2012/13 Snowy Range snow conditions
- Thread starter Himark
- Start date
Rode Saturday the 23rd out of Greenrock. Took 130 and off trail around past Marie to the backside. In the woods you could find about 7" of snow and if you looked real hard you could find a foot in some areas. Getting tracked up fast. Was socked in last night again with light snow. Hoping to find a bit more fresh today. Pretty cold up there with temps in the teens. Sun popped out a couple times which was nice. Nothing "epic" out there, but at least you can ride and have some fun.
E
edavis0202
Well-known member
Not bad for a last minute ride of the year...better then a stick in the eye
Keep the reports coming, we have a group of Flatlanders heading out from MI, IN, and IL.
If anyone as the hankering to join us for some April Fools riding, we have room to join up. Under 900 covers transportation, lodging and meals. 5 days of riding time.
PM me for details
If anyone as the hankering to join us for some April Fools riding, we have room to join up. Under 900 covers transportation, lodging and meals. 5 days of riding time.
PM me for details
Anyone out there riding looking for a report leaving tomorrow going to ride the west side and the madres this weekend hope this storm drops some new snow.
Update, riding the Snowy Range in Wyoming this week.
Conditions are dust on crust and dust on slush.
The weather has been warm and the spring birds are out, even on the top of the mountain. Below 9,000 the area seems to be pretty soft and squishy. The creeks and rivers are opening up in unsuspecting areas. The wind was howelling around the widow maker and the front side of the mountain yesterday. Above 9,000 and you are a hero, climbing almost anything. Poking around through the trees and exploring is very easy right now.
The trail down the road to the Place for gas is getting very thin. At this point it is passable. There are a few very small patches of dirt/mud showing on some of the lower trails. Almost all of the other trails around N, NO, X, and O are still passable and in pretty good shape. With lows in the teens last night, the snow on top should still be in great shape today, this week may be the end of riding from this side of the pass.
Conditions are dust on crust and dust on slush.
The weather has been warm and the spring birds are out, even on the top of the mountain. Below 9,000 the area seems to be pretty soft and squishy. The creeks and rivers are opening up in unsuspecting areas. The wind was howelling around the widow maker and the front side of the mountain yesterday. Above 9,000 and you are a hero, climbing almost anything. Poking around through the trees and exploring is very easy right now.
The trail down the road to the Place for gas is getting very thin. At this point it is passable. There are a few very small patches of dirt/mud showing on some of the lower trails. Almost all of the other trails around N, NO, X, and O are still passable and in pretty good shape. With lows in the teens last night, the snow on top should still be in great shape today, this week may be the end of riding from this side of the pass.
Here is day 2 James. I will keep you posted on the area. You thinking about coming here next week? Rendezvous may be closing next week, Ten Mile is supposed to as well.
April 3rd Report......
More dust on the crust up top, mostly on the immediate slopes of the med bow range.
Over all, some great riding on the top of the mountains. Spring conditions lead us up some chutes, on to the tops of mountain ridges, into some river beds and through some tree climbs into many untouched lakes and pocket meadows. Jon had to break out the 121 ZR 700 due to Summit clutch issues and he went almost everywhere the summits went. Keep in mind Jon can ride, very well.
The trails around the front are in great shape and all of the lakes are still frozen and passable on the front side.
Warm temperatures today lead to creamy mashed potato snow on the way down the mountain.
Slushmobiling anywhere off the trail below 9,000 or so. The wet snow has been great for cooling and lubrication on and off the mountain though. A brief flurry just passed the lodge and should dump a little more up on the top of the range for the morning. There are a few more very small patches(5-15 ft long) of dirt/gravel on the H trail toward Ten Mile and The Place. The ditch line is getting very thin as well and may not last long if the sun and below freezing temperatures do not cooperate.There is also a logging operation headed toward Rendezvous Lodge closing a section of trail and rerouting it over a bunch of stumps.
Here are a few blue bird mountain shots from today.
Last edited:
Day 3, Thursday April 4th.....Spring temperatures and Slushmobiling
The temperatures were in the low 20's overnight Wednesday, but hit upper 40's-50's across the top of the mountain. Today, I rode the entire day without a coat. A very light dusting on top Wednesday night helped however it was a very wet, slushy snow when it fell. The ditch line to the Place and Ten Mile has managed to keep even during the high temperatures. Some of the patches of gravel on the trail have grown to about 20-30ft. All of the trails are still in fairly good shape and passable.
The slush line has moved up to about 9500-9750 and with overnight lows above freezing last night I expect the snow at elevation to start to soften up to. There is still 5-6 ft at elevation in most places, however the rocks and stumps becoming exposed fast. Our day ended when Jon broke at 11, 400 ft riding the 121 ice ripper.
The temperatures were in the low 20's overnight Wednesday, but hit upper 40's-50's across the top of the mountain. Today, I rode the entire day without a coat. A very light dusting on top Wednesday night helped however it was a very wet, slushy snow when it fell. The ditch line to the Place and Ten Mile has managed to keep even during the high temperatures. Some of the patches of gravel on the trail have grown to about 20-30ft. All of the trails are still in fairly good shape and passable.
The slush line has moved up to about 9500-9750 and with overnight lows above freezing last night I expect the snow at elevation to start to soften up to. There is still 5-6 ft at elevation in most places, however the rocks and stumps becoming exposed fast. Our day ended when Jon broke at 11, 400 ft riding the 121 ice ripper.
Snowy range conditions
Rode today in the snowys and found pretty decent spring snow. Looks like a big storm is moving in, if you can't be farming you may as well be riding
Rode today in the snowys and found pretty decent spring snow. Looks like a big storm is moving in, if you can't be farming you may as well be riding
Last edited:
Yes Dan is !
The Valley is quiet for now , and honestly the snow is ok yet , had a good nite ride today , just got back home from ridin !
The Valley is quiet for now , and honestly the snow is ok yet , had a good nite ride today , just got back home from ridin !
Yup, have to pay for my sins of the winter!
The Valley is quiet for now , and honestly the snow is ok yet , had a good nite ride today , just got back home from ridin !
Day 4 in the Snowy Range.....rain, rain go away. With an overcast start to the day, winds picked up and the sun stayed away. Unfortunately the rain came on the west side of the range. At 3 pm the rain started on the west side. I am not sure what it did on the mountain as we were packing up and left around 5. The trail was getting extremely slushy with more bare areas the further down the pass we went. The trail section getting to 10 mile and the place is getting real rough. The west side of the road is better as the trail side is about a foot deep in water/mud. The last 3 pictures depict the trail conditions on the west side of the range, at Ten Mile, at The Place, and the ditch to each.
We went out early for a climb to the top of med bow peak and hiked to the very top of the range. The snow from 130 up was in good shape before the precipitation mix although, I am not sure how if fared up there yesterday afternoon and last night.
There will likely be some riding left if you can park and unload to access the higher points of the trail. If you plan to 'boondock' around or to the trial, good luck as anything off the trail is pure soup under 9200-9500 ft.
We went out early for a climb to the top of med bow peak and hiked to the very top of the range. The snow from 130 up was in good shape before the precipitation mix although, I am not sure how if fared up there yesterday afternoon and last night.
There will likely be some riding left if you can park and unload to access the higher points of the trail. If you plan to 'boondock' around or to the trial, good luck as anything off the trail is pure soup under 9200-9500 ft.
Last edited:
Sled rentals
Gonna be heading to the snoweis this Tues and on of the guys going with us needs to rent. Anyone know of a place that might have a sled for rent this time of year?
Gonna be heading to the snoweis this Tues and on of the guys going with us needs to rent. Anyone know of a place that might have a sled for rent this time of year?
Thanks newmy, you by chance have the number to Albany for the rentals? Looks like nxt weak is gonna be awesome up there!
Similar threads
