Visiting Colorado - 6 things you actually need to know (Durango: insurance, purchasing)

[otowi]

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/vis...8fd34-77913721

What would you add or take off?

[NW Crow]

Adds-


Watch for loose rocks on or coming onto the road, especially after rains. Same while hiking, loose rocks can move, small, huge, many or a wall of snow. Move light and watch ahead.




If you are going too fast or are distracted, don't expect a guardrail to be there to keep from going off the road.


Research back roads with government offices, guidebooks and / or locals to know whether high clearance is needed and what conditions are like. Get stuck and it may be expensive / long time to get out or your vehicle might not get out (except piecemeal by part scavengers).


A campfire isn't "alright" with a quick splash and slight scatter. Drown it and drown it and drown it again til even the under-bits and inner pockets are dead.


If you get a hail warning, take what measures you can to get off road and get covered.


It is not that common, but sometimes bears and mountain lions will come at someone with intent.


Filter your water properly and avoid taking from areas with high human & livestock traffic. It could make you sick not just briefly but possibly affect you for long time or forever.




UV is high. Sunscreen (lots of it, everywhere exposed and re-applied), hats, long sleeves, pants likely needed even for a few hours. The middle of day is especially strong. The precautions can be annoying if you let it, but the alternatives are worse. Be unlucky or push it too hard and skin cancer is a possibility.


Rivers can be playgrounds for the properly trained who know the risks and conditions but can take the ignorant, too bold or too casual.


Trespass may draw heavy response. Accidental may not lessen response.


Wear orange in hunting season, even as a hiker. Or stay out.


Always think about where you are shooting. People may be out of sight but nearby.


Don't leave valuables in cars. At the trailhead or outside a store, restaurant or motel. Or maybe even inside a motel.


Do all these things need to be said / read? Not for everybody but something might be worth a reminder on for for somebody.

[DurangoJoe]

Get a Colorado CORSAR card unless you want to pay $40,000/hr to have a helicopter rescue you from a predicament you stumbled into! Cheap insurance you cannot afford to be without if you intend to go into remote areas.

[twowilldo]

Originally Posted by DurangoJoe

Get a Colorado CORSAR card unless you want to pay $40,000/hr to have a helicopter rescue you from a predicament you stumbled into! Cheap insurance you cannot afford to be without if you intend to go into remote areas.

Seconding this advice, cannot be stated strongly enough.

[pcw57]

I'm looking at the State of Colorado's official website for the CORSAR program.

It states on the homepage:

"Colorado residents and visitors are well served by dedicated volunteer search and rescue teams. By purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card you are contributing to the Search and Rescue Fund, which will reimburse these teams for costs incurred in search and rescues across the State of Colorado. The CORSAR card is available for $3 for a one-year card and $12 for five-year card.

Please note the CORSAR card is not insurance and does not reimburse individuals nor does it pay for medical transport."

There are multiple providers of medical evacuation insurance, such as MedJetAssist, Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance, Global Rescue, and others. I would imagine that there are several local providers (Rocky Mountain region) of air ambulance service who have membership programs that are absolutely worth looking into for their cost savings.

In any event, supporting CORSAR by purchasing their card ought to be a no-brainer for everyone who visits Colorado's mountains for ANY reason. The various SAR organizations throughout the state are busier than ever and every bit of support is vital.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by pcw57

I'm looking at the State of Colorado's official website for the CORSAR program.

It states on the homepage:

"Colorado residents and visitors are well served by dedicated volunteer search and rescue teams. By purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card you are contributing to the Search and Rescue Fund, which will reimburse these teams for costs incurred in search and rescues across the State of Colorado. The CORSAR card is available for $3 for a one-year card and $12 for five-year card.

Please note the CORSAR card is not insurance and does not reimburse individuals nor does it pay for medical transport."

There are multiple providers of medical evacuation insurance, such as MedJetAssist, Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance, Global Rescue, and others. I would imagine that there are several local providers (Rocky Mountain region) of air ambulance service who have membership programs that are absolutely worth looking into for their cost savings.

In any event, supporting CORSAR by purchasing their card ought to be a no-brainer for everyone who visits Colorado's mountains for ANY reason. The various SAR organizations throughout the state are busier than ever and every bit of support is vital.

El Paso County residents are served by the El Paso County Search and Rescue and I prefer to donate directly to EPCSAR, which never charges for its services. Medical transports services, however, will charge. Also, fyi that if you get a fishing license, hunting license, register a boat, snowmobile, ATV, etc., you contribute to CORSAR in that process automatically. But it is NOT insurance, as others have noted.

[Phil P]

I'd add that while staying outside for 2 hours may not give you a sunburn at home, it could likely give you one here. The sun UV is x2ish more intense, so adjust the sunscreen accordingly.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by Phil P

I'd add that while staying outside for 2 hours may not give you a sunburn at home, it could likely give you one here. The sun UV is x2ish more intense, so adjust the sunscreen accordingly.

That's quite true.

Also, the intensity of the UV goes up with altitude. I remember getting quite a serious sunburn while on a backpacking trip going over 11,000 foot passes.

[Gerania]

Number one was unnecessary.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by Gerania

Number one was unnecessary.

The reference to the LNT Principle in the article otowi linked?