The Hiking and Camping Guide to Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness. Al Marlowe

       Fireweed are found almost everywhere in the Flat Tops. They were given their name for being one of the first plants to appear following a fire.

       There’s no need to dig a trench around any modern, well-made backpacking tent. It’s also unsightly and leads to erosion of the volcanic clay soils that predominate here.

       In some cases, the use of wheelchairs by the disabled may be permitted. Check with the Forest Service first, though.

       No matter where we go, trash will always be found. There is no excuse for leaving litter. Most camping garbage can be burned. Aluminum beverage cans should be crushed, and then packed out. After all, they weighed almost a pound when you took them in full and almost nothing when you take them out empty.

       While they may not be trash, meat poles put up by hunters detract from the visual experience in the wilderness. If you need one, build it using rope rather than bailing wire, which cuts into trees, then dismantle it when you pack out your game. Fluorescent flagging to mark downed game is also unsightly. If you must use flagging, remove it when it’s no longer needed. Many hunters use horses in the Flat Tops. Rather than build corrals using logs, nails, and wire to contain stock, it’s better to use rope.

      The most important rule to remember in the wilderness is to respect the land. Practicing low impact travel preserves the land for future generations. Treat the Flat Tops as if you owned it. The wilderness is your land. Respect it.

      The Flat Tops has a lot of snags caused by disease and insects years ago. For this reason, be especially careful with fires, whether using wood or a stove. Keep your campfire small. Use only dead wood. Also, select a campsite away from snags. The USFS estimates that 10 snags per acre are felled by wind each year.

      Douse your fire anytime you leave camp. Should your unattended fire spread, you can be held financially responsible for the expense of fighting it.

      After you break camp, scatter the rocks from your fire ring. Cover the ashes with debris. Better yet, dig a small pit for your fire, saving the sod. When you leave, replace the sod. Use brush to “sweep” the area you tracked with your lug-soled boots. Do the same to trampled vegetation. In a short time, your campsite will appear to have never been used.

      Wild Animals

      While bears, lions, coyotes, and other carnivores live in the Flat Tops, you’re unlikely to have problems with any of them. Chipmunks that steal your GORP and gray jays that beg handouts are normally the extent of predation experienced by visitors. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use caution.

      Bears are the most feared because of their size, their teeth and claws, and the fact that they eat whatever they want. Most will try to avoid you. Since bears are always hungry, food smells can attract them. The use of commercial freeze-dried foods kept in original packages will reduce the odor problem.

      Don’t eat or store food in your tent. Burn trash and food scraps. Keep your campsite clean.

      If you see a bear on the trail, make noise. Don’t approach it. If the animal comes toward you, don’t turn and run. Instead, slowly back away until you are in a safer position. Try to get upwind so the bear can catch your scent. Should you carry bear repellent, that is, a .357 or .500 S&W Magnum? Chances are you’ll never need a gun for protection from bears or other wild animals in the wilderness.

      Should you see a mountain lion, consider yourself lucky. In four decades of living in and traveling the backcountry, the closest I have come to a big cat is finding tracks.

      So, if you should be so fortunate, how do you react? First of all, don’t run. This will induce a cat to attack. Face the animal but avoid eye contact, which the cat perceives as a threat. Raise your arms to appear larger. Speak softly to the animal and begin backing away.

      Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes several free pamphlets concerning dangerous animals. One thing CPW doesn’t state is that a person may use whatever effective means to stop a genuine life-endangering threat.

      Other carnivores you’ll possibly see in the Flat Tops pose little threat. Bobcats are secretive. They’re usually seen only when running away. Coyotes normally avoid humans.

      Hypothermia

      No matter what season you visit the Flat Tops, hypothermia is possible. In winter, the obvious contributor is cold and snow. The hazard also exists in summer.

      Because the Flat Tops gets rain frequently, and the high elevation causes lower temperatures, you should stay dry. Modern rain gear makes this possible.

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