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The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and skis are getting shelved in favor of hiking boots and mountain bikes. But in some parts of the Roaring Fork Valley, hikers and bikers will have to wait a little longer to venture out on certain trails.
Those trails are closed to protect herds of elk, which rely on low-elevation open spaces for their survival around this time of year. Closures keep people and their pets from spooking elk and pushing them away from pivotal grazing areas.
Wintertime survival at more than a mile above sea level is no small feat for animals. When things get cold, finding food is a challenge.