2022 Pika Patrol, Part Two

My husband and I went up to our second pika site, this one on Halfmoon Creek above Leadville, Colorado, last week, looking for the little rabbit-relatives. If you recall, last year we unexpectedly had to walk an extra six miles to the site and back due to a Forest Service road closure. This year, theContinue reading “2022 Pika Patrol, Part Two”

2022 Pika Patrol Part 1

Every year, my husband and I look forward to hiking up to the high country to check on the pika that live there, as part of the Colorado Pika Projects‘ monitoring efforts. We’ve been doing it for five years now, but when pressed by friends as to what it is that we enjoy so much,Continue reading “2022 Pika Patrol Part 1”

2021 Pika Patrol, Part 2

Last week my husband and I made our way up to the other pika site outside of Leadville, and above Turquoise Lake we’ve been monitoring for the Colorado Pika Project. The day before the high country got a dusting of snow, but our day started with beautiful clear skies. Perfect for a moderately challenging 3Continue reading “2021 Pika Patrol, Part 2”

2021 Pika Patrol, Part 1

It’s August, and so it is time for Pika Patrol! Every year, as part of the Denver Zoo’s Pika Project, my husband and I hike up to a couple of places in the tundra to see how the pika are doing. But before we go any further, I need to refer you to an articleContinue reading “2021 Pika Patrol, Part 1”

2020 Pika Patrol

Over the weekend, my husband and I went up to the mountains for the first time this summer. We’ve been trying to isolate ourselves, and the mountain trails have been busy with people trying to get out of their houses while being safe. We headed up to do our annual Pika Patrol for the DenverContinue reading “2020 Pika Patrol”

Pika Patrol, 2019 Edition

End of summer. It’s time for Pika Patrol! Due to complications last summer, my husband and I weren’t able to volunteer with Front Range Pika Project last fall. We were determined to make it this year. If you have been following my blog for several years, you might remember that two years ago, in 2017,Continue reading “Pika Patrol, 2019 Edition”

Pika Patrol, Part Two

My husband, my son, his girlfriend and I went up to my Pika Patrol (Pika Patrol, Part One) site over the weekend. After thrashing about a bit learning how to use the GPS, we found the appointed talus slope. Located on the north shore of Grand Lake just south of Rocky Mountain National Park, researchersContinue reading “Pika Patrol, Part Two”

Pika Patrol, Part One

What do you do when you are forced out of your home? How do you find another place to live, when the sites you need are already full? American Pika, small rodent-like rabbit relatives who live in the alpine tundra of the Rocky Mountains, are facing this problem as warmer temperatures force them ever higher.Continue reading “Pika Patrol, Part One”