Lake 79

Chapter 7 Geology

The First Rocks: Gneiss, Schist and Granite 81

Rise of the Rocky Mountains: Rhyolite 85

Finishing Touches: Ice 87

Chapter 8 Climate and Weather

Breathless 91

Thunder and Lightning 94

Westerly Winds 95

Water 96

Snow and Snowpack 97

Chapter 9 Trees and Shrubs

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs 99

Coniferous Trees 101

Chapter 10 Mammals

Herbivores 111

Carnivores 121

Omnivores 124

Chapter 11 Birds

Birds of Prey 127

Jays, Crows and Ravens 131

Chapter 12 Forest Fires

Fire in Forests 137

Not All Forest Fires Are Bad 139

Wildfire Fuel Types 140

Bibliography 143

Index 155

About the Author 160