One of the greatest perks of the resource management division of Rocky Mtn. NP is that they have the time and money to put a lot of effort into training and developing the skills of their seasonal employees. The second week.5 of my summer was dedicated to training in a grand variety of subjects such as the history and goals of ROMO and NPS, plant identification, backcountry operations, and safety. The latter was our primary focus for several reasons; there have been many deaths as a result of unsafe practices here in the park, but also because our job is inherantly one of the most dangerous- we run bobcats, UTVs and large vehicles, use heavy tools, spray herbicides and pesticides, work on rocky and steep slopes, and conduct business in weather that can turn hazardous in minutes. Sweeet! I'll be posting some pictures of steep slope working once I get a hookup cord for my smaller camera.
The following pictures are from a two day training session on ROMO plant identification with the Biedelmans who wrote a great 'Plants of Rocky Mtn.' book, and who are quite famous in Colorado and California.
The Beidelman duo took us to Lumpy Ridge to practice keying out plants. This is half of the resource management seasonal troupe.
Keying out shooting stars under the bridge.
The Beidelman duo took us to Lumpy Ridge to practice keying out plants. This is half of the resource management seasonal troupe.
Keying out shooting stars under the bridge.
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