Is Hiking Safe When Wildland Fire Smoke and Other Pollutants are In Colorado’s Air?

At the time of this newsletter’s release, Denver, Colorado Springs and even Lamar’s air quality was determined to be “unhealthy” for sensitive groups with an AQI (Air Quality Index) of over 100.  The rest of the state, at this time, is experiencing “moderate” levels of pollution (an AQI of between 50 and 100).

These kinds of determinations are made daily by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s air quality forecasts. The standards for these forecasts are set by the EPA for six pollutants that are considered harmful to human health (ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead).

According to the Hikers Daily website, “[for most everyone] …it’s best to avoid hiking in areas with moderate air quality levels if possible.” They do specify that moderate air quality levels can be problematic if you suffer from asthma or another respiratory condition. They stress the importance of consulting with your doctor before heading outdoors.

Resources:

CMC Trip Leader Manual (See the section on Wildfire starting on page 36 and AQI Guidelines on page 37) 

• CO Department of Detailed Air Quality Summary

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• Colorado Smoke Blog

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• Monitoring Sites Map AQI