creatures you will likely encounter are mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.
During any potentially contentious wildlife encounter, it is important to stay calm, assume a dominant posture, and maintain a confident demeanor. In the unlikely case that you are attacked, report it to the trail-managing agency and to Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
The main mammals to pay attention to, safety-wise, are moose, which were reintroduced to Colorado in the late 20th century and now number in the thousands. A moose may tolerate your presence nearby, but it is dangerous to get near one. In fact, moose are up there with hippos and rhinos as the most hazardous mammals to humans, worldwide. Most of the time moose seem either oblivious to you or mildly curious. You might even see one grazing by the highway. Other times they can be surly and aggressive, especially in spring, when cows are protective of newborns, and during the fall mating season. At all times, it is critical to control your dog; moose consider dogs to be wolves, their natural predators, and go into fight-or-flight mode around them. At 800 to 1,100 pounds per charging adult moose, you don’t want the fight. If a moose approaches, back away slowly and don’t throw anything. Speak in a calm, solid voice, and try to hide behind something. Be particularly concerned if it lays its ears back, raises the hairs on its rump, and licks its snout. Leave the moose an escape route, and stay out of its way as it passes.
It’s also important to know what to do around a coyote. Coyotes can be fun to watch, and are usually elusive, but closer to urban areas they can lose their fear of people. If you see one, keep your distance and keep your pet under control. If a coyote does approach, maintain a dominant posture and speak in a loud, confident voice. It’s okay to throw rocks or sticks to frighten it away.
Mountain lions avoid humans. Seeing a mountain lion is a rare experience, and attacks are far rarer. It is important, however, to not let small children wander off and to keep pets leashed. If you encounter a mountain lion, stand tall and make yourself look as big as possible, maybe raise your jacket over your head, and back away slowly. Maintain indirect eye contact, speak in a loud voice, and don’t run, as this can trigger a predatory response. If you are attacked, fight back. Mountain lions aren’t used to anything fighting back, and usually make only one or two brief charges. Don’t play dead, as this would give the lion a chance to make a deadly bite.
Black bears, which can vary in color from black to light brown, are shy and nearly always run away from people in the wild. They are omnivores, and can become bold if they think they can get at food scraps or garbage. Rare attacks on humans are defensive in nature and usually regard cubs. If you see a bear, give it space; if it doesn’t go away, leave the area. A bear is warning you if it is growling, slapping the ground, and working its jaws; back away slowly and maintain indirect eye contact. If one walks calmly toward you, however, this is an attack and you must fend it off. Don’t run! Look large, yell, throw things, and fight back if necessary. Do not play dead.
Rattlesnakes also want to avoid you, but they need time to move away. They are uncommon up high but are at home in the foothills below 7,000 feet or so. Your chances of meeting one increase if you leave the trail in a lower-elevation, rocky area. The rattle is a warning to stay away, not a signal of attack. You aren’t in danger unless you are in striking range, and they strike only in self-defense. Don’t throw anything and back away slowly. If bitten, stay calm and walk at a modest pace to the car. Bites are rarely fatal to healthy adults, but small children have a higher risk, as do dogs.
Hiking with Kids
I am a hiker today because my parents took me hiking when I was little. I hope I’ve done the same favor for my own children. The hikes in this book are for everyone, including small members of the family. Remember, you don’t have to do the whole hike. Rewards often come in the first mile. Do as little or as much as you want, and you may find yourself going hiking more often, and going farther.
I’ve seen nine-year-olds having a blast five steep miles away from the car. Toddlers can often handle one to four miles round-trip. Older kids sometimes like to run ahead, and it is important to establish rules about not going too far, staying on the trail, and waiting at all junctions.
Things can deteriorate fast for kids when they get tired or uncomfortable. Bring extra clothes, yummy food, and a good sense of humor and adventure. Gently push for forward progress, but be ready to accommodate different agendas, which may not be all about “getting there” but rather about stopping to check things out. Try to keep it moving and keep it fun.
Other Trail Users
I think it is important to greet others on the trail with at least a smile. However, I don’t get offended if people who are grunting their way uphill ignore me, and I make sure to yield them the right-of-way. If someone asks for help, I help; I’ve probably overdone it on occasion with my unsolicited advice. The fewer people I see, and the farther into the backcountry I go, the weirder it feels to not at least say, “Hi.”
Hiking with dogs is popular in Colorado, and many of the trails in this book allow them. On trails where dogs are allowed, they almost always must be on a leash. The exceptions are in some National Forest lands outside of established recreation areas, where off-leash hiking is sometimes allowed. A few localities such as the City of Boulder have a verified voice-control licensing option.
As of this writing, violations of leash rules are rampant. Conditions are ripe for a backlash, and dogs could become banned in more places if owners keep breaking the rules. Currently, dogs are not allowed on the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park and in a number of state parks and municipal open spaces. If you want to continue to hike with your dog, please abide by the rules.
When on the trail with your dog, be conscious of how invasive she can be of other people’s space, and of people’s right to hike without being contacted or intimidated by her. Remember, not everyone loves dogs, and some people are afraid of them. Also remember that even if your dog is friendly, she can suddenly behave differently around strangers and unfamiliar dogs on a narrow trail.
Some trails are very popular with mountain bikers, especially in the foothills. Most bikers are considerate and yield to hikers, as they are required to. My experience is that shared use of the trail is generally harmonious, but do watch out for the occasional scary biker.
Hikers must yield to horses, which are less common than bikes although most trails are open to them (it’s a Colorado thing). Horse owners tend to be warm and friendly people, fun to talk to, and will often move out of your way if they can. But horses can be skittish, so it’s always a good idea to give them a wide berth, speak calmly, and avoid making sudden movements.
Leave a Trace—On Yourself
Public land is not owned by the government. We own it. It’s up to us to be its stewards.
Don’t build fires. Leave no marks except footprints. Don’t cut switchbacks. Pack it out. Leave everything where you found it. Step off the trail to pee, and bury human waste at least 200 feet from trails and water, at least six inches deep. Be considerate of others, keep your distance from and respect wildlife, and control your pets. Travel on durable surfaces, save vegetation from damage, and walk through mud if that’s where the trail is. Limit your group size; this has as much to do with being considerate of others as minimizing your impact. And remember, sounds carry.
Sometimes the best part of a hike is getting back to the car, exhausted and exhilarated, and prying those boots off your tired feet. Heaven! Then you get to carry the impact and experience of the delightful day with you back to civilization.
The Denver area is a wonderful place to come back to: a full-service metropolitan area replete with restaurants, breweries, coffeehouses, theaters, museums, an aquarium, a zoo, nightlife, and many trail-loving people to share wilderness stories with. You can soak up the city, enjoy
