Weekly Blizzard in Denver

It's getting pretty frustrating here in Denver.
It seems like every Thursday or Friday we get another blizzard, just when the rocks are beginning to dry off.
Well, if you can't beat em, join em.
I'm going to dig my old ice tools out of the garage and resort to some ice climbing at The Wood this weekend.
This is something that I haven't had to do for about ten years.

Wow, sucks to be you! You could be here in Wisconsin. Every weekend it seems to turn upper 30's/lower 40's and rains! We have not seen any real snow this year, nor is it any where near cold enough to ice climb. Where does that leave us? Too warm to ice climb, too cold and wet to rock climb..... I'm going paddling this weekend.....

The skiing is awesome! Let it snow. Plus the rock gym is always dry ...

Tom, if you drop me a line, I'll send whatever looks doable. Was just planning on some housework this weekend.

A V5 is scottish conditions - classic!

Ron wrote: "Wow, sucks to be you! You could be here in Wisconsin."

Hey Ron, I feel your pain. I was a Taylors Falls, Devils Lake local until '82 when I wised up and moved to Colorado to pursue climbing year round. I remember trying to climb at TF every new years day.
It was likely those old forays that have given me circulation problems in my fingers to this day.
I have indeed grown spoiled. For the last ten years or so, I have been able to climb dry rocks while wearing shorts, just about every weekend.
I'll quit my griping. I realize that I am a spoiled whining fool, who has no reason to complain when I think about you poor folks in the upper midwest.

Yeah, don't fight it, go backcountry skiing...

Granted the weather hasn't been good for climbing but YES! We're closing early and I get to go skiing in the canyon near my place. I hear that we're in line for another dumping next week! CHA CHING!

Are you kidding about complaining of the snow?! I got to ski from the front door of my condo!! The backcountry has been friggin awesome, this much powder with very good avy conditions. Dig a pit, analyze and carve down powder past your knees!! The rock isn't going anywhere, give it a couple of weeks and Golden & Morrison will be nice and dry.

Seriously, you guys are killing me! Do I go back country skiing? Do I go ice climbing? Can I find some south facing rock to climb? It must be horrible to have to make those decisions! I have a minimum 8 hour drive to get to winter, and I live in the figgin land of the "Frozen Tundra!!!"

Ron L Long wrote:Seriously, you guys are killing me! Do I go back country skiing? Do I go ice climbing? Can I find some south facing rock to climb? It must be horrible to have to make those decisions! I have a minimum 8 hour drive to get to winter, and I live in the figgin land of the "Frozen Tundra!!!"

Ron,
That sucks. Have you considered moving out here...

John

Yea, the winter in Wisconsin this year is pretty terrible for being the land of "the Frozen Tundra", I've been out climbing a bit at High Cliff almost every other weekend in some moderatly dry conditions. However, I'd prefer to see some (meaning about two feet at least by this time of year) snow on the ground. Whenever I here of people saying how much snow is in Co/the West all I can do is frown and go climb in 40 degree weather where record highs have been set the past two days. Frankly, I'd rather have a blizzard every week then record highs in the beginning of January.

Last year at this time I had put in several good days in the South Platte. I sure am glad I forked over the money to buy new ice tools because they already look one or two seasons old. I have also been putting in the miles on the backcountry skis. Now if I can just keep the damn snowshoers from destroying my tracks that I work so hard to put in.

I lived in Colorado my whole life... Now Im in Hawaii, if anyone can send half the snow this way it would put a nice touch on constant summer. I miss the snow...

I'm certainly not going to complain about all the snow...backcountry skiing has been awesome, ice is coming in that hasn't formed in over 10 years...spring runoff is bound to form even more ice, rock is dry down off of shelf w/ mild approach...who could ask for more! I am sorry to hear about the crappy conditions in WI. I grew up there and still have a couple climbing buddies back there who are making the most of trips into the U.P. as well as Canada. As far as snowshoers go Chris...they just don't understand the idea of tracks. I 've been experiencing that all winter w/ trying to x-country ski...bastards have no respect!

Here's my plan:

Any more snow and I'm going to take my snow shovel and tie it to the front of my truck. Then I'm going to start driving south.

As soon as someone points to the snow shovel and says "whats that?", that's where I want to move.

To be honest, I'm in construction and have to work in this stuff. 4 days missed is alot of money, and they're saying another one is lining up. But whats wierd is that this stuff is more like the end of February snow, wet and slushy; not the powdery stuff we normally have this time of year. The rest of the country is baking. What could happen is alot of moisture in the hills this spring, then it suddenly shuts off and gets really hot and dry. Combined with all that beetle kill and we could have a problem this summer.

Funny, with this moisture, this season's ice has been impressive, but with all this breeze, they actually shut down RMNP partly on Friday and fully on Saturday. Still, enticing ice in corners up on MacGregor Slab tantalizing for the adventuresome.

Mike Lane wrote:Here's my plan: Any more snow and I'm going to take my snow shovel and tie it to the front of my truck. Then I'm going to start driving south. As soon as someone points to the snow shovel and says "whats that?", that's where I want to move.

Awesome plan, did that about 10 years ago and ended up in Phoenix. So, looks like you're going golfing my friend.

Driving into work this morning I heard on the radio that a foot of snow is being forecasted for Thursday.

The skiing on the 110's was great on Saturday, but the drive home sucked. It took us 5 hours going the long way because of the Stanley Slide. Of course I didn't have my camera with me, but the debris on the road looked pretty impressive.

Kudo's to the everyone involved in the rescue and great timing with the alpine rescue team at the Pass!

Maybe you could put your elite ninja skills to use and infiltrate the air blockade.

Tom Hanson wrote:This is something that I haven't had to do for about ten years.

gee Tom ~ some people actually look forward to digging out those tools and climbing ice.. (-:

A friend of mine is commuting from Evergreen to Tabernash to oversee a construction project. He tells me it is usually negative 10 or worse every morning, and they are building in those conditions.

And here we are complaining about snow in the Rocky Mountains.....

I have to admit shoveling my 100 yard long driveway with 2 switchbacks is getting a little old though.

Edit - Angry, let me know if you want to go up and body plow a trail up to the Cathedral Spires. We can take turns..it will be fun.