12 replies to this topic

[Pam]

What is the weather normally like in Estes Park and RMNP in the first week of June? We usually vacation there in July or August but this year my husband wants to go earlier. With the cold and snow we've had here in the mid-west this winter I really don't want to make the drive out there and be facing more winter conditions and snow. I'm ready for spring and summer! How high up or what trails we will we be able to hike?

[HighPlainsMedic]

Pam, on 14 April 2011 - 06:45 PM, said:

What is the weather normally like in Estes Park and RMNP in the first week of June? We usually vacation there in July or August but this year my husband wants to go earlier. With the cold and snow we've had here in the mid-west this winter I really don't want to make the drive out there and be facing more winter conditions and snow. I'm ready for spring and summer! How high up or what trails we will we be able to hike?

You can encounter deep snow in the tree's, cold nights, and there is another storm there as of today.. It's rarely that warm up high the first week of June.

However, it could get really warm in the next month, melt a lot of it off, To me its all good, we wil be camping in moraine Park the last weekend of May, yep.. been rained on, snowed on, sunburnt, that's the challenge.

were i live, we had 80 degree temps last week, today its snowing and blowing.. Welcome to CO..

I will guarantee one thing, the weather will be Variable.. might as well enjoy :D

[cardinal]

If you go in early June be prepared for trails that will definitely not be free of snow. You would be post holing your way up many of the trails unless you stayed on trails like Deer Mtn and altitudes below that.

[John]

Gem Lake and Bridal Veil falls are good hikes for that time of the year.

[Pam]

Thanks for all of the replies to my question. I think I have my hubby convinced that we need to go the LAST week of June rather than the FIRST!

[Swimswithtrout]

Pam, on 16 April 2011 - 09:11 PM, said:

Thanks for all of the replies to my question. I think I have my hubby convinced that we need to go the LAST week of June rather than the FIRST!

That might even be too early this year ! The snowpack is at near record levels. Loveland Ski area, just S of RMNP is up to a season total of 551" as of this afternoon, one good snow away from breaking the all-time record since they opened in 1936.

A lot is going to depend on how soon the snow stops, it's been dumping almost daily, and how soon it starts warming up.

[John]

Can you imagine how the falls will be running when it all starts to melt! Woo hoo!!!!!!!

[AlexanderDelarge655321]

Swimswithtrout, on 27 April 2011 - 07:10 PM, said:

That might even be too early this year ! The snowpack is at near record levels. Loveland Ski area, just S of RMNP is up to a season total of 551" as of this afternoon, one good snow away from breaking the all-time record since they opened in 1936.

A lot is going to depend on how soon the snow stops, it's been dumping almost daily, and how soon it starts warming up.

Thank you, global warming!

[Mtnm]

Pam, on 14 April 2011 - 06:45 PM, said:

What is the weather normally like in Estes Park and RMNP in the first week of June? How high up or what trails we will we be able to hike?

About the 3rd week of June the sun is finally high enough to begin to melt some of the Northern exposures (like along Fall River, or the Keyhole on Longs).
This year rivals the years of '82 and '83. The runoff was high until nearly the end of June.
Some trails were not snow free until August.

You can always handle these type of conditions if you are ready for them, but there is a great deal of snow and the spring remains cool and wet.

[Swimswithtrout]

I'd put 50/50 odds on TRR even opening by June !

Road crews report they've never seen snow that deep in the length of their employment. The first "photo op/media day to show the progress of clearing the road had to be cancelled last week because there was too much fresh snow.

Here's what they did report a few days later, 23' of snow at Rock Cut !






The Winter Storm, warning for last night has been lifted but total accumulations at higher elevations are expected to reach 30"

There "was" 9' of snow at Lk Irene 2 days ago before the latest storm.

Heck, Aspen Mtn decided this afternoon to "reopen" for Memorial Day Weekend and possibly for several more weekends after that. A Basin has extended their season through all of June.

[Igloo Ed]

Swimswithtrout, on 19 May 2011 - 06:53 PM, said:

The Winter Storm, warning for last night has been lifted but total accumulations at higher elevations are expected to reach 30"

This morning the Glacier Basin cam has me blinded by delight:
 glacier_basin.jpg   93.68K   10 downloads

[jflo]

"Blinded by delight' indeed!!! wish I could see that in person!!!

[kadeycat]

Too bad I did not have my camera while driving to work this morning.

Longs peak was above a horizontal cloud bank. It was spectacular.