2011/12 Snowy Range snow conditions

[xcr800man]

We were there this weekend. I would put it like this. I definately wouldnt go next weekend, but if nothing changed, I would go again in a month. I am in Iowa, so distance makes up part of my decision.

Basically you can ride off trail and possibly have no problems. BUT you will absolutely hit a few rocks and stumps. I saw several sleds with damaged front ends. So off trail riding needs to be very selective. We found the best snow behind the "N" Warming hut (Which isnt there yet). We rode off trail on the north end of T and had mixed results.

Generally there is limited to no base. With all the dead fall from the trees that are falling left and right from the beetle kill or whatever happened, you have tons of obsticles. Saw several stumps just sticking out of the snow just waiting to grab an A-arm. You must go slow in these areas and take caution as much as you can.

Trails are pre-season condition. Q Might be groomed, but that is it from our ride. Out of green rock, it is very minimal but absolutely passible.

We did find several grassy meadows and had a blast. But make no mistake, you are taking a chance.

If you dont NEED to go, I would wait.

 

[06IQRMK]

Snotel

Snotels matter to me when im driving 800 miles to ride my snowmobile... I have 8 guys coming out in 3 weeks and having lived in laramie, i know that the NWS forecasts are sketchy at best for accurate forecasts in any mountain region. Hoping between now and then they get hit with a couple big snowfalls but we're headed out then either way...

 

[owenb2]

Snotels matter to me when im driving 800 miles to ride my snowmobile... I have 8 guys coming out in 3 weeks and having lived in laramie, i know that the NWS forecasts are sketchy at best for accurate forecasts in any mountain region. Hoping between now and then they get hit with a couple big snowfalls but we're headed out then either way...

Winky face means kidding around dude . Not trying to hassle you, just trying to make the best of things with a little humor


I can understand your need for snow data, that being said the most accurate information on snow is found here in this thread.

I've said it before in this thread- snotel sensors on the range only give you a very small snapshot of the true conditions on the mountain (yes i know in your position anything is helpful). But I've been to the North French Creek site and seen 2 feet of fresh, headed to south twin and been on two week old snow, in years past.

There is a chance of snow mid week, and I feel like giving the local poo dealer some $. I'll post an update after I get up there and ride!


Does anyone know a good snow Dance? Mine is apparently broken

 

[owenb2]

I just heard that cloud seeding in the area has finally started, so hopefully it will start snowing ALOT

There is a study taking place on the results of cloud seeding, it should be interesting to see the results.

 

[cb2honk]

Please, keep us posted.

 

[tmk50]

I just heard that cloud seeding in the area has finally started, so hopefully it will start snowing ALOT

There is a study taking place on the results of cloud seeding, it should be interesting to see the results.

Interesting. Last I heard they canned the program (last spring).

There was a ground based seeder not too far from some of our favorite honey holes, I'll have to drive that way when I go up there again to see if it is up and running.

Every little bit helps - especially this year!

 

[HappyJack]

Is there a link for Avy info?

http://avalanche.state.co.us/pub_bc_avo.php?zone_id=1

 

[owenb2]

Interesting. Last I heard they canned the program (last spring).

There was a ground based seeder not too far from some of our favorite honey holes, I'll have to drive that way when I go up there again to see if it is up and running.

Every little bit helps - especially this year!

There are some researchers staying in town who have a radar truck on top of battle. I helped them figure their sleds out a month ago (never been on or around snowmobiles before.) they said they were going to be cycling the cloud seeding stations, and monitoring the results.

I'm going to try and track them down this week and press for some additional details on their study.

 

[dcturbo]

There are some researchers staying in town who have a radar truck on top of battle. I helped them figure their sleds out a month ago (never been on or around snowmobiles before.) they said they were going to be cycling the cloud seeding stations, and monitoring the results.

I'm going to try and track them down this week and press for some additional details on their study.

I thought was just a mobile weather station. They are researching the wind chills that you get when you cross the divide.
What would guess the lowest wind chill has been there the last couple of years?

We did have a week of minus 20 air temps up there last year.

 

[Ritfire73]

Interesting. Last I heard they canned the program (last spring).

They discussed shutting down the seeding. The gov. put out an extension to the program by granting them 2.4 million to keep it going. (Nice article in the Laramie paper about it)

 

[Turbo25]

I know that this is kind of a loaded question and hard to answer, but is the weather pattern ever going to change so that they get dumped on up top so that we dont have to worry about land mines? we have a trip planned the first week of january but starting to wonder if we should...Thanks George

 

[ski-doo25]

X2^

 

[coyoteman]

I know that this is kind of a loaded question and hard to answer, but is the weather pattern ever going to change so that they get dumped on up top so that we dont have to worry about land mines? we have a trip planned the first week of january but starting to wonder if we should...Thanks George

Nope. I'd stay home.

 

[crix]

X2^

x3 ^

 

[dansyl159]

I know that this is kind of a loaded question and hard to answer, but is the weather pattern ever going to change so that they get dumped on up top so that we dont have to worry about land mines? we have a trip planned the first week of january but starting to wonder if we should...Thanks George

Since you asked a loaded question, I'll give a shotgun answer.....................maybe. Long range forecasts show chances mid-week before Xmas, but your guess is as good as mine. Stay tuned, I'm sure if it does dump we'll all be on here bragging how deep it is!

 

[togwotee9]

Nope. I'd stay home.

Let the big kids check it out first, we'll let you know when it's ok to play

 

[rstibi]

Ran into some guys that were gassing up on the way back to Nebraska and they said there is about a foot of new.

 

[ski-doo25]

Hey Dan would you like to show us around again this year? We'll be there the 29th snow or no. Dad (Carl), Me (Lukas) and will be out with a few guys and would like to ride with ya since we didn't get a chance last year.

 

[t30mg]

people from Iowa are so funny.

They even list there relatives sleds in there sig

 

[dansyl159]

Hey Dan would you like to show us around again this year? We'll be there the 29th snow or no. Dad (Carl), Me (Lukas) and will be out with a few guys and would like to ride with ya since we didn't get a chance last year.

We'll play it by ear Lukas, we have some of our kids and friends coming in for the New Year.