[icegeek]

what's the snow like up there, melting fast?

 

[Jdub]

what's the snow like up there, melting fast?

I have no first hand knowledge, but I would think tomorrow would be a muddy mess. Snow just starting melting this afternoon.

Unless you go before it thaws, I would think MAYBE sunday.

 

[jimmy]

It will be a mess

Hey, the snow is just starting to melt this friday. Tomorrow will be a mess, and the trail will get trashed if people ride. I'd recommend saturday the 17th if it does not snow again.

 

[jonny boy]

Get going EARLY

Just ride real early. In my experience if you get there before it starts melting all is well. We used to ride starting at 8, when it will be about 20 deg, and you're fine coming back down when it is still not much warmer than 30.

With that said, we did only start melting out today. The foothills look less white than yards in Longmont, probably due to more sun exposure and warmer tread (red dirt). I would imagine the loop probably has quite a bit of snow; the rock garden dries out faster; the backside trail is probably icy.

I was contemplating it as well, but I think a road ride would be a smarter choice, though not near as fun.

 

[ignazjr]

Just ride real early. In my experience if you get there before it starts melting all is well. We used to ride starting at 8, when it will be about 20 deg, and you're fine coming back down when it is still not much warmer than 30.

...

I would imagine the loop probably has quite a bit of snow; the rock garden dries out faster; the backside trail is probably icy.

Early is key. I'd say be back down by 9, or before the sun comes out. Antelope trail and the Nelson Loop were already snowpacked before this last snow so they could be fun in the right conditions. Once the sun is out, though, Hall is gauranteed to be a muddy mess.

 

[icegeek]

Coming down from the pass today, by the time you got down to Idaho Springs the sunward slopes were brown and dry.

 

[daveM]

Yup, early is key...

I'll let you know, I'll be there at 6 am for a B4work ride...

I ride by it everyday on my way to work, and there's snow at the main trailhead. Devil's Backbone up in Loveland might be drier...