Melissa and I made a quick trip over to the San Juans this weekend. Living 2 hours away from them means we'll be over there ALOT this summer and fall!
Most of the high passes are open. We did Engineer and Ophir, Yankee Boy Basin, Bridal Veil Falls and Animas Forks with no trouble at all. Some of the less popular basins, Imogene and Black Bear Passes were still closed according to a ranger with whom I spoke.
The rivers, creeks and waterfalls are all flowing well. The lower lakes/tarns are open but some of the higher ones are still covered in ice/snow.
The wildflowers are already starting to bloom, though only in moderation. Saw some king's crown, quite a lot of marsh marigold, lupine, some purple stuff (sky pilot, maybe?), and purple fringe.
I'm tentatively planning another trip over there next week. If I make it over I'll give you all another report upon my return.
Okay, here's a photo. I really didn't get much in the way of nature stuff as I was busy photographing some adventure stuff for a magazine. But, this is by far the best of the bunch. Enjoy!
That's interesting. I just got a 4WD trail report from my jeep club. They were at Bill Moore Lake trail, up by Empire and were still hitting big snow drifts around treeline. Several of the vehicles had to winch through the drifts and I think all these guys were running 33" or larger mud tires.
The snow drift atop Ophir was maybe 9' tall (compared to the usual 20'). The roads were mostly dry with occasional wet spots from melting snow. Not a single patch of snow on the roads we drove. There was snow lining the road at the top of Engineer Pass, though none on the road itself. Yankee Boy Basin was snow-free. We drove about 1 mile past the main parking area and turned around at the base of a hill about 1.7 miles from the Sneffels TH because it looked as though a vehicle was stuck in the snow up higher.
In another week, I'd bet even Imogene & Black Bear are open.
Mel, snow pack along the Divide in mid-state is pretty hefty once you get up high. I was turned around a couple of weeks back heading up the Rollins Pass / Tolland Road, and I can't imagine any of the other dirt roads on either side of the divide are any better.
I was running into snow drifts in RMNP on Dream Lake trail at 10K that would get my jeep stuck, which I thought was surprising for this late in the spring.
A week ago, on FR379 off Old Stage Coach rd, I ran into snow along the trail at 10K, and I could see by 12K that it would be impassible. A week later, I see hardly any snow up at 12K on Almagre or Sheep Mountain (next to Pikes Peak) where FR379 runs. What a difference a couple warm days make.
But my surprise is really that the San Juan passes are freeing up so much earlier than the trails around here.
As I understand the San Juans were at about 40% of normal snowpack this year. If that is an accurate assessment it isn't too surprising that the roads are almost all open right now. I would also venture a guess that peak wildflower season will hit early this year in that neck of the woods.
The crazyness has started with Phil asking the old age question 'whens the peak time'. Phil it never really changes no matter on how much snow has fallen, rainfall does have something to do with it. Plan on mid to end of July and you find flowers somewhere. I guess its time to start the sticky thread?
Jody's right, although I think there will be plenty of great wildflowers as early as the 2nd week of July. I'll be there for 7 days at that time and sure as heck hope I'm right!
Didn't mean to start anything. I was just trying to decide whether to plan my trip (to the Crested Butte and San Juan regions) between July 14-22 or July 21-29. I was leaning toward July 14-22 based on Bret's comments about things maybe coming earlier.
Don't sweat it. I don't think Jody intended anything against you personally.
It's just that every year someone asks the question about peak wildflowers; then someone (who shall remain nameless, but whose initials are Todd Caudle - oops! ) gives a specific wildflower peak - right down to the minute (along with some other humorous remark); then a bunch of other people post some far less creative responses to the person asking the question - all ending by saying there is no actual peak; then other people chime in with what they believe to be the actual peak - and this argument goes on for a while; then someone points out that specific locations tend to peak about the same time every year, but that different species of flowers are better or worse either earlier or later depending on snow, rain, wind direction, how many photographers have stomped on those flowers to photograph the ones whose blooms peaked earlier, etc.; then wildflower season actually starts and we all shut up and take pictures of wildflowers.
My advice is this: Right before you head out to take pictures, see what the people who have just been at your intended location have to report. Take that report with a grain of salt. Go there and take pictures regardless of what anyone says. => There are flowers, valleys, mountains, and streams everywhere - what you do with them and how you compose them are up to you. (I didn't mention clouds being everywhere because they are not. They are only where Todd is.)
Thanks for your responses. I should warn you, whenever I do decide to come, it will probably ruin it for everyone. Last year the day I arrived at Glacier National Park (St. Mary's side), the park's St. Mary's entrance closed because of a massive forest fire. The east entrance was closed for a week. Canada was nice though. The year before that, I got to watch in rain for ten straight days in New England. I guess you probably wouldn't mind the rain as much. Maybe you should pay me to come.
Discussion
20 repliesMost of the high passes are open. We did Engineer and Ophir, Yankee Boy Basin, Bridal Veil Falls and Animas Forks with no trouble at all. Some of the less popular basins, Imogene and Black Bear Passes were still closed according to a ranger with whom I spoke.
The rivers, creeks and waterfalls are all flowing well. The lower lakes/tarns are open but some of the higher ones are still covered in ice/snow.
The wildflowers are already starting to bloom, though only in moderation. Saw some king's crown, quite a lot of marsh marigold, lupine, some purple stuff (sky pilot, maybe?), and purple fringe.
I'm tentatively planning another trip over there next week. If I make it over I'll give you all another report upon my return.
RichieV
I'm just starting to process the photos and will post a couple here shortly. Stay tuned...
In another week, I'd bet even Imogene & Black Bear are open.
A week ago, on FR379 off Old Stage Coach rd, I ran into snow along the trail at 10K, and I could see by 12K that it would be impassible. A week later, I see hardly any snow up at 12K on Almagre or Sheep Mountain (next to Pikes Peak) where FR379 runs. What a difference a couple warm days make.
But my surprise is really that the San Juan passes are freeing up so much earlier than the trails around here.
Not surprising really, considering how much snow the San Juans didn't get this year. Compare that to how much snow the Front Range DID get this year.
The crazyness has started with Phil asking the old age question 'whens the peak time'. Phil it never really changes no matter on how much snow has fallen, rainfall does have something to do with it. Plan on mid to end of July and you find flowers somewhere. I guess its time to start the sticky thread?
I think you'll find nice wildflowers during both of those weeks. I've found 'em in the San Juans as late as early August.
Have a great trip!
Don't sweat it. I don't think Jody intended anything against you personally.
It's just that every year someone asks the question about peak wildflowers; then someone (who shall remain nameless, but whose initials are Todd Caudle - oops!
My advice is this: Right before you head out to take pictures, see what the people who have just been at your intended location have to report. Take that report with a grain of salt. Go there and take pictures regardless of what anyone says. => There are flowers, valleys, mountains, and streams everywhere - what you do with them and how you compose them are up to you. (I didn't mention clouds being everywhere because they are not. They are only where Todd is.)
CAZ
Bret - I really, really love that shot!