8 replies to this topic

[ALooneyGuy]

I know it's too early, but Mother Nature says otherwise. Has anybody done some snow-free hiking yet?

[iceberg]

Oh I love it when this thread comes up every year - it means summer hiking is right around the corner!

[Primrose]

Well, yes, but it was down low above Beaver Meadows. No snow, but the ticks are out!

[smudge]

Just did a short hike on Black Canyon trail... it's snow free as far as we went up, but didn't go all the way to the pass, so can't say for the entire lumpy loop...

Im guessing most of deer mountain is fairly clear as well... probably some snow up high in the trees... but all is melting very rapidly!

[katzenjammy]

We hiked Lumpy Ridge loop and Black Canyon on Sunday (29 April) and were turned back by snow at Bighorn Mt/Lower Tileston. Lots of trees down in Black Canyon, making it hard to find the trail at times.

[Aaron]

katzenjammy, on 03 May 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

We hiked Lumpy Ridge loop and Black Canyon on Sunday (29 April) and were turned back by snow at Bighorn Mt/Lower Tileston. Lots of trees down in Black Canyon, making it hard to find the trail at times.

Welcome to the forums by the way

--Aaron

[HighPlainsMedic]

Primrose, on 01 April 2012 - 01:47 PM, said:

Well, yes, but it was down low above Beaver Meadows. No snow, but the ticks are out!

ohh. tick check lol..

[cardinal]

I have not been in the park since late March but my friend and his wife are there and hiked a few trails.
1. About a week ago he went up to Lawn Lake. Easy hiking for the first 3.5 miles and then started to encounter snow and eventually some post holing. From the Black Canyon turn point he headed west and walked up the drainage to the lake. I was surprised he didn't fall through some washout out snow drifts
2. He went up to Twin Sisters a few days later and had no problems. Ran into a few patchs of snow but nothing serious.
3. He went up to Estes Cone via Lilly lake a virtually now snow, which surprised me.
4. Started up Flattop and plenty of snow and may trails to choose from. He turned aorund half way up as it was getting late.
5. Went to Mills and ice on the trail and snow in some areas.

[renate1]

Thanks cardinal,
heading out to estes for an spur of the moment weekend visit - debating between taking husband up towards Lawn Lake or doing Twin Sisters - glad to see the report on conditions near Lawn.