snow conditions--front range 9k to 12k
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amags543
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snow conditions--front range 9k to 12k
just a quick inquiry. I don't have time for a full-day 14er this weekend but was planning on doing a morning trail run instead, and would like to head somewhere where it's possible to just cruise without too much ice and postholing. I was wondering if anyone has been in the Rocky Mountain National Park area recently and knows how much snow there is on the trails around 9000 to 12000 ft after last weekend's storm?
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AlexeyD
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Re: snow conditions--front range 9k to 12k
Have you checked this link out yet? http://avalanche.state.co.us/observatio ... -stations/
The "SnoHt" column shows the most recent snow depth on the ground. Looks like 6" at Bear Lake as of this morning.
The "SnoHt" column shows the most recent snow depth on the ground. Looks like 6" at Bear Lake as of this morning.
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amags543
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Re: snow conditions--front range 9k to 12k
I was not aware of that great resource. Appreciate it. Long time hiker but it will be my first winter in Colorado.
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dwoodward13
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Re: snow conditions--front range 9k to 12k
I was up there last week before the storm. I did Bear Lake->Emerald Lake and Glacier Gorge->Sky Pond. Up to Emerald was super icy. Microspikes were mandatory...people without them were in for a world of hurt. Up to the Loch there were actually quite a few bare spots and hard pack everywhere else, maybe 4-6 inches off the sides of the trail. From Loch to Timberline Falls a good trail was in, but above Timberline Falls it was a bit of a mess. I used snowshoes inbetween Lake of Glass and Sky Pond as the boot tracks were all over and it was easier to stay out of the krumholtz and stick to a meadow area that had drifts of 2+ feet and just use flotation.
I'd say some sort of traction is going to be more or less mandatory given how warm its been getting allowing a freeze/thaw cycle. I wouldn't worry about postholing if you are sticking to some of the more popular trails as its likely been well packed down.
Another good resource I like to uses is the SNOTEL map. I think its the same data source as the CAIC, just in visual map form:
[urlhttps://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/snow_map.html[/url] (hit snow depth)
I'd say some sort of traction is going to be more or less mandatory given how warm its been getting allowing a freeze/thaw cycle. I wouldn't worry about postholing if you are sticking to some of the more popular trails as its likely been well packed down.
Another good resource I like to uses is the SNOTEL map. I think its the same data source as the CAIC, just in visual map form:
[urlhttps://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/snow_map.html[/url] (hit snow depth)
