Colorado monsoons

imported
#1

i am hoping that someone can give me a description of what to expect with the daily rocky thunderstorms…is it a predictable thing? i wonder, do they just slam through the mountains very quickly at around the same time of the day? do they hit early enough in the day so that you can hike more afterwards? when 2 oclock comes, do you simply pitch your tent and call it a day? i ask because if the storms generally clearup than i may purchase a tarp to use–something really easy and quick to string up when a storm hits, and something easy to take down if hiking afterwards is possible…blahblah

tim

#2

Tim, I would like to tell you that the storms are like clockwork out there, but then as soon as you think that, you get a rogue storm that slams you all night or in the morning. But typically it’s a mid afternoon affair starting anytime around noon and lasting to mid-late afternoon and maybe into the evening. If climbing, the rule of thumb is to be heading down before noon during monsoon season. If hiking near or below treeline, sometimes the best thing to do is to hike thru it and set up camp afterwards to avoid getting stuff wet. A tarp can definitely be a good shelter choice out there. It’s easy up and easy down and quick to dry. You can cook dinner during a storm under the tarp, when it clears at 6 or 7, you still have 2-3 hours of daylight left, hike on, heck climb a 14er! I climbed a 14er at 9PM, that was a cool experience. -Matt

Sweeper