Slope/moisture sadness

Topping off a fairly dry and relatively snow-poor winter season, the month of March went unexpectedly cruel on us, sending temperatures down here to over 80 degrees in the second week (it was still winter at that point) and utterly devastating an already anemic snowpack. At this point, SNOTEL has nothing nice to say about the prospects of runoff this spring:



We got shut out of the river lotteries this season - which was probably no big deal, since Sharon couldn't take time for a river trip between planned Cleveland visits and our still-on England trip in the early fall (see below) - but it gnawed at me that I had exactly zero river trips to focus my sights on for the runoff season, however lousy it was likely to be, so I nabbed a May 10 Sand Island launch. At the time, I figured it was way too early (still chafing from the bony scrape that was last year's trip, in an otherwise promising time window), but my current thinking is that this may just be the sweet spot for an early, if inauspicious, runoff from what's left of the Animas.

Sharon still can't go - I've been making noises about doing it myself, which both of us have some reservations about (she especially), but making a token effort to invite a few others. Will post again as the date approaches.

Day 7, up there

Best snow of the season yesterday at Loveland, even if that's not saying much. More coming tonight, and Tues - Wed night. And maybe a little next weekend. We can't exactly fall back to the "well, it's early in the season" bromide - no, it's halfway through the season and the Upper C basin is looking like 75%, and Animas about 78%. And yes, we know the big snow months of March and April are still ahead, but they'll have to be really big to make up for what's a lousy, even if improving, snowpack year.

Hate to sound grouchy, but it makes me grouchy.


Oh, and we're happy to report that our new boots (Dalballo Axion 9's) don't hate us. At least not as much as the Technica's did. They're Italian, so we have that pasta and decadent dessert thing in common.

Mother Nature's cruelty

The big snow storm that dropped about 16" of snow in Boulder, and as much as 3 feet in some areas of the Front Range foothills, delivered a whole 4" to Loveland, and next to nothing on most of the upper Colorado Basin. Classic upslope.

The good news? Well, Most of Feb, all of Mar and Apr are still in play. Maybe there'll still be a runoff.

Really kicking myself I didn't hit more of it last year.

What's up w/ SNOTEL?

Just as the snows start falling this week, and those of us eager to see basin snowpacks recover from their anemic levels Dec-early Jan, SNOTEL looks like it's down.

Grrr....

Saying goodbye to the high?

The stubborn dome of high pressure that has been send snowstorms north and around Colorado and Utah appears to be running out of juice - the good folks at snowforecast.com are promising heavy snows toward the end of this month.

Went up yesterday, only fourth day so far this season. Awesome weather, and for a thin-cover day, the snow was actually not too bad. Got in 23 runs, then came home to watch the Patriots dismantle the Broncos. Should have stuck it out for 24.

Snow?

Typical for the way this season has been going, Boulder got about 8" or 9" of snow overnight...and Loveland got 3", their first snow in a week. I'd go up tomorrow (Friday, two days before Xmas), but a) I have a Yonder story to do b) I still have Xmas shopping and c) it's supposed to be 8 degrees for a high temp. I am losing my shyness about avoiding stupid-cold weather.

After last year's riotous, snowpack-record-smashing La Nina (was it really La Nina, or maybe just a wet winter?), Upper Colorado is meekly clutching at 68% SWE, and Dolores/Animas at 79% thus far. Not quite calamatous, plenty of show season to go (oh yeah, Happy Solstice), but we are way behind where we were last year.

And the self-bailer thing? Eh...Sharon is sharply skeptical...so we'll hold off for now.

Xmas approaches. Enjoy, everyone...