Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[Lightning1911]

I kinda obsess over it when hitting the BC. I wouldn't say loose sleep but It's about the first thing I do when I wake up (plus it gives me an excuses to continue lying in bed). My biggest fear in life is not going to the place with the most snow. When resort skiing we almost never change plans based on snow totals, but will if there's a significant difference.

I check it a lot, but I don't obsess over it. I ski every chance I get (which is hardly ever this season - fuckin school), but I can look out my window and get a good idea of how the divide is gonna ski, and then decide where I wanna go.

[montanaskier]

Super warm day up here but who cares when this is what you're staring at.

[The SnowShow]

Whew, nice.

[Lindahl]

Not too shabby out there

[Lindahl]

Also... anyone out in Aspen wanna rip around the next couple days? Buddy is laid up with a broken leg right now

[Lightning1911]

Not too shabby out there

I'm jealous! I might get one lap today, but got too much cardiology to study

[hatchgreenchile]

Poked around the terrain park a bit. Not the greatest conditions, but thick and stable? Check.
A few groups on Dragons Tail too...

[The SnowShow]

Poked around the terrain park a bit. Not the greatest conditions, but thick and stable? Check.
A few groups on Dragons Tail too...

Can't go wrong poking around that terrain.

Wow, Longs is bare.

[The SnowShow]

What is it that makes a storm like we're seeing in CA split?

[SkeezeBall]

Poked around the terrain park a bit. Not the greatest conditions, but thick and stable? Check.
A few groups on Dragons Tail too...

What's the typical approach for dragons tail? Hike up from the bottom or enter from the top off flattop?

[hatchgreenchile]

What's the typical approach for dragons tail? Hike up from the bottom or enter from the top off flattop?

I'm not the best source on that, but I didn't see anyone coming up from below today.

[rmnpsplitter]

Most people drop from the top. I actually enjoy the climb much more than skinning through the trees up flattop but to each their own

[Lindahl]

Early season from the bottom is more enjoyable, imo. Never skied it in spring.

Can't go wrong poking around that terrain.

Wow, Longs is bare.

Everything is bare. Never seen Silver as thin as it was last weekend (Summit).

[Lightning1911]

Got out for some resort laps yesterday on the new set up - Faction Candide Thovex 3.0's and 22 Designs Outlaw - LOVE that new set up!!

Even with not great conditions it was a blast on those skis.

[adrenalated]

FWIW I personally would not consider climbing Dragonstail on a weekend day, too likely that someone will drop in on you from above (you can't see all the way down the couloir from above so no way to tell if someone is climbing it). On a weekday I might consider climbing it.

[trogdortheburninator]

DT from the top. Always from the top unless you are going to drop from below the tower. If there is fresh snow, the choke and the pocket below the upper crux rocks will slough pretty big. Also, on such a popular line, folks should communicate and respect the rights of those who got there earlier to ski the line safely. Friends dont let friends ski DT on spring weekends.

Found some good steep skiing this weekend on Mount Demming, Mount Otis, and Andrew's. Conditions varied significantly, but were never bad and often very good for the style of skiing.

[Lindahl]

Yeah, I guess I've only dawn patrolled it on weekdays. Dropping from the top on a weekend makes way more sense, as popular as it seems to be.

[goldengatestinx]

My driveway had 2' of wind drifts in it last night when I got home.. fortunately they were still soft, and easy to plow.

my deck had 4" on it.
Backyard skiing was plenty soft.

Freaky winter. More rock hard windblown difficult to plow drifting from the north than the last few years. Finally found a store that sells and knows what real snow fence is. HD, Lowe's, even McGuckin's had no clue what snow fence is. Tried selling me orange construction fence or silt fabric. Fucking morons.

[bobsdesk]

Also, on such a popular line, folks should communicate and respect the rights of those who got there earlier to ski the line safely. Friends dont let friends ski DT on spring weekends.

What the fuck does this mean? I've had a bunch of days when we enter from the top, do not see anyone climbing the line, drop in to find a group immediately below us.

In that case, how do you know who started first? How would someone determine that? I think we may need someone from SLC to chime in here.

If I'm standing on top and it's time to drop in...I'm going unless I see someone climbing through the choke.

[trogdortheburninator]

What the fuck does this mean? I've had a bunch of days when we enter from the top, do not see anyone climbing the line, drop in to find a group immediately below us.

In that case, how do you know who started first? How would someone determine that? I think we may need someone from SLC to chime in here.

If I'm standing on top and it's time to drop in...I'm going unless I see someone climbing through the choke.

I was more referring to if you get to the top right after another party, communicate some sort of strategy with them. e.g. all ski together to safe zones, or 1 team takes it all the way through the choke, then the next can drop. From the entrance to dtail, you can be at half a dozen other great runs in 15 minutes. If you cant wait your turn, just move along to something else. I hear that utah has regressed to the point where it is standard practice to ski on top of other skiers and climbers. Hopefully rmnp isnt that crowded yet.

Priority goes to the skiers, obviously With gravity on their side it is much easier for a climber to step aside and let a skier pass, than vice versa. If they are within earshot, just let them know that you will be dropping and ask if they can move to one of the many safe zones on the run until you are past.

[Lightning1911]

Freaky winter. More rock hard windblown difficult to plow drifting from the north than the last few years. Finally found a store that sells and knows what real snow fence is. HD, Lowe's, even McGuckin's had no clue what snow fence is. Tried selling me orange construction fence or silt fabric. Fucking morons.

Where did you find snow fencing?

I've got some up here (old wood slats), but it's all rotted and blown out, I'd love to get some more to throw up.
My fence for my dogs is 8' high, but there's a spot where the fence runs parallel to my driveway and the snow there is 5' deep....... 3' of fence isn't enough to keep the GSD in.

[bobsdesk]

I was more referring to if you get to the top right after another party, communicate some sort of strategy with them. e.g. all ski together to safe zones, or 1 team takes it all the way through the choke, then the next can drop. From the entrance to dtail, you can be at half a dozen other great runs in 15 minutes. If you cant wait your turn, just move along to something else. I hear that utah has regressed to the point where it is standard practice to ski on top of other skiers and climbers. Hopefully rmnp isnt that crowded yet.

Priority goes to the skiers, obviously With gravity on their side it is much easier for a climber to step aside and let a skier pass, than vice versa. If they are within earshot, just let them know that you will be dropping and ask if they can move to one of the many safe zones on the run until you are past.

Agreed. Everyone on that line needs to be more concerned with etiquette these days. I've never had an issue when everyone is going top-down...just had so many problems with groups climbing the line while we're skiing.

And by problems, I mean people standing around setting up a photo-shoot while they climb up the thing...then getting pissed off that we skied on top of them when we're re-grouping at the lake. And the answer is no: nobody fucking cares that you're shooting an image for Sportiva's next catalogue. GTFO.

[goldenboy]

This storm seems to be doing some justice in the CB area, powcam is at 8" and snowing hard right now, and I'm sure it's double in the bc.

Regarding etiquette on Dragon's Tail or anywhere else, it sounds like radios would really help communication between parties. Here's a good article on Bear Creek and the attempt to get everyone on the same frequency: http://backcountryaccess.com/the-rig...-in-telluride/ I know there are some talks in Crested Butte to do the same, including the CBAC and SAR.

[Micol]

finally some fresh coming in....

[Powder Ho]

Wolf Creek got 5" of hi density followed by a couple of inches of graupel this morning. Super fun surfy turns.
I'm hoping for an etch a sketch overnight. The spring breakers have arrived so nobody skied the ridges.
BTW the local MJ rec shops were filled w/ TX/OK plates.