Elbert in July 2019, snow?

[GoIrish89]

Hi,

Have heard from a buddy in Denver that the Elbert hike could still be icy/snowy in early July pending weather etc. Wanted to get thoughts, the weekend of July 6th/July 7th would you think that the ice/snow would still be an issue?

Thanks in advance!

[peter303]

Snow melt is about three weeks behind normal according to Snotel graphs. So read up on June 15 trip reports of typical years. P.S. ignore 2018 reports, which was a severe drought year.

[LarryM]

Too early to say. Best guess IMO: some ice & snow remaining, but should be doable without flotation. You may still want micro spikes. But that depends upon conditions during the next few weeks - melting versus even possibly some more snow (some predicted for this weekend).

[SkaredShtles]

Maybe.

[MUni Rider]

Peter303 is right on. Keep in mind that the graph he posted was for the statewide average, at 127% normal snowpack. The Arkansas river basin, of which Mt. Elbert overlooks, is higher at 138%. https://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/st ... tark19.gif This is a great year to be a whitewater kayaker. The Arkansas river is already at 4000 cfs through the Royal Gorge because, in part, the snow melting off of Elbert. And the peak is weeks away. You may want to look into a raft trip in addition to your climbing plans because this is a great water year. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07094500

[pw]

Here is a camera you can monitor. Elbert is that pointy thing on the left side, Massive is the larger closer peak. Massive seems to hold more snow longer into the summer than Elbert, usually. If I was going to guess, I'd say Elbert may have some snow in the trees and maybe a patch or two above treeline, but nothing that would keep you from climbing it.


http://www.keno.org/colorado_web_cams/l ... e_cams.htm

[peter303]

I posted Snotel for the Colorado River Basin which is nearest to Elbert. That basin had 1/3 more peak water than average. Further north, e.g. Rocky Park, less peak water. Further south in the San Juans, 1/2 more peak water.

[SkaredShtles]

I posted Snotel for the Colorado River Basin which is nearest to Elbert. That basin had 1/3 more peak water than average. Further north, e.g. Rocky Park, less peak water. Further south in the San Juans, 1/2 more peak water.

As Muni Rider mentioned - Elbert is actually in the *Arkansas* watershed. For more detailed estimates of snow, check the individual Snotel sites in the area.

And rest assured, there is still a TON of snow up high in the mountains.

[jfm3]

I drove from Boulder to Mt. Antero & back this weekend through Leadville. Elbert and Massive are STACKED with snow right now. The entirety of Massive above treeline is white. Elbert has a few bare spots on the NE ridge but is mostly covered in snow. It looks like the snow extends down below treeline a bit as well. The entirety of the Sawatch has snow, though there is less of it the farther south one goes. Prepare for snow above treeline in July.

[SkaredShtles]

I drove from Boulder to Mt. Antero & back this weekend through Leadville. Elbert and Massive are STACKED with snow right now. The entirety of Massive above treeline is white.

Heck - from the recent photo I saw of the east side of Massive, there is still continuous snow down *below* treeline a ways... crazy, crazy stuff up there this year.

[SchralpTheGnar]

Shoot, there's even snow below below treeline.

[Scott P]

Elbert is a gentle mountain so I wouldn't sweat the snow too much. Just take a good pair of boots and some poles.