THUNDER MOUNTAIL LODGE SNOW REPORT II

[corpeleven]

Plenty of great untracked snow today! But we need another 2 feet to be game on. Looks like it's coming next Thursday!

 

[BOHICA]

Black Swan sighting

Happy 40th

 

[tvitsprormk12]

Looking for the fastest way to get to thunder mountain lodge heading west on 70 from Denver. Was wondering if a person is able to turn off in De Beque and head south on 45 1/2 RD or if that's in passible in winter time? Any information would be great thanks.

 

[03RMK800]

Can't say if its fastest way or not, but I drive the "DeBeque Cutoff" on occasion for reasons other than time. The DeBeque cutoff is a nice scenic drive but it can be a rough. It has a lot of heavy truck/oilfield traffic, and the road often shows it.

Even so, some locals swear its faster than getting on Highway 65 down in the canyon and snaking your way back up. Maybe someone who knows the time difference will respond.

 

[snowww1]

Debeque cut off is the only way to go. I drive it every time I go to the Grand Mesa.

Mike Duffy
Avalanche1.com
Avalanche education for mountain riders

 

[CANNONMAN]

I70 west, exit 62/Debeque south 13 miles, left on Hwy. 65 25 miles to mile marker 27, same as parking lot at USFS Visitor Center, left 1/2 mile, to great riding on the Grand Mesa. See you later this week.

 

[tvitsprormk12]

SWEET! Thanks!!!! Leaving in less than 12 hours!!

 

[Covelli44]

Sounds like the potential for a big storm is headed that way! I love the sound of it, especially when they say "POWERFUL AND COLD WINTER STORM TAKES AIM ON THE WESTERN SLOPE FOR FRIDAY AND WILL HELP MAKE THE WINTER OF 2012/2013 MUCH MORE MEMORABLE". Bring it on!!

 

[black swan]

Fresh? Not good. Both Accuweather and NOAA (yesterday) had no precip falling until the 18th.

 

[Damman]

Trail snow only

Just left the Grand Mesa and the snow conditions are POOR. The snow pack is thin approx. 3' and the rocks and down timber make boondocking lousy. The snow is quickly turning into sugar (depth hoar) and if you want to buy A arms there are lots of opportunities on the hills. Need much more snow before the riding will get good unless you like trails.

 

[snowgood]

thanks

thank you for the recent on the snow report. they are few and far between. SG

 

[tdorval]

Hopefully Friday changes that! I was up on Sunday and agree it needs snow, but what is there should make for a good base, at least i think it should. It seemed like most rocks were covered, but could be hit easily, put this fresh on it and hopefully its game on!

 

[CANNONMAN]

I have a different opinion about snow conditions on the Grand Mesa. We as everyone, could use more snow, but the conditions are far from "POOR". I ride nearly every day up here as have a lot of people up here. Check out the recent photos of conditions from locals who ride. There are areas I would not recommend but the majority of the Mesa is great. I would like to see more snow as would everyone but the recent 3 days of warm weather is setting up the snow we have had very nicely into a great base for the rest of the year. We have had over 7' of new snow in the last 20 days and it was very cold after the storms and the the snow never had a chance to setup msaking what we had nearly bottomless. Snow is setting up now and the next few storms will make the Mesa perfect.
I have only seen 2 sleds damaged so far in regards to control arms and spindles. Last year with the poor conditions everyone had I was seeing sleds damaged daily. Conditions right now are quite good and I would not worry about riding up here.
I know, I know peeps will say I have ulterior motive for saying conditions are good, but believe me my posts in regards to conditons are very conservative rather than like the ski hills that always say the conditions are perfect. It does me no good and actually hurts us if I give a false report on conditions. As said above checkout recent pics and decide. Thanks, Mark

Just left the Grand Mesa and the snow conditions are POOR. The snow pack is thin approx. 3' and the rocks and down timber make boondocking lousy. The snow is quickly turning into sugar (depth hoar) and if you want to buy A arms there are lots of opportunities on the hills. Need much more snow before the riding will get good unless you like trails.

 

[SSWIM]

This next system could produce NICELY. Like Mark said, the snow is basing up great and now let the fun begin.

Sam

 

[BOHICA]

Just left the Grand Mesa and the snow conditions are POOR. The snow pack is thin approx. 3' and the rocks and down timber make boondocking lousy. The snow is quickly turning into sugar (depth hoar) and if you want to buy A arms there are lots of opportunities on the hills. Need much more snow before the riding will get good unless you like trails.

Sorry you didn't have a good time on the Mesa, if you ever come out again hit up one of the locals or get a guide to show you around. You evidently wern't riding in the right places. I beg to differ on 3ft of base. Two weeks ago I was in snow that was over my head deep, coincidentally that was within two miles of the TML.

 

[BOHICA]

PICS Jan 1st 2013

Pics from New Years day on the Grand Mesa. Trails only!!!!!!

 

[sledsrock]

Sorry you didn't have a good time on the Mesa, if you ever come out again hit up one of the locals or get a guide to show you around. You evidently wern't riding in the right places. I beg to differ on 3ft of base. Two weeks ago I was in snow that was over my head deep, coincidentally that was within two miles of the TML.

X2, you just need to know where to go!

 

[snowww1]

I was on the Grand Mesa a week ago. The depth of snow varies tremendously. We rode for hours in untracked deep powder. You have to know where to go. The conditions are not poor in most places. This next storm looks to be a good one.

Mike Duffy

 

[SSWIM]

Pics from New Years day on the Grand Mesa. Trails only!!!!!!

C'mon Mark. You know there isn't any snow on the Mesa.
Sam

 

[west bound]

Last weekend

Lots of untracked out there yet