I got the fingers crossed on this one.
Need Advice, never been to colorado
- Thread starter MidwestBoondocker
- Start date
It is snowing up north right now. CDOT cameras show it snowing in Steamboat and Grand lake!
It has begun!
We are supposed to get ours down south tonight and tomorrow for wave #1.
Had a similar experience as bay at Grand Mesa about 5 years ago.
Nothing like 60-70" in a day to make you wish it hadn't snowed as much.
That trip consisted of a couple stuck fest rides close to the lodges and one avy rescue.
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing!
To the OP, if the conditions are acceptable, I'd highly reccomend Grand Mesa. Longer drive, but almost unlimited terrain, great trail system, great lodges and lower than avg pucker factor for inexperienced riders in most areas.
I'd get in touch with the lodges there and check their availability, get the real scoop on conditions there and see if you can get some contingent plans on the books.
Nothing like 60-70" in a day to make you wish it hadn't snowed as much.
That trip consisted of a couple stuck fest rides close to the lodges and one avy rescue.
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing!
To the OP, if the conditions are acceptable, I'd highly reccomend Grand Mesa. Longer drive, but almost unlimited terrain, great trail system, great lodges and lower than avg pucker factor for inexperienced riders in most areas.
I'd get in touch with the lodges there and check their availability, get the real scoop on conditions there and see if you can get some contingent plans on the books.
DID YOU GUYS GET ANY SNOW LAST NIGHT?
No, and it was really warm all night, in the 40's
Been pretty windy all day, looks like it will move in tonight and snow tomorrow.
Riding Sunday
Pretty honest evaluation of snow right now, not worth the long drive from the Midwest right now
'Right now' is a little misleading. As posted earlier, there are at least 2-3 nice looking storms lined up West of the Rockies with the potential to give Colorado an epic late December snow base. In my opinion, in the next 7-10 days we'll be in great shape throughout the Rockies.
The trick is to watch the weather in Washington and Oregon for the Northern Rockies (Northern Colorado up to Montana), if those states get hit with big rain/snow storms, like they are 'right now', then most of the time we're going to get hit. If California gets hit with big rain/snow, then it usually hits Southern Colorado and New Mexico and Northern Colorado doesn't get squat. The storms lining-up now look big enough to me to cover the entire state.
This theory is not scientific by any means, just me watching the Colorado mountain weather for the last 20 years.
Well just like COpowder, I used to be that guy sitting in dry Iowa or Minnesota with a new sled anxious to ride, it was always a struggle trying to plan trips around good enough weather to make the long drive and at the same time trying to arrive just as the big storm ended, its a big gamble for midwest riders and now that I live in the west I try to be very honest when they ask hows the snow, driving 16 hours is a huge investment for some of them, you and I can head up the mountain right after any little storm and not be disappointed with 2 inchs of fresh, driving 16 hours 2 inchs would be a let down. just my opinion, yours may very
C
capulin overdrive
Well-known member
Agree with you guys saying most of the State isn't worth a 20 hour.
For instance the Crested Butte ski area only had 35 inches of total snow the other day, God knows what the base is?
However I'm giving advice to Chicago guy who's trying to sled on his only chance of the year with his son.
Wolf Creek has 124 inches so far, with 8 inches last night. I pretty confident that is worth the drive.
For instance the Crested Butte ski area only had 35 inches of total snow the other day, God knows what the base is?
However I'm giving advice to Chicago guy who's trying to sled on his only chance of the year with his son.
Wolf Creek has 124 inches so far, with 8 inches last night. I pretty confident that is worth the drive.
I'm pretty sure that CO Powder lives in Ouray, Ridgway, or some place close to there. 8 inches at Purgatory and Wolf Creek already this morning and it's still snowing at my house. In my opinion after this storm is over it'd be worth driving to ride at Wolf Creek, especially if that is the only opportunity you have to get west all year. The snow is going to be good after this next week is over.
Snowed most of the night last night, still snowing at home and on the mountain. Supposed to continue all day. Pics tomorrow night!
Yes he does, I meant he used to live in Midwest, we both live in Colorado now
Yeah I used to live in WI myself about 20 years ago. Whole family still lives there. Glad to be gone from there. Nothing like living in the mountains.
Heading to Wolf Creek today. We shall see how good it is.
Heading to Wolf Creek today. We shall see how good it is.
Riding was good today. 17" on Friday and Saturday covered up everything pretty well. Still a few things lurking around. If the storm on Monday-Tuesday drops another foot, we'll be where we were at in February last year (which was a crap year until late spring).
Getting better but as joetroop mentions we could still use some more. I bent my third cheap a$$ Polaris a-arm yesterday.... Still had a good ride. I tried to get some tree area pics, can't quite get in there yet.
Supposed to snow two days straight now as mentioned. Looking like this January will be a LOT better than last.
Supposed to snow two days straight now as mentioned. Looking like this January will be a LOT better than last.
I'm not the originator of this thread, but have the same questions. I've been to Buff Pass and Ears before, but this year we will have a total novice with so looking for a place a little more accommodating for lodging and sled rental and that is why I thought Grand Lake.
Is it usually rideable right out of town? Or should I expect to trailer?
Do I need to stay at a place right on the trail or is the whole town sled friendly? I plan to rent a cabin from VRBO and don't know if is right on the trail.
I see a few rental places in town, any to go to or stay away from?
What is the terrain like? I'm familiar with Ears like I said, as well as Snowys. Besides the newbie, the rest of our group has lots of experience and don't want to be bored. Decent sloped tree riding?
Is it usually rideable right out of town? Or should I expect to trailer?
Do I need to stay at a place right on the trail or is the whole town sled friendly? I plan to rent a cabin from VRBO and don't know if is right on the trail.
I see a few rental places in town, any to go to or stay away from?
What is the terrain like? I'm familiar with Ears like I said, as well as Snowys. Besides the newbie, the rest of our group has lots of experience and don't want to be bored. Decent sloped tree riding?
It's snowing pretty good right now in town in Durango. Gotta be dumping snow up in the mountains. Will be interesting to see how much snow this storm drops. This one might be better than the weekend storm.
CO Powder, was that in the grand lake area?
C
capulin overdrive
Well-known member
Nope... Way down south, past Grand Junction, out of Ridgway.
I would bet Grand Mesa is shaping up nicely now!
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