Why is it????

[PJ-Hunter]

The snowfall in the Utah/northern half of CO and Southern WY pretty much sucked this year. As of right now we are at 40% of normal for snowpack in the watershed area I live in. Not good. So the riding ended more than a month or so ago for most of us.

So, that being said it leads me to this question. Why is it that the guys still riding (the hard, crappy and thin snow) or even the spectacular snow still coming down in the Northwest corner of the USA, always state that those folks that retired the sleds for the season are sitting on the couch? I'm glad that they are enjoying themselves but for me, sitting on the couch didn't happen until yesterday afternoon hen I decided to get outta the wind and take a nap. Since I stopped riding sleds I have almost as many miles on my dirtbike as I did on my sled. I have installed a new floor in my RV, I have thatched my yards and am trying to get the lawn greened up for my kids. So, just wondering.

What have you done since you put your sled away?

 

[Scott]

Crazy weather patterns.
We are at 100% statewide. Some Snotels here are over 125%.
I'm still riding. Could have a late May or June ride this year if the melt is normal.

Alaska set an all time record for snow on Sat. LOL

 

[Joe57]

Rode till the middle of may last year been done for a month this year were losing about 5% of our snowpack a day.........Yard work and doing some flyfishing...........I'm 60 and the couch thing ain't working for me...........

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Crazy weather patterns.
We are at 100% statewide. Some Snotels here are over 125%.
I'm still riding. Could have a late May or June ride this year if the melt is normal.

Alaska set an all time record for snow on Sat. LOL

Let's put it this way. I saw bumblebees today at 10000' The clover is starting to green up. The official snowfall came in at 220" +/- and last year the total snowfall was well over 700". The Arkansas River rafting industry officially announced that no trips are being booked for 2012. So there will be a lot of unemployed peeps next week when the ski resorts close. We haven't had measurable precip for over a month and fire restrictions are already in place. It's gonna get bad.

 

[winter brew]

What kind of couch are you riding right now?

We are down to about 12 ft at 4,000 and 20+ at 6500.....and now the dang sun comes out and we have to wear sunglasses and sunscreen!!

 

[tudizzle]

The Arkansas River rafting industry officially announced that no trips are being booked for 2012.

Why do I feel like this is completely inaccurate?

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Why do I feel like this is completely inaccurate?

I have a friend who runs rafting out of Buena Vista and he told me he cancelled all of his 2012 bookings because of the poor runoff. Maybe he lied, I dunno.

All I know is that water battles are getting hot and heavy already. The snow is melting but most is being absorbed into the ground and is not hitting the river drainages. That means, those with senior water rights get to take what they need first and those downstream get the drops leftover.

 

[tudizzle]

The Arkansas River rafting industry officially announced that no trips are being booked for 2012.

Just got off the phone with three different rafting companies located on the river. All will be operating as usual...same number of trips as last year.


Except one company...they will be offering more.





...don't believe the hype!

I dunno.

and yet you make a post

 

[winter brew]

The 2012 raft tour.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

and yet you make a post

Just to get you all worked up.

 

[colorado_matt]

Why do I feel like this is completely inaccurate?

There will be no rafting on the Arkansas and the xm chassis is just as capable as the pro........

 

[PJ-Hunter]

There will be no rafting on the Arkansas and the PRO chassis is just as capable as the XM........

Fixed it for ya.

 

[Boston Racing]

Pretty sure that Dizzle, Skib and Bushy all had a great day riding....30 minutes from you house on Saturday Maybe you just need somebody to swing by and pry you off the couch

 

[PJ-Hunter]

The 2012 raft tour.

Funny but possibly true. I have been out the last 5 weekends on my dirtbike and the trails are turning to flour. Nothing to hold the soil together. When we do get some rain, that "flour" is going to wash away and erode. On the plus side, it'll make the trails more technical. Always a good thing.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Pretty sure that Dizzle, Skib and Bushy all had a great day riding....30 minutes from you house on Saturday Maybe you just need somebody to swing by and pry you off the couch

They love that crap. I was off the couch, I was on my bike testing out my new skid plate. Thanks for that.

 

[kbl6z]

I plan on riding into july.

 

[CANNONMAN]

OUCH! Swing and a hit.

Pretty sure that Dizzle, Skib and Bushy all had a great day riding....30 minutes from you house on Saturday Maybe you just need somebody to swing by and pry you off the couch

 

[PJ-Hunter]

OUCH! Swing and a hit.

Nope. I hate riding Spring Snow. They can have it.

 

[xcrash911]

I love riding spring snow, even better if I get to ride some early summer snow!!!

 

[94fordguy]

I plan on riding into july.

X2!

We had 14" fresh at 6,000 ft on Saturday and are running about 15+ ft @ 7000 ft.

Total snowfall this year according to the local ski resort is 557" Average is 294"

July or August rides look very likely