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I'm currently on my way to Colorado for the weekend, was hoping to hit Holy Cross and Harvard on the weekend, or something else in the Sawatch or Front Range. But looking at the weather, things look nasty tomorrow and just as bad Saturday. Am I better off head back home (I'm driving from Illinois), and coming back another weekend? Or is it not going to be as bad as it looks on the forecast?

The answer is....yes.

I know, I'm grasping at any crazy hope. Just been a really bad year with trip after trip running into junk weather. This weekend was my last chance to salvage the season with something decent.

Pretty much every range shows a 70-80% chance of snow. Even if the snow doesn't hit or amount to much, the high winds and cold temps will make for a less than enjoyable outing. I was planning to hike Saturday, but have changed my plans to Friday to try and beat the storm.....we'll see.

-Mike

phillinley wrote:I'm currently on my way to Colorado for the weekend, was hoping to hit Holy Cross and Harvard on the weekend, or something else in the Sawatch or Front Range. But looking at the weather, things look nasty tomorrow and just as bad Saturday. Am I better off head back home (I'm driving from Illinois), and coming back another weekend? Or is it not going to be as bad as it looks on the forecast?

Saturday's probably out but Sunday looks pretty decent. If you don't mind some snow on the ground. Holy Cross might be a bit much, but Harvard's probably doable. But I will say that the last bit on Harvard is a bit dicey with snow on it.

You could try getting up the road to G&T on Sunday. If you can't make it all the way, you could just walk the rest (good times). How bout Antero? La Plata?

smoove wrote:
Saturday's probably out but Sunday looks pretty decent. If you don't mind some snow on the ground. Holy Cross might be a bit much, but Harvard's probably doable. But I will say that the last bit on Harvard is a bit dicey with snow on it.

You could try getting up the road to G&T on Sunday. If you can't make it all the way, you could just walk the rest (good times). How bout Antero? La Plata?

It would be fine if I didn't have to be back home by Monday night. I just can't justify spending $250 in gas for just one climb.

Absolutely miserable conditions would not deter me. But life threatening lightning and total white out does.

phillinley wrote:

smoove wrote:
Saturday's probably out but Sunday looks pretty decent. If you don't mind some snow on the ground. Holy Cross might be a bit much, but Harvard's probably doable. But I will say that the last bit on Harvard is a bit dicey with snow on it.

You could try getting up the road to G&T on Sunday. If you can't make it all the way, you could just walk the rest (good times). How bout Antero? La Plata?

It would be fine if I didn't have to be back home by Monday night. I just can't justify spending $250 in gas for just one climb.

Absolutely miserable conditions would not deter me. But life threatening lightning and total white out does.

Understandable. If you really had a yearning to do something this weekend (and not think of it as a waste), you could do some lower peak near Denver (e.g., Bergen Peak) where the weather would be relatively mild. Then go do a 14er on Sunday. Or just come another weekend.

FIRST REAL STORM OF THE YEAR!!!!

It's a wash for me. Maybe a low peak or something.
Snow? High winds? No, thanks.
Gonna stay home, drink beer, eat some ribs, and think about good things to come.
This is a good thing that's arrived, at least in our fridge.

Climb in the snow. Seriously. What's wrong with that?

Neil wrote:Climb in the snow. Seriously. What's wrong with that?

Truer words were never spoken. Right on, Neil.

Time to tone down the testosterone guys.

Climbing in a storm is riskier with a higher chance of getting off route. That is just a fact.

It is also just not fun. This weekend is a perfect example of a day where you don't need to be in the mountains. If you learn to pass up days with a forecast like this one you will have a long, enjoyable career in the mountains.

I think when we give advice to people on this forum we should keep in mind to whom we are giving it and the potential consequences of someone following our advice. In general, I don't think we should be suggesting to people we don't know they should climb Holy Cross in a storm.