Buena vista riding

[snowrdr]

Ok so from what I am reading Colorado is a no go, unless you head towards New Mexico? Heading that way in a week so I may need to head towards the North? This storm rolling into Oregon and Washington is going to be a predictor since we here in the Sierra area are having golf weather!

 

[m8ltd]

Guys, I live in almont, co.Which is on the other side of the divide from BV.
Cottonwood is pretty cool, but nothing compared to Irwin, which is
in Crested Butte. There is very little snow right now, but don't panic.
By jan 21 there will be plenty of snow. If you choose to go to Irwin, you
can lodge at the Almont resort, which is 1/2 hr from irwin. These are the
snow fall numbers at irwin the last 3 years.

2008-700 plus inches
2009-860-1000 inches
2010- 800 plus

Irwin trail head 9500 ft
max 12,500
every kind of terrain known to man.

Almont Resort
970-641-4009
Stay@almontresort.com

Tell them johnnyalmont sent ya.

Have fun where ever you end up.

What's the difference in riding between Irwin and cottonwood this will be our first time riding outwest so we want to have a blast when or if we go if this weather keeps up we may have to cancel the trip and ext forecast looks terrible

 

[XP Summit]

Dude you have over 3 1/2 weeks for the mountains to get snow. I would not be too concerned with Snow at all especially since it's your first time out and it's mid-late January. I would be more concerned with learning the areas you are riding. Making sure you have proper equipment, beacons, probes, and sled set up. And have someone to show you around. You DO NOT want to go into the mountains for your first time without the right gear and not have someone who can show you the ropes. It is a completely different animal than you are used to. COMPLETELY! It's one thing if you ride an area where there is a trail system like Tog or Snowies and can play 200ft from the trails for a week, but in areas like that you have to know what you are doing.

 

[dejadoo]

What's the difference in riding between Irwin and cottonwood this will be our first time riding outwest so we want to have a blast when or if we go if this weather keeps up we may have to cancel the trip and ext forecast looks terrible

If they get a storm that closes down Monarch Pass it is a long haul to Crested Butte. Cottonwood is much easier to get to, but both areas have quite a bit of avalanche danger.
You should check out Wyoming for your 1st trip west.
You can't beat the drive to the Snowies, I-80 all the way and no mountain driving all the way to the parking lot. The Continental Divide trail and the Bighorns would be an even better spot for a 1st trip, just a few hundred more miles.

 

[glennz]

Guys, I live in almont, co.Which is on the other side of the divide from BV.
Cottonwood is pretty cool, but nothing compared to Irwin, which is
in Crested Butte. There is very little snow right now, but don't panic.
By jan 21 there will be plenty of snow. If you choose to go to Irwin, you
can lodge at the Almont resort, which is 1/2 hr from irwin. These are the
snow fall numbers at irwin the last 3 years.

2008-700 plus inches
2009-860-1000 inches
2010- 800 plus

Irwin trail head 9500 ft
max 12,500
every kind of terrain known to man.

Almont Resort
970-641-4009
Stay@almontresort.com

Tell them johnnyalmont sent ya.

Have fun where ever you end up.

Having a real hard time with your Snowfall numbers, is there a Snotel site close by?
Have lived in Colorado since 1976 & can't say I ever seen snowfall numbers like that before.

 

[J almont]

M8ltd. both areas offer excellent terrain. If one area has snow usually the other has the same amount of snow. I try to get poeple over to the west side of the pass for the true colorado experience. BV is a modern town.
The west side is the true picture of colorado. I am not knocking BV either.
Crested Butte is a beautiful old town, Almont, has taylor canyon, and the gunnison river. It is beautiful. Plus, Irwin is just plain sick. I have never seen
monarch pass closed for more than a couple hours. Just make sure you have
4x4 and chains if that is what they are requiring at the time.
Also, if by some freak of nature we do not get snow in these areas dont't
cancel your trip. Head south to wolf creek.
As stated above. I can't tell you the gamble you are taking if you are not beaconed up. Probes ,shovels. I set off a very small avy 2 years ago and
was pinned in standing strait up with snow up to my waist and it
was not a pleasant situation.

Glenz, two of my best buds live in irwin full time. Those are their numbers, and I guarantee you they are accurate. The last 3 years have been above
average, but the average is near 50' a year. Where were you 3 years ago when we broke every snowfall record there was? In CB we had snow over the tops of roofs.

 

[Zachcreek]

Yes, BV is a modern town. We have a stop light. If you are staying at the thunder lodge, bars and restaurants are just a couple of block away. Reasonably priced also. Almont is cool and so is CB. Almont is kind of remote if you want some night life, but BV kind of shuts down early. If you are going to the Hippie side of the world, stay in CB, more expensive, but driving back to Almont would be sketchy if you had a few adult beverages.....OH, btw, Irwin does rock.....

 

[aphoric]

Johnson Village is where the cool kids stay. Who has energy for nightlife after a FULL day of riding?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Yes, BV is a modern town. We have a stop light. If you are staying at the thunder lodge, bars and restaurants are just a couple of block away. Reasonably priced also. Almont is cool and so is CB. Almont is kind of remote if you want some night life, but BV kind of shuts down early. If you are going to the Hippie side of the world, stay in CB, more expensive, but driving back to Almont would be sketchy if you had a few adult beverages.....OH, btw, Irwin does rock.....

BV has the most kick aS$ pizza place I have ever eaten!! Pizza Works (am I right) It's on the furthest north end of town on the East side of the HWY. DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER!! Inside is great service and fricking AWESOME pizza.

 

[Goinboardin]

Having a real hard time with your Snowfall numbers, is there a Snotel site close by?
Have lived in Colorado since 1976 & can't say I ever seen snowfall numbers like that before.

It pounds back there. I've seen 2" snow at Kebler Pass trailhead (and 0 in Crested Butte itself), sled back 10-12 miles up towards Scarp's Ridge and it was 18".
Nearest Snotel I know of is Schofield Pass, which also gets a good amount of snow.
However, just Tuesday night I drove to the top of Kebler Pass in my pickup, some 4x4 needed but mostly 2x4. Truck sank in the trail maybe 2". There's enough snow to putt around. But if you can hill climb like a madman I can send you to some good/deep snow up Slate River road north of CB. Not even sure my piped 800 with a 174 would make it though...

 

[J almont]

Zachcreek, Aparently you have never partied at the almont resort.

And yes, CB is full of trustfunding hippies with no direction at all, but
that has nothing to do with the beauty of the gunnison valley. Everyone
should be able to see it once. IMO much more beautiful in the winter.

 

[Zachcreek]

J, I have been to Almont. Love the Gunnison Valley, Irwin , CB etc. Have friends over there. Worked there during the winters of the big dumps on some condos. Just giving them my opinion with options for them. I think they will be happy no matter where they go. I also, as you, like to see the local economy get a bump..... And yes, I agree, the Valley is spectacular.......

 

[paulharris]

50 degrees around vail today. this is not good folks. barely enough snow for a road ride. its looking grim, absolutely no snow as far out as the forecast shows

 

[MOB]

it's cold enohgh to snow at Snoqualmie

 

[powdersnobb]

Get the bikes out! Oh wait, there is still too much snow in the front range for that. LAME!!!

 

[Zachcreek]

BV has the most kick aS$ pizza place I have ever eaten!! Pizza Works (am I right) It's on the furthest north end of town on the East side of the HWY. DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER!! Inside is great service and fricking AWESOME pizza.

Pizza Works is the best pizza I have ever had. Wednesday night C Bacon with pineapple,,,,,,,,ummmmm

 

[glennz]

It pounds back there. I've seen 2" snow at Kebler Pass trailhead (and 0 in Crested Butte itself), sled back 10-12 miles up towards Scarp's Ridge and it was 18".
Nearest Snotel I know of is Schofield Pass, which also gets a good amount of snow.
However, just Tuesday night I drove to the top of Kebler Pass in my pickup, some 4x4 needed but mostly 2x4. Truck sank in the trail maybe 2". There's enough snow to putt around. But if you can hill climb like a madman I can send you to some good/deep snow up Slate River road north of CB. Not even sure my piped 800 with a 174 would make it though...

Got to press the BS Button, never has anywhere in Colorado had 1000" of snow let alone 800". You can go to the Snotel sites & check the data yourself. The record for a month at CB is 128" for the month, I worked 5 years at Wolf Creek Ski area 78-83 592" is the record for Wolf Creek.

Not starting a Pissing match, just the facts!

 

[tudizzle]

Got to press the BS Button, never has anywhere in Colorado had 1000" of snow let alone 800". You can go to the Snotel sites & check the data yourself. The record for a month at CB is 128" for the month, I worked 5 years at Wolf Creek Ski area 78-83 592" is the record for Wolf Creek.

Not starting a Pissing match, just the facts!

 

[Goinboardin]

Got to press the BS Button, never has anywhere in Colorado had 1000" of snow let alone 800". You can go to the Snotel sites & check the data yourself. The record for a month at CB is 128" for the month, I worked 5 years at Wolf Creek Ski area 78-83 592" is the record for Wolf Creek.

Not starting a Pissing match, just the facts!

Well, either way they get a **** load of snow. CS Irwin reported 138" last December and 738" for the season; you can't use CB data for a sweet spot 10 miles away. http://www.irwincolorado.com/winter/#/snow-report/snowfall-history My buddy Tom lives at the lake most of the time and has very similar numbers.

Not trying to have a pissing match either, but there are few recorded facts about that area anwyay. No snotel, just tales.

 

[Zachcreek]

I have a bunch of pics of the years in question from CB. Tunnels into houses, 4ft dumps in one night....almost every night. The town was a mess but the sledding and skiing were over the top.....no pun intended. I would post some pics if I took the time to learn how...