The 2011-12 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

Tharlow, I hiked up to it yesterday, not in yet. Probably another couple weeks. It's been really warm here, and not much snow yet.

Has anyone been in the Red Stone area, how are things looking up there?

BJ
thanks for the heads up
Thad

Any word on conditions in Vail?

redstone's got nothing

Vail is in. Anyone walk up to the flatirons today? Want to see what is in tomorrow cause it looks cold and cloudy?

The Crypt today, RMNP

nothing like a green serac

Deep Freeze and a still thin Loch Vale area in RMNP on 12/2/11

Glassin' the Flatirons from my living room I only see snow on rock. Really dry up there right now. It will need a few more inches of snow and some melt-freeze cycles before it is climbable.

thx jack. this week could be promising maybe.

any conditions report on silver plume?

Clear Creek Canyon is dry as a bone.
Silver Plume is starting to fill in.

Silverton: Eureka: Hoser's looked Fat. Stairway to Heaven is in. First and second Gulley were in but with about 2 ft. of snow on the benches. Gold rush looked suprisingly in including the first pitch. Fat City is fat with the onion peel features on the upper pillar. Whorehouse looked good. A friend told me there are several sections of tubular ice with flow underneath.

Summit Vail report: 10 Mile canyon lookin good, Shround is climbable but steep and thin, especially on top. Around the Corner is huge and the other lines up there holding plenty of ice. 3 Tiers has been in for weeks. Snow load is low but I have seen lots of loading. Vail: Firehouse is fully in, Staircase is smashed out, Mixed lines in Staircase all in top shape, Belfry is in, Desi has been down and now seeing alotta traffic, the 7th is in as is Cupcake. The Fang is rebuilding on our cable, Pumphouse is fat.

Silver Cascade Falls - Anyone know when this comes? I got a couple beginners I would like to take down to Colorado Springs during the week.

Thank you,

Dale

FWIW, the usual ice climbs in Clear Creek Canyon are basically dry as of today.

Rob Griz wrote:Snow load is low but I have seen lots of loading.

It's somewhat from the CAIC, Kev, but should be regarded to the context of each area and terrain features that can favor snow moved from wind. Summit & the Front Range are not showing the energy as to the San Juans. Though there may be relatively generalized low load as well as little increasing the load from recent snowfall activity in some areas, that can change with terrain and wind effect specifics as has been found by you and others. Also to mention, surface hoar that's in play with the low temps.

Whatever the terminology used, there is still avalanche danger throughout.

Buff Johnson wrote:It's somewhat from the CAIC, Kev, but should be regarded to the context of each area and terrain features that can favor snow moved from wind. Summit & the Front Range are not showing the energy as to the San Juans. Though there may be relatively generalized low load as well as little increasing the load from recent snowfall activity in some areas, that can change with terrain and wind effect specifics as has been found by you and others. Also to mention, surface hoar that's in play with the low temps. Whatever the terminology used, there is still avalanche danger throughout.