Lake City Potential Flooding

[San Juan Ron]

As many of you know, snow depth in the San Juan’s is the highest it’s been in decades AND there are hundreds of avalanches in the San Juan Mountains this spring with 100+ just along the Alpine Loop. Lake City is especially vulnerable to flooding this spring due to Henson Creek coming directly into town and dozens of large avalanches with debris piles up to 200 feet high on Henson Creek. There are also two old dams that were breeched long ago that could jam up with all the debris flowing down the river. I would expect this to be an issue all through June and into July. Flood experts say this will be a 1000 year flood event. CR-30 is still closed at the Winter Closure (and will be for some time) and CR-20 is closed at Snowden’s Meadow (just past Nellie Creek). This could all change quickly with the expected flooding. A recent story:

https://kdvr.com/2019/05/22/avalanches- ... rado-town/

[San Juan Ron]

A few pics from going around the Alpine Loop last week. These are just a few of the dozens and dozens of avalanches with debris piles down in the valleys on, or near, the rivers. The magnitude of these avalanches just doesn’t come across in the pictures.

[TheHikingTexan]

I was planning to head to Lake City for July 4th weekend. This does not sound good...crazy photos!

[gb]

Cottonwood Creek beyond Sherman is completely nuts as well. Debris covered well over a half a mile of that road...

[painless4u2]

That is crazy.

Anyone interested in some nice river front property in Lake City?

[San Juan Ron]

San Juan Solstice cancelled.

[justiner]

San Juan Solstice cancelled.

That's too bad. People are pretty concerned Hard Rock is going to get cancelled, too. If there's major infrastructure damage in these towns, I think that's a valid reason to not have the run.

[San Juan Ron]

If the Hard Rock sticks to its 23” SWE (snow water equivalent) at Red Mountain Pass on June 1st as the threshold to cancel the race, unfortunately it’s probably going to be cancelled as it was over 33” SWE (or nearly 7 feet of snow) last I checked and it’s HIGHLY unlikely it’s going to drop 10” of SWE in one week (weather forecast is continued cool weather). And that doesn’t even consider the avalanches and all the associated impacts.

[San Juan Ron]

Cottonwood Creek beyond Sherman is completely nuts as well. Debris covered well over a half a mile of that road...

Picture of one of the large Cottonwood Creek avalanches.

[Chicago Transplant]

If the Hard Rock sticks to its 23” SWE (snow water equivalent) at Red Mountain Pass on June 1st as the threshold to cancel the race, unfortunately it’s probably going to be cancelled as it was over 33” SWE (or nearly 7 feet of snow) last I checked and it’s HIGHLY unlikely it’s going to drop 10” of SWE in one week (weather forecast is continued cool weather). And that doesn’t even consider the avalanches and all the associated impacts.

My girlfriend was showing me a video on Instagram of a guy with a 3 meter probe at Island Lake, he buried it and still hadn't hit the ground below yet. The course runs right through there and over the Grant-V2 saddle. I would expect between snow depth and potential for the course to cross downed trees from avalanches, the Hard Rock is pretty likely to get cancelled.

[drewharrellrtr]

My girlfriend was showing me a video on Instagram of a guy with a 3 meter probe at Island Lake, he buried it and still hadn't hit the ground below yet. The course runs right through there and over the Grant-V2 saddle. I would expect between snow depth and potential for the course to cross downed trees from avalanches, the Hard Rock is pretty likely to get cancelled.

Where could I find that video on Instagram?

[Chicago Transplant]

I don't have an account, but I talked to her and she said it was posted by Ted Mahon. He posts here from time to time as well.