Cooler temperatures and clear blue skies make September a great month to get out and get active in Rocky Mountain National Park. And with seasonal closures looming, the window for fun is narrowing.

Most seasonal campgrounds will be open through September 25; however, Glacier Basin will close after this Monday. Those with thick skin and warm sleeping bags can continue camping at the Moraine Park, Timber Creek and Longs Peak campgrounds all year long.

Trail Ridge Road is expected to remain open until October, unless early snowstorms yield overly hazardous conditions.

For more information, head to coloradoan.com.

A warning to those of you planning to take the scenic Old Fall River Road route to the Alpine Visitor Center this Thursday: Don't.

The road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow park workers to complete construction on the Alpine Visitor Center's parking lot. According to examiner.com who references Kyle Patterson, paving and improvements being made to the Visitor Center's curbs will be hindered by vehicles coming up Old Fall River Road, making the road's closure necessary.

The closure may last into Friday morning.

That's Abby, Paul and me on a short hike to Mills Lake. It's fun to enjoy nature, but be sure to be aware that RMNP is a national park, not a theme park.

Rocky Mountain National Park has seen more search and rescue action this summer than in years past. Since May, 17 different operations have been categorized as “major incidents,” as compared with eight last year within the same time frame. Journalist Kirsten Silveira reports for LovelandConnection.com: www.coloradoan.com/article/20100802/LOVELAND01/100802005.

So Greg Lemond is kind of a big deal in the world of cyling (that’s what le monde means in French, by the way). He’s won this big race in France a few times, and he’s quite fond of the color yellow--he wears it any chance he can get.

And on August 21, according to KKTV, he’s coming to Colorado for a bit more two-wheeled fun, this time with the Tour de Cure Colorado. So whether you’re a Lance prodigy or you’re just proud to have recently put away the training wheels, here’s your chance to ride with Lemond, l’homme soi-même (the man himself) in the peloton.

The Tour is a fund-raising event for the American Diabetes Association. Courses of varying lengths will wind their way through and around Estes Park. The 20K (12.5 miles) family & fun ride, 50K (31 miles) ride, 100K (62 miles) ride, and century (100 miles) ride cater to many different fitness levels. Registration is currently $25, $35 on Event Day. There is also a fundraising minimum of $200. For more information, visit the Tour de Cure website: www.tourdecurecolorado.com.

The weather may be warming up and snowy terrain may have decreased significantly, but remember that dangerous conditions can still exist at higher altitudes.

The trek to the summit of Longs Peak, for example, still has snowy patches in some areas, so while snowshoes may not be necessary, caution certainly is. Just two days ago, a hiker fell 150 feet from the Narrows section of the peak. Park rangers rescued the 28-year-old male who was conscious and in stable condition when reached, but he still sustained numerous injuries. Read the full story at the Estes Park Trail Gazette.

Some tips to remember when going for a hike, even something far less strenuous than Longs Peak:
1. Always carry the Essentials, a list of items to never hike without.
2. Tell someone where you’re going to be hiking and actually go there, and when to expect you back. Even if plans change, leave a note in your car so that authorities will know where to look if you’re not back within five or six hours of when you expected to be.
3. It’s best to hike with a friend. Not only do you have someone to talk to as the miles go by, but there’s someone to help if something goes wrong.

Josh Kennedy and Josh Allen climbing Longs with the necessary gear. Photo by Brian Martin on Flickr: BrianMartin926.