Last year I climb the 10 mile range on July 1st and had no snow issues at all.
This year me and my wife will be going from Breckenridge to Salida over a two weeks period but we are starting on June 26th. What kind of weather should we expect around that time compared to a week earlier. Will we have to worry about the snow or not.
We are from the east cost so snow in June is not something we see ever.
Southern Fossil
Snowpack deeper than average this year. Especially true Kenosha through Kokomo, Segs 6-8, but true for other areas too. Your Breckenridge start on June 26 would be a good start date in an average year. But this year there may still be snowpack. All depends on temperatures in coming weeks, especially nighttime temps, impossible to predict. The CT is not marked for snow travel; when buried under snow it is invisible. (Not enough markers.) GPS might help a lot. Visit the following site page and click links for Copper Mtn and Freemont Pass Snowpack. Monitor these; they’ll change daily.
http://www.coloradotrail.org/snowandweather.html
On Track
Yeah…so far looks like an unusual amount of snow for Fremont Pass and maybe also Michigan Creek. I’ll be hiking same place (start Sec 6 on June 25, going S bound), about the same time. I’m watching the weather stations…and will monitor this site. If absolutely necessary I’ll road-walk thru Frisco instead of Tenmile Ridge and Sec 7.
And I think you are right - I’ll carry a GPS if I do go over Tenmile.
Mike
I think the 6/26 date will probably be ok with a few caveats. The two places to be particularly careful of are the possible cornice on top of the Ten Mile Range which you will hit on day one (Seg. 7 mile 8.0) and the steep sidehill just before Kokymo Pass on Elk Ridge (Segment 9 mile 12.7). There will be sizable group passing through those places a week earlier than you and hopefully (if they make it) they will beat it down a bit. If the sidehill looks too difficult you can probably back up about 2/10 of a mile and go up to the ridge, then follow the crest of the divide down to Kokymo. Be careful if you choose to cross the sidehill and it is still covered with snow. It a long ways down. I would suggest trying to hit that in the afternoon when it will be soft. Postholing would be nice in that situation.
You will probably encounter drifted snow heading into the Holy Cross wilderness, but the problem will not be one of danger, but more an issue of locating the trail. After that, you may find some drifts occasionally in the Collegiate Peaks WA, but they won’t be to hard to negotiate and there will be lots of traffic in there.
You should keep an eye on these forums - someone will likely report on conditions at those places as the season progresses.
bearcreek
Thanks for all the info everyone. I’ll look and see in a few weeks. One other question.
last year when I went through there all I needed was shorts, shortsleeves, and a jacket. I planned on about the same outfit for this year. But since its a bigger snow year than usually should I bring warmer cloths?
Southern Fossil
I’m starting Sec 6 SOBO on June 25, and it appears that the snow is gone or soon will be gone…except for Tenmile Range, which I reach on June 27.
Any updates on snow there ??
Mike
I drove past Copper Mtn yesterday on my way home from Wyoming and the west side of the 10 mile range (which you descend into Copper Mtn.) looks fine - just a few short snow patches. The east side is where the cornice forms and I couldn’t tell from there. If you go, take an iceaxe. Bigger issue might be some serious postholing getting up Miners Creek.
bearcreek