Sow black bear and cub getting a drink from the wildlife guzzler at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, one of the stops on the hike.
Where: Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
When: Friday, April 26, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Welcome to the team from DH Water Solutions in Loveland, Colorado. I look forward to learning more about your company and the important water quality work you’re doing locally and globally.
Throughout this adventure you’ll learn where, when and how to look for wildlife and wildlife activity, beginning with about mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, red and grey fox, deer, elk, Merriam’s turkeys and other species. As black bears emerge from the dens they are ravenous for protein. Male bears emerge first, typically around the third week in March. Black bear sows and cubs emerge around the middle of April. Bears will consume an average of 5,000 - 8,000 calories per day until the hyperphagia period begins near the end of August. Mountain lions will follow herds of mule deer and elk as they disperse from winter range areas. Many wildlife species are on the move as they prepare for summer, a time to take a break from cold winter weather, fatten up, mate, care for young, etc.
You can expect a five mile hike with a beautiful spot with mountain views for lunch. The hike will include easy and moderate sections. Given the conditions, we will see tracks in dry sand and dirt, tracks in the mud as well as snow, where available.
Consider downloading the app iTrack for an excellent overview for mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, bears and numerous prey species, beginning with deer and elk.
We will also cover some backcountry navigation and safety tips on the hike, beginning with how to avoid hypothermia (the number one killer in the backcountry) and staying found, eliminating the Search in Search and Rescue. Being prepared eliminates fear about being in the backcountry, on or off trail. I’ve been refining this system since I was eleven years old.
Mountain lion crossing a stream. We’ll visit this location on our hike.
WHAT TO BRING
layered clothing
decent footwear for hiking (plan on mud, dry ground and possibly snow in some areas)
snacks and lunch
at least two liters of water
camera (cell phone is plenty)
a sauntering spirit
SOL Bivvy XL, big enough for two people. In addition to spending the night in this bivvy, it’s also a great shelter to wait out a thunderstorm, keeping your pack, clothes, boots and even your dog dry.
We will be stopping often to discuss the tracks and habitat of the wildlife that call this place home. There are many incredible connections worth learning that will enrich your time afield.
This is a great opportunity to ensure you have the Ten Essentials in your pack. Check out my Ten Essentials Plus system. If you’re just getting started, I highly recommend starting by buying the SOL Bivvy XL first. It will save you from hypothermia and is an incredible shelter to wait out a thunderstorm. I’ve slept in this bivvy (see image) down to 15 degrees without a pad, sleeping bag or tent. I stayed dry and warm. Secondly, use a satellite messenger. I prefer the SPOT Gen4 device as it is much less expensive initially as well as monthly. You can find them on sale for $99.00 and the monthly fee is $12.00.
Stay Found
We lost several people in the backcountry last year. These two items may have saved all of them and with a satellite messenger the Search and Rescue would have happened in a few hours. Chad Pallansch, the trail runner who set out on a 28 mile run last fall in RMNP, hasn’t been found yet. Instead of an exhaustive Search and Rescue effort, with the tracking turned on with a satellite messenger, they would have reached him in a matter of hours. We are all worth $12.00 a month! Plus there is a good chance you’ll have an opportunity to save somebody else’s life.
Meet Your Host - David Neils
David Neils and his dog Autumn in some of the best mountain lion country in Northern Colorado.
I offer these events as a way to share my passion for getting to know these wild places well. Like a great friend, they become an intimate part of our lives, nourish our souls and bring peace to our hearts. And it’s a chance to pay it forward after the gift I received as a child to spend time alone in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area of NW Montana.
The last twenty years have been spent studying and filming mountain lions in some of the wildest country of Colorado and Montana. I developed a system, using four natural factors, which allows me to pinpoint mountain lion activity throughout the United States, Canada and Chile. I enjoy sharing this knowledge and supporting others to study this magnificent apex predator through a personalized Mountain Lion Workshop which includes mapping mountain lion activity in the client’s chosen area, up to 100 square miles.
In addition to sharing a passion for mountain lions and other wildlife, I enjoy supporting others to navigate boldly and safely in the backcountry. I developed the Ten Essentials Plus system which eliminates many of the factors that result in Search and Rescue operations. In fact, it completely eliminates the Search in Search and Rescue. I also provide hands on orienteering courses, supporting clients to have the confidence to explore the wild areas around them.