I hadn't seen any fresh posts or trip reports about conditions in the Northern Sawatch (Twin Lakes and north) through Tenmile range so I thought I'd put this out there for everyone as I look at it every day.
The Tenmile range that I see driving to Copper every day has sloughed off a lot of its snow from the past storm. On Sunday I probably saw close to 100 individual slides between Leadville and Copper. Most of them were on very steep terrain and the cliff bands. A few of the larger cliff bands look like the slough released the snow above it as well. I haven't seen any slides on moderately steep terrain yet and it looks like it set up well with high daytime temps and cold at night.
The Sawatch range that I can see from Leadville is as white as I've seen it for a few years. It doesn't look like much has slid on the higher portion and not much has melted down to the dust layer that you could see last week. This is the same in both ranges.
I just wanted to put that out with the coming storm in case anyone was interested. It looks like if this doesn't melt out today... Not likely... that it will be covered by another 8 inches of snow and make for a pretty reactive and mixed snowpack. If anyone has questions about anything close to me I would be happy to take a few minutes to look at it and tell you what its like. Be safe out there this week and have fun everybody!
North Sawatch/Tenmile/Mosquito Conditions
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RobertPetrowsky
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hollamby
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Re: North Sawatch/Tenmile/Mosquito Conditions
Thanks for this update. Looking at climbing Yale this Friday. Friday looks like a nice day for weather, hoping that it doesn't get much new snow. From the weather reports it doesn't look like they are going to, you agree?
Thanks
Thanks
It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary
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RobertPetrowsky
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Re: North Sawatch/Tenmile/Mosquito Conditions
We have a strong east wind now with growing cloud cover. I think at least around Leadville we should get the 4 to 8 that NOAA is calling for. I'm not sure south of here. Everything I have read shows the storm staying along the divide and mostly to the north.
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Kevo
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Re: North Sawatch/Tenmile/Mosquito Conditions
How are conditions right now? Thinking about La Plata tomorrow.
I've been up there in June- hiked the ridge and skied the north face. Will I need skis this time round? Crampons? Can it be boot packed? Any chance the ridge is dry?
I've been up there in June- hiked the ridge and skied the north face. Will I need skis this time round? Crampons? Can it be boot packed? Any chance the ridge is dry?
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RobertPetrowsky
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Re: North Sawatch/Tenmile/Mosquito Conditions
I didn't get out after the last snow so I can't really answer too much. The ridges on Massive and Elbert are pretty much snow covered so I am sure La Plata is the same. We got around 4 inches in town total. I can't tell you what conditions are below treeline above twin lakes. Sorry. I'll probably be somewhere on Princeton or Antero tomorrow night and I'll post how everything looks.
