Best Summit Hikes in Colorado. James Dziezynski
and crows can be found throughout Colorado. Both are large black birds with fancy ebony beaks. The two are difficult to differentiate. One major difference can be seen in their flying postures: crows tend to flap, flap, flap their wings, while ravens will flap a little and then soar through the air, similar to the way hawks fly.
Gray jays are friendly avian beggars with stylish gray and black markings. Jays relentlessly haunt campsites and picnic tables, looking for scraps of food. Mountain bluebirds are a striking electric-blue color, painted the same hue as the clear mountain sky. As you make your way along mountain trails, several varieties of swallows may gleefully zip by you with an audible thwipp. Appropriately named redwing blackbirds are distinguished by the bright red “armband” on the shoulders of their black wings. Robins, owls, ducks, cranes, herons, and woodpeckers are also common in the mountains.
Ground-patrolling birds are abundant. White-tailed ptarmigans are extremely likable, peaceful fellows. They amble about on the tundra, only mildly concerned when hikers approach. “Mumbling” ptarmigans often have broods of adorable chicks in tow. Ptarmigans are masters of camouflage, with brownish, speckled, ground-imitating feathers in the summer and pure snow-white plumage in the winter. On one occasion, I came across pockets of nearly invisible white ptarmigans huddled against the cold in a January subzero whiteout. Their hearty, stoic, stick-it-out approach to winter earns my respect. The more fidgety pheasant is equally good at camouflage but has a bad habit of abandoning its guise when hikers come too near. The loud and frantic flapping of startled pheasants has been scaring the living daylights out of hikers since time immemorial. There are other grouse species in Colorado, none of them as bizarre as the rarely seen Gunnison sage-grouse. Looking like a ruffled member of avian aristocracy, the male of this species has a distinctive white ring of feathers on its neck that it inflates with air sacs during mating rituals—what lady-grouse could resist such a display?
Storms roll into the Pacific Peak basin.
Last, but not least, are the iridescent hummingbirds that hover about in search of nectar. Usually blue-green or yellowish in color, hummingbirds are often mistaken for large bugs upon first sight. Despite their small size, they are curious creatures, prone to investigating bright-colored clothing and backpacks.
Something Fishy
Fish in the pure, cold mountain streams are the object of anglers’ affections (and often the objects of their meals as well). The only trout truly native to Colorado’s higher mountain lakes is the sleek cutthroat trout; other members of the trout family have been introduced. These include the speckled rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. The mountain whitefish is another native species; it prefers to live in lower-elevation rivers. Introduced and stocked species include the landlocked Kokanee salmon and lake trout.
Fishing is a big industry in Colorado, and those hoping to participate need to acquire a license from the Colorado Department of Wildlife (wildlife.state.co.us/fishing; [303] 297-1192). Many high-altitude lakes are stocked by aerial drops in the spring, making for fine fishing throughout the summer and autumn months.
Animal Encounters
What to Do if You Encounter a Mountain Lion
Mountain lion encounters are rare, since the big cat is an elusive animal. In areas where human development infringes on habitat and territory (such as Boulder and Colorado Springs) the chance of seeing lions increases. Hikers are seldom bothered by mountain lions; attacks on humans usually happen as a result of the chase-and-kill reflex triggered by a runner, biker, or jogger.
Unlike bears and other predators, mountain lion behavior is highly unpredictable. Lions may quietly stalk unsuspecting passersby until they have exited the cat’s territory without incident. Other times, lions will burst out of the woods for no apparent reason other than to attack. If you come across a mountain lion, do not run! Mountain lions (who can run close to 45 miles per hour) can easily chase down a human (who, on average, can run about 20 miles per hour). If you come upon a lion, look at it without directly gazing into its eyes (focus on the feet). Slowly back away; if the animal is focused on you, talk firmly but calmly.
If you come across a mountain lion, do not run! Mountain lions (who can run close to 45 miles per hour) can easily chase down a human (who, on average, can run about 20 miles per hour).
More extreme measures need to be taken if the lion has an active interest in you. When a lion perks up and begins stalking you, you must act. Do everything you can to make yourself look bigger, including opening your coat or waving around your hiking poles and arms. Groups of hikers should huddle together and make noise, throwing rocks or sticks at the lion. Try to pick up potential weapons without crouching down. Do not turn your back on a mountain lion. Children and smaller people, usually women, should get behind larger companions. If the confrontation has gotten to this stage, aggressive scare tactics should repel mountain lions (who aren’t used to having their prey fight back).
In the worst-case scenario—an attack—fight back with all you have. Punch, kick, swing, bite, scratch, and aim for the eyes or nose. Try to stay on your feet and get back up if you get knocked over. Mountain lion attacks usually come in one or two powerful waves; these cats are not endurance fighters. This is not universally true, however, as emaciated lions may fight to the last. Never play dead with mountain lions. This apocryphal defense only applies to some grizzly bears. A mountain lion will seize the opportunity of passive prey by administering a deadly bite to the neck. Climbing trees is another bad idea. Mountain lions are proficient climbers, and you’ll only end up out on a limb. If you successfully fend off the animal, leave the area immediately. You’ll probably be roughed up if you’ve survived an attack. Keep your guard up; patient mountain lions are capable of regrouping and finishing off wounded prey. Report any attacks to the local sheriff or wildlife bureau.
What to Do if You Encounter a Black Bear
Feared, hated, and reviled for centuries, black bears have earned an unfair reputation as bloodthirsty killers. They are nowhere near as aggressive as grizzly bears, yet they carry the burden of being associated with their ferocious cousins. Many are shy and will run away at the first sight of humans. Most conflicts occur in areas where human and bear habitats overlap (even then, bears are more prone to raid a garbage can than attack a person). Most black bear attacks are defensive in nature, with the attacker usually defending a kill or protecting cubs.
Black bear attacks are rare, but they do happen, most often when a hiker surprises a bear or comes too near a den with cubs. If you encounter a black bear, give it space. If the bear does not go away, you need to leave the area—even if it means missing out on a coveted summit. Black bears aren’t looking to pick a fight. If you see them stand up on their hind legs, it is not always an aggressive action; they are simply trying to get a better view of things. If a bear becomes uncomfortable, it will begin growling, slapping the ground, or clamping its jaws as a warning. This is your cue to leave. Back away slowly and do not turn your back on the bear; as with mountain lions, look at the animal but not directly into its eyes.
One thing to note is that most of the audible and visible displays of a black bear are defense mechanisms designed to scare you off. Even the “bluff charge” where a bear runs at you while growling is more often than not a (terrifying) warning, telling you to get lost. In most circumstances, there is no reason to intimidate the bear. Quietly leaving the area is the best decision for both of you.
While their habits are somewhat predictable, that does not mean that black bears will never assault humans. When they decide to attack, they will not bother with the defensive behavior noted above. An aggressive bear may casually walk over on all fours without barking or growling, giving the illusion of a harmless saunter. A seemingly calm bear coming toward you is a threat. At this point, you must take measures to fend it off, including making yourself look larger. Yell