Calls for search and rescue are ramping up in Summit County as the Fourth of July weekend brings the summer tourism season into full swing.

Summit County Rescue Group president Ben Butler said Friday, July 5, that call volumes have trended upwards, in line with past years, amid what is typically the busiest time of year for the all-volunteer team.

“People are heeding the warning calls to be prepared, I think,” Butler said. “That is just such a good (message) to get out — to be prepared, to tell someone where you’re going, to turn back if you’re not feeling it that day. The mountains will be there tomorrow.”

After a strong snowpack this past winter, snow has mostly melted out of the region’s high peaks, though there was still enough snow for the Peak 10 Classic, a local tradition of skiing on the Fourth of July in Breckenridge, to take place.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, some high-Alpine trails like Quandary Peak, one of Colorado’s 14,000-plus foot tall mountains, continue to have variable conditions, including snow and mud. But many other trails are dry, and wildflowers are starting to pop up along others.

With the snow largely gone from the trails, Butler said more hikers are getting out into the mountains, leading to more calls for “slip and fall” injuries such as when the rescue group responded Tuesday, July 2, to McCullough Gulch.

The trailhead parking lot was “full to the gills,” when the rescue group fielded 15 volunteers that day, Butler said, adding “people are definitely getting out there.” The volunteers wheeled the hiker with a lower leg injury off of the trail on a litter, he said.

Summer conditions have also allowed for many Forest Service roads and popular off-roading areas – such as Peru Creek Road and Georgia Pass – to open in recent weeks. With the off-roading season picking up, Butler reminded those on ATVs, OHVs, dirt bikes or any other off-road vehicle to drive within their ability level and wear the proper safety equipment, including a helmet.

Last Sunday, June 30, Butler said the Summit County Rescue Group responded to an ATV accident that occurred up Tiger Road near Breckenridge. The individual in that crash was injured and transported to the hospital, he said.

“Go slow. Don’t exceed your abilities on these machines, especially if you’re not familiar with them,” Butler said. “There are a lot of places to rent these machines in Summit County. Terrain can change very quickly to where you’re no longer comfortable.”

The rescue group has also received a number of calls stemming from boating incidents this summer, Butler said. Most of those calls have been for unattended watercraft where it was unknown whether the owner of the watercraft was hurt or injured, he said.

For example, in late-June, Summit County Rescue Group volunteers and Summit County Sheriff’s Office personnel searched along the Snake River for more than two hours but found no one missing after a report of an unattended yellow tube floating down the river. At least two other similar calls for unattended watercraft also occurred last month, prompting brief searches.

All watercraft, including kayaks and paddle boards, should be labeled with the owner’s name, address and phone number, Butler said. If someone loses their equipment but is OK, they should call 911 or non-emergency dispatch at 970-668-8600 to report the situation, “just so we’re not sending people out trying to find the owners of the vessels,” he added.

With plenty of visitors planning to hang out in the mountains to recreate throughout the Fourth of July weekend, the Forest Service officials are continuing to call on all boaters, kayakers and paddle boarders to wear their life jackets. Water bodies in the Colorado Rocky Mountains can be deceivingly cold. The Dillon Reservoir is so cold, for example, that falling in can create a shock-like reaction that can make it difficult or impossible to swim.

July is also typically when monsoon typically starts up, Butler said. To prevent the risk of encountering the afternoon thunderstorms that are common during Colorado summers, he said hikers should start early and end early. Boaters and paddlers should also be wary of high winds and thunderstorms that can be hard to predict in the mountains.

As Fourth of July festivities continue, Forest Service officials also want to remind visitors that a food storage order is in place requiring food to be kept in a vehicle or bear-resistant container when not being prepared.

While there are no fire restrictions in place in Summit County, basic common sense is still also necessary with campfires. Campfires should never be left unattended and should be completely smothered, with the ashes cold to the touch, before being abandoned, according to the Forest Service. Fireworks of any kind are illegal on National Forest lands.

“We hope everyone has a happy Fourth of July weekend,” Acting White River National Forest supervisor Heather Noel said in a statement. “Taking a few precautions will ensure your weekend is safe and enjoyable.”