I think you should have that looked at. Just sayin'.

Fortunately, it reverts to red when I donate...

Road Closed sign on TRR doesn't mean that hikers and xc skiers can't use it. In fact, it's probably pretty heavily used as it is a nice, wide, known route to follow.

I've had wonderful interactions with the RMNP Rangers during the many years I backpacked there. Often they expressed jealousy or admiration over the places my buddy and I were going or had gone.

I suspect the visitor did not intend to survive. That's pretty hard to fix.

Years ago my first attempt at winter mountaineering was a trip in RMNP (Longs Peak). We were adequately equipped, and our leader was experienced. No problem with the rangers at all. Same thing later when I and a buddy did the standard route on the East Face of Longs.

Reminds me of the "Gentleman" I once saw in Yellowstone attempting 3 times to "Place" his 2 or 3 year old child on the Back of a Grazing Bull Moose and then Step Back to take the Picture. He was really pissed off that the Bull Moose would kept shacking off his new passenger. He did not know how close he was to getting his young child hurt or killed or himself. After 3 attempts the bull moose simple walked into the lack and swam away.

IMHO the moose handled the situation fairly well. That child could have been severely injured by just falling from the bull´s back.

Sounds like he isn't rational. As has been said, his fate may already be sealed.

I feel bad for his family and friends.

Hikermor, thanks for your service. I have an M.S. in Animal Ecology but moved over to a more technical field in grad school when many government grants dried up. I always had a secret desire to be a national park ranger - not so much enforcement but more research or service (if there there is such a thing). Too late now as retirement is in sight. Instead I'll just enjoy the outdoors I love so much.

My goodness, I thank you. I was actually never officially a park ranger, but was an archaeologist. Actually, many of the folks you see in uniform in a NP are not actually rangers, but may be wild life biologists, geologists, or many other kinds of scientists.

When it hits the fan, your job title means little. You turn off the game on the tube, and go deal with the problem,especially if you have a special skill, aptitude, or training. Keeps one on one's toes.

Actually, you can now distinguish a park ranger (NPS)if that person has a LE commission. They will have a larger badge, and are usually armed. The better ones are also fully informed about the resources of the park and can answer any questions, and will be happy to do so.

Most parks have an able, active volunteer corps. I have been a volunteer at my park (Channel Islands) since I retired, so I am still having fun. Volunteers often do very interesting things, well beyond what visitor would experience.

I am sure your background would be very useful in many, if not most parks. Keeping the critters happy and the ecology shipshape is a major task.

Sorry folks - I tried a PM, but hikermor's inbox must be full.

@hikermor - Would you recommend the Park Service as a career (since you already experienced that)? My daughter is a recent grad (bachelors degree) in Wildlife and Conservation Biology. She loves the outdoors, and wants to research/teach sustainability. Rocky Mountain would be the closest park, about 50 miles away.

Here's a good website to get started: http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/jobsforstudents.htm

Let me try and PM you.