4th of July in the mountains this year

[Big Dave]

My dad's side of the family is coming out for the 4th of July this year and want to spend some time in the mountains. The original plan was to base our adventures around Gunnison for a multitude of reasons. We're planning on fishing, some light wheeling, maybe some camping. But the amount of snow up there has me concerned that very few of those activities will be possible that early in the summer around Gunnison. How are things looking around Montrose and Junction? Also considering BV. 8-9 of the people coming out are more than willing to spend a lot of time doing "outdoorsy" activities, but there will be 2-3 who would much rather spend their time shopping.

I know it's hard to speculate what things will be like 4-5 months from now, but I figured it's worth a shot.

[Steve]

There's no doubt everything will be melted and clear in the valleys ('Junction, Delta and Montrose) by early July. The Grand Mesa, on the other hand, has LOTS more snow than typical so there may still be some areas up there with some then. Usually by late June we're into 100* days for a week or two...

[LONEWOLF]

Ourey has some good trails open at that time, like the Alpine Loop etc... they also have an all day 4th celebration thats pretty good, fishing in the umcompaghre rive,r its not that far from Montrose,

[Scooter]

Tuff call this year, what with the snow-pack at record levels.
Count on one thing for sure.. a WET spring runoff.
Last year it seemed, to take forever to open up some of the passes, but it was a cold winter. This year seems a little warmer. You could always schedule something in Grand Lake, great 4th of July show, shopping, Rocky Mtn Nat Park. Sound like just what you need for Touristias.....:D

[Steve]

With the snowpack in the San Juans right now I suspect at least Black Bear and Imogene won't be open by then, but many other trails maybe. It may be iffy this year around Ouray in early July because of the incredible amount of snow down there this winter.

[Oscar]

Man I bet Poughkeepsie doesn't clear until late July this year if by then I can't remember seeing that much snow up there

[BHT]

Gunny puts on a great fireworks show in the town park. So does Ouray.

[scottycards]

Kelly and I did a long trip over the 4th last year to Ouray and surrounding areas. Black Bear and Imogene were still closed, and this is a drift at the top of Engineer.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u47/scottycards/Jeep%20Trip%20SW%20Coloroado%202007/P7010055.jpg

Overall, the trails were all good, and you can see from this photo how much snow was left up there. Remember, we had a winter that lasted late into the spring last year, so the melt came pretty late.

Up on one of the high passes, probably Engineer as well:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u47/scottycards/Jeep%20Trip%20SW%20Coloroado%202007/P7010050.jpg

It's awesome up there- nice and cool- a great place to be over the 4th weekend.

[LONEWOLF]

Ophir pass outside of Telluride has a drift at the top like that also. There still plenty of open trails up there and the scenery is great.

[scottycards]

That pic could very well be Ophir- we did go over Ophir that weekend. Nice catch.

[Jeff Mason]

Even with high snow levels, most of the 'basic' locations around Gunnison should be cleared by the 4th. Higher passes and trails may still be blocked. I would bet that fishing on the Taylor River or Spring Creek would be accessible, but don't know what effect higher runoff might have on actual fishing conditions. You could still take a lot of side trips (go explore around Crested Butte, go fish at Taylor Reservoir, spend a day down around Lake City, drive up to the Alpine Tunnel, etc.) and Blue Mesa should have high water levels and warm shores (at least for the elevation).

Regardless of how much snow they have and will get in the next two months, I believe that most everything below 12,000 feet will be accessible, if not a little muddy.

[LONEWOLF]

Good rainbow trout fishing at Lake San Cristobal right at the spill way.

[Oscar]

Good rainbow trout fishing at Lake San Cristobal right at the spill way.
SSSHHH

[Tom N]

Take the shoppers to Crested Butte, it's close enough to Gunnison.

[CSP]

The only thing that would be affected by the snow pack around Gunnison would be the passes north of Crested Butte. Everything in/around town should be fine at that point.

[Colin]

What others have said, if you have shoppers in the group bring em here. They can spend all the money they want in CB.

I'm hoping to get a fly fishing guide job this summer, the water levels should be great.

[Big Dave]

What others have said, if you have shoppers in the group bring em here. They can spend all the money they want in CB.



That was the plan. My sister graduated from WSC a couple years ago so we're familiar with the area, just really hoping that the snow is gone and the town doesn't float away in a giant flood of runoff.

[Oscar]

Why Gunnison got nuked in the alien movie a flood would clean up the mess

[Colin]

Why Gunnison got nuked in the alien movie a flood would clean up the mess

Did you see the movie? Gunni was so nice and full of trees, not to mention about 4 times the actual size :laughing:

It twas a good laugh :cool:

[Oscar]

yea I was having a hard time recognizing much