Читать книгу The Hiking and Camping Guide to Colorado's Flat Tops Wilderness - Al Marlowe - Страница 10

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REGULATIONS AND COMMON SENSE

Along with the freedom to travel wherever you like, there’s a responsibility. Most of us care about a quality wilderness experience. It’s the few who don’t care that make regulations necessary. Fortunately, most are commonsense practices that will make your Flat Tops visit more enjoyable. Flat Tops Wilderness regulations are available from Forest Service offices in Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Rifle, Meeker, and Yampa, and are posted at all trailheads.

Locate campsites, campfires, and recreational stock at least 100 feet from lakes, streams, and trails. At Hooper, Keener, Trappers, and Smith Lakes, locate camps a quarter mile from the lakeshore. Camping is allowed only in designated sites at Deer Lake. Vegetation and soils adjacent to lakes and streams are sensitive to disturbance. Camping away from trails and lakes adds to a visitor’s sense of solitude.

The largest party size is a combination of 25 people and/or recreational stock. Larger groups require a permit because they tend to damage trails and campsites.

Use of motorized vehicles, motorized equipment, motorboats, or other forms of mechanical transport such as bicycle, handcarts, etc., within the wilderness is prohibited.

Landing of aircraft or dropping of materials, supplies, or persons from aircraft in the wilderness is prohibited.

Camping, campfires, and hitching or tethering of recreational stock is prohibited within a quarter mile of Trappers Lake.

Dogs, except for working stock dogs and those used for legal hunting purposes, will be on a leash not to exceed 6 feet in length when within a quarter mile of Trappers Lake. Pets must be under control at all times. Uncontrolled dogs should not be permitted to harass wildlife and other visitors.

For livestock, bring in only processed feeds or pellets. Only certified weed-free hay is permitted in national forests, wilderness areas, and state lands. Pack animals are a part of the wilderness experience for some visitors. Hikers and backpackers meeting riders and pack animals should step off the trail until they pass. If you take Phydeaux, restrain him until horses have passed to avoid spooking them.

Equipment, personal property, or supplies may not be left for more than fourteen continuous days.

Wash at least 100 feet from lakes and streams. Use biodegradable soap and dispose of waste water in the soil. This is to prevent contaminating the water.

Bury human waste at least 100 feet from lakes and streams and 6 inches in the soil so it will decompose naturally.

Pack out everything you bring in and any other trash you may find along the way. Food scraps and bits of paper may be burned. Do not bury trash or food scraps.

Avoid fragile areas. Do not shortcut trails on switchbacks, especially in places others will follow and create new paths that lead to erosion. Rarely will the practice save time.

You are requested to register at wilderness trailheads to assist USFS personnel in managing the wilderness. It also helps rangers locate you in case of emergency. Lodges and outfitters are required to have permits and usually have small areas reserved for their use for campsites. Only the outfitters, their employees, and clients may use these areas. These sites are identified by a Forest Service permit near the camp. When using a guide or outfitter, clients are advised to verify that these businesses have the proper permits.

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.

The problem is not just the dampness but also the chill it produces. Relative humidity at high elevations is usually low, causing rapid evaporation. An air temperature of 50°F, combined with a 10 mph wind, can give the same cooling effect as a temperature in the 40s. If a sudden shower has soaked your clothes, the evaporation causes even more cooling. Most cases of hypothermia occur at temperatures between 30°F and 50°F.

Hypothermia will cause severe shivering, slurred speech, incoherence, stumbling, drowsiness, and extreme fatigue. If you do get wet and notice any of the symptoms in yourself or someone with you, immediate treatment is advised. Get out of the wind. Remove all wet clothes. Put on dry clothes and crawl into a sleeping bag. The victim should be given warm drinks if coherent and able to swallow. It may be necessary to use your own body heat to warm a hypothermic person.

Lightning

Thunderstorms occur frequently in the Flat Tops. So does lightning. The plateau has several large clear areas, free of trees. Be cautious about hiking in the open anytime storms are threatening. If electrical storms are a possibility, stay close to shelter. During an electrical storm, avoid open areas or lone trees.

If you are caught in the open, remove your pack, which likely contains conductive metal. Squat down with your feet apart. Form a ball with your body. In this position, a lightning strike should pass over your body in what’s called a flashover. Keeping your feet together is like closing a switch. It completes the electrical circuit. Only in this case, you are the circuit.

Forest Fire

Get out of the area and don’t hang around to watch it. Report fires to the nearest USFS district office.

This photo, taken a year after the Big Fish Fire, shows ground cover recovering. Fireweed, one of the first plants to return following a burn, is scattered among the burned trees.

Other Hazards

The Flat Tops has lots of standing dead trees. Select a campsite with this in mind. Strong winds, common in the Flat Tops, are all it takes to knock one down.

Get your water only from known safe sources or treat it before drinking. Assume that any surface water is contaminated. Water can be filtered, boiled, or chemically treated to kill giardia. Using only water that has been processed with barley and hops will also eliminate such problems. Oh. While a beer may taste good after hiking all day, be aware that alcohol can also contribute to dehydration, a cause of altitude illness.

Insects are abundant on the Flat Tops. Bring repellent. Lots. Garlic is also said to repel mosquitoes. It’s effective also in capsule form. This is available from your pharmacy or health food store.

Snakes are not a serious problem. Most of those you see are garter snakes. You might even come across an occasional bull snake. They’re harmless. The worst that would come of a bite is tetanus and almost everyone has been immunized against that. Should a bite become infected an antibiotic may be needed. Timber rattlesnakes could live in the Flat Tops but if they do, they’re rare.

Livestock

Horses are not the only livestock you will encounter on the Flat Tops. You will also meet up with llamas, cattle, and sheep.

Usually, cows will run from you but not always. A cow with a calf is protective of her offspring. If she sees you as a threat, she will get belligerent, especially after being on the range all summer.

Bulls also present a problem. When cows are in heat, a bull has only one thing on his mind. A bull having amorous thoughts is an animal to avoid. If you’re not a cow, he may see you as an object on which to express his aggression. Avoid them, even if you must go out of your way.

Sheep are also grazed in the wilderness, most often in the high meadows. Grazing is a historical use of the forests and was grandfathered into wilderness laws. You can reduce the probability of contacting livestock by inquiring at the appropriate district office to learn areas where sheep or cattle are being grazed.

There’s one other hazard, but you are the only person who can prevent it. That’s carelessness. Read the signs posted at trailheads. They inform you of wilderness regulations that protect both you and the resource. You don’t need to go to the extremes that would be required by OSHA if they were to regulate wilderness travel but prudence is required. You go to the Flat Tops to enjoy the experience. Don’t ruin it by doing something dumb. The wilderness is unforgiving of mistakes.

Altitude Illness

Anyone who visits the Flat Tops, whether you live in Colorado or the Gulf Coast, is a potential victim of altitude illness. A study several years ago found one in four visitors to a mountain resort had some altitude related symptoms.

Physical problems with altitude vary but can be grouped into three separate but related forms: Acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), or fluid in the lungs, and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), or fluid on the brain.

AMS is rarely seen below 6,500 feet. It becomes increasingly common above 8,000 feet, an elevation easily encountered on the Flat Tops. Symptoms are usually minor though they can be disabling. Severity is greater among those who haven’t taken time for acclimatization. A person making a rapid ascent may experience a headache— mild to severe—nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, weakness, sleep disturbance, or experience periods of intermittent breathing.

Left untreated, AMS can advance to a serious, life-threatening illness, HAPE. It most often affects those who have had the problem previously, or have been acclimatized to high altitude, spent two or more weeks at low elevations, and then returned to high altitude. The symptoms can develop rather rapidly, in a matter of hours, or slowly over a period of one to three days. HAPE can occur with no symptoms of AMS.

A person suffering from HAPE will experience shortness of breath, irritating cough, weakness, rapid heart rate, and headache. The problem frequently gets worse at night. A pulse rate higher than 110 and respiration over sixteen breaths per minute is an early sign of HAPE. A medical emergency exists should the rates exceed a pulse of 120 and twenty breaths per minute. If the illness is untreated, the victim can go into a coma. Death may follow within a very short time.

A person with symptoms of HAPE must be immediately evacuated to lower altitude, preferably below 6,500 feet. Oxygen may help mild cases but descent is still necessary.

HACE is less common than the other forms of altitude illness but is the most serious. Symptoms include severe headache, confusion, hallucinations, unstable gait, loss of vision, loss of dexterity, and facial muscle paralysis. A sufferer may fall into a restless sleep, followed by deep coma and death. Immediate descent is required if the victim is to have any hope of recovery. Oxygen, if available, should be given by facemask at the rate of two to four liters per minute.

Symptoms of all three forms of altitude illness are progressive. Some are overlapping. It doesn’t follow, however, that one form will always progress to another, more serious condition. A person can have HAPE or HACE without first showing symptoms of AMS.

Anyone showing signs of HAPE or HACE should be taken to lower altitude immediately. On the north side of the Flat Tops, the nearest medical facility is at Meeker. If you exit the wilderness by I-70, treatment is available at Glenwood Springs.

A person might think that a physical conditioning program would prevent altitude illness. It ain’t so. Fitness will give you more endurance and aid in the efficient use of oxygen. But it won’t prevent altitude problems. Even if your fitness level is excellent, don’t let it lull you into overextending yourself before acclimatization.

A conditioning program should begin at least twelve weeks prior to traveling to high altitude. The body requires this length of time to respond to physical training. And remember that acclimatization is lost once a person has returned to low altitude (below 6,500 feet) after as little as ten days.

Even after completing a conditioning program, a person who lives near sea level is going to require time to acclimate to high altitude. When possible, you should allow two or three days to adjust to the altitude before engaging in any rigorous activity after arrival. Even then, you’ll likely feel more tired than usual from normal activities. Smoking will decrease your performance at altitude and should be avoided.

Those who suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma should be aware that the conditions could be aggravated by high altitude if not treated. Other ailments such as pulmonary hypertension may also be made worse. Anyone who uses medications for these conditions must also use them at altitude. One caution, though. The use of sedating antihistamines (the kind that make you drowsy) can decrease respiration while sleeping, worsening some symptoms of altitude illness.

Dehydration contributes to altitude sickness. Under ordinary conditions, the body needs about two to four quarts of water per day to stay hydrated. At altitudes above 8,000 feet, fluid requirements increase. Three or four quarts per day should be considered a minimum. Thirst is a poor indicator of need. Get lots of fluids and drink frequently. Avoid, or at least minimize, the use of beverages containing caffeine or alcohol as these contribute to dehydration.

Electrolyte replacement drinks are assimilated quickly. Those in powder form can be carried easily and mixed with water, ready for use as needed. Just make certain you get adequate fluids, whichever type you use. As long as your urine is colorless or very light yellow, you are sufficiently hydrated.

Some people are more susceptible to altitude illness than others. Medical help is available for this situation. Paul S. Auerbach, MD, MS, FACEP, FAWM, is the Redlich Family Professor of Surgery in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the world’s leading medical expert on wilderness medicine and a prolific author. He is the editor of Wilderness Medicine, and author of Medicine for the Outdoors and Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. The doctor’s books are recommended for anyone who ventures into the backcountry.

Dr. Auerbach recommends the use of Diamox (acetazolomide) to aid acclimatization. A dose of 125 to 250 mg, taken twice daily, is advised beginning six to twelve hours before ascent and continued for twenty-four to forty-eight hours after reaching the maximum altitude. A prescription is required.

The drug does have some side effects. It will cause increased urination so get more fluids to stay hydrated. It can also cause tingling in your fingers and toes shortly after taking each dose. Taking the smaller dosage will reduce the frequency of urination. The tingling sensation shouldn’t last very long. The symptoms, while annoying, are less so than altitude illness. One word of caution, though: Don’t take this medication if you are allergic to sulfa drugs.

Minor headaches associated with AMS can be relieved with ordinary over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. If you’re having headaches, however, you may not be getting enough water. To prevent further difficulty, do not ascend to higher altitude until you are free of headache for twelve hours.

The best way a person can prepare for a high altitude adventure is to spend a lot of time at altitude. For the majority of us, this isn’t practical. The next best thing is to prepare physically and mentally. Understanding acclimatization and getting yourself in top physical condition will improve your ability to meet the challenge of the Flat Tops and other high elevation travels.