Wonder if all the snow will impact trails later this year?

**JoeUser** · 02-18-2008, 08:11 AM

Interesting news story, particularly when the public works official in Ouray expressed concern about leftover mud when the snow melts this year...

The Denver Post - Snow swallows towns' space, cash

Fatbob · 02-18-2008, 09:19 AM

I was in Durango earlier this month, they do have quite a bit of snow. I've seen some years when the snow in the high country never melts off but they will usually run a snow plow over the more popular trails when they can because it would hurt the 4x4 tourist industry to not open them. I've always wondered what kind of crazy @$%&* would run a plow over some of those trails. If you notice on a lot of them there are poles along side the trail, thats what the plow drivers use to guide them and keep them from running off the edge.

TonysBlueFJ · 02-18-2008, 09:42 AM

The snow has stopped for now. They do manage every year to open all the trails. There is always snow on the top, we had fun last year in the snow.

**Mtbcoach** · 02-18-2008, 10:10 AM

Last year the Black Bear pass opened the day before due to snow needing to be cleared. Its bound to happen but we have to hope they can get things cleared up in time. I have faith...

**Sky** · 02-21-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

TonysBlueFJ previously said:

The snow has stopped for now. They do manage every year to open all the trails. There is always snow on the top, we had fun last year in the snow.

We have had record snow, but that area counts on offroaders for tourism dollars and that gives them the incentive to get the trails cleared as soon as possible.

Sand Rat · 02-21-2008, 08:44 PM

There's almost always snow on Engineer Pass. They clear it off relatively early in the summer, but I've been up where there was a line of people being winched across by a friendly local. I turned around and went back to Lake City.

fjcruzer123 · 02-27-2008, 06:17 PM

Snow shovels, chains and winch are all ready to go

but, yeah, I'll be interested to see what is actually clear. During average snowfall last year in the Aspen area we ran into significant snow as late as June/July, which is typical.

Pearl Pass June 23, 2007

Taylor Pass/Express Creek Road June 23, 2007

Schofield Pass June 24, 2007

We were able to clear Schofield that day and Pearl and Taylor were open 2 weeks later.

**JoeUser** · 02-28-2008, 06:42 AM

Being a flatlander down here in Texas, it's just incredible to see snow at that time of year in the Rockies... incomprehensible, almost.

Should be an interesting Summit! Can't wait!

***Bostonian1976*** · 02-28-2008, 10:01 AM

the good news is that there are enough trails in the area that if we need to rearrange a few, we can.

ps - Black Bear was opened FOR US last year - the town keeps us happy!

Colorado_FJ_83 · 03-12-2008, 04:54 PM

10+ years ago my family and I would go to Ouray every year to ride and the first 4 years Imogene was always snowed in when we went.
Took us 4 years to realize going 4th of July weekend although awesome, was too early to ride all the trails.

So we switched to late July early August and ride every conceivable trail in that time. We were sore after but it was well worth it.