9 replies to this topic

[OklaHiker]

I just sort of realized that I may need to ask this question, so I hope this is the correct forum. How are the roads in EP and RMNP this time of the year? I am planning on driving my front-wheel drive Honda Accord to STOMP but I just wanted to be sure I wouldn't have any snow related issues. I assume the roads get treated/plowed pretty quickly up there, right? My Accord does well on slick roads it just has a somewhat low clearance. I do have a Nissan Pathfinder as well but it's rear-wheel drive so I generally don't drive it in snow.

Thanks!

[John]

I have an Accord that has done GREAT all over RMNP even in the snow.

[Rhonda]

I can't speak for how it is now, but last March when I was there in my little front wheel drive Elantra, I left EP on a very cold and snowy day and had no problems, the roads were slick but I just took it super slow. The only time I slid was driving out of McGregor Mountain Lodge's driveway. That was a good warning to me to be very careful and slow from then on. I'm sure I made a lot of local drivers mad by creeping on those winding mountain roads.

I was scared to death and had white knuckles all the way to Denver, but the worst thing that happened was that my windshield washer fluid froze up and when it started getting slushy as the day warmed up, I would get sprayed with muddy snow and I couldn't clean it, so my windshield was solid mud. I was driving by looking through little streaks in the mud, and I'd have to stop at every station I came to and wash it off until my fluid thawed out, so be SURE you have winter formula washer fluid in your reservoir. You probably do in OK, but by March in Texas we were already using the summer formula!

[Bill 007]

Just watch out for tourists from Texas.

Bill
(And that's anywhere you go!)

Edited by Bill 007, 22 February 2010 - 04:04 PM.

[Mark Zemmin]

Brandon,

We have found the roads are plowed pretty well. They have had some snow on them, but nothing that would cause you any clearance issues. If your car is good on slick roads, I think you will be fine.

Mark

[Malok]

Mark Zemmin, on 22 February 2010 - 04:28 PM, said:

Brandon,

We have found the roads are plowed pretty well. They have had some snow on them, but nothing that would cause you any clearance issues. If your car is good on slick roads, I think you will be fine.

Mark

Put snowtires on it and you won't have any problems. We lived by our Toyota Corolla for years and I could go almost anywhere until it got over 2' deep. Snow tires make a world of difference though!

[Marvman]

Yakks are the only thing that work in the valley (yes, the furry hooven ones). You can rent them in Lyons from some guy named Ed.

Marvman

[OklaHiker]

Thanks! I think I'll just go with it. If things get too bad I'll rent a furry Yak from Ed :-).

[Qbert]

OklaHiker, on 22 February 2010 - 02:26 PM, said:

I do have a Nissan Pathfinder as well but it's rear-wheel drive so I generally don't drive it in snow.

I don't have anything useful to say, but I will second your decision on leaving the rear-wheel Pathfinder at home. I just got stuck in 6" snow Friday in a buddy's Pathfinder while trying to go camping....and that was on a Missouri mountain.

[Igloo Ed]

When I arrive at the trialhead at 8:00, I have been ending up getting to the parking lot when the plow is still there cleaning out the lot. That means there is one lane plowed on the way in. Earlier this winter I was ahead of the plow but I think they are getting to it earlier as the season goes on.