Hey all, I just wanted to bring it up that I'd be happy to organize a trip in Colorado if anyone is interested. I've been told that some are planning on making it out, I just wanted to see if there would be a large enough group for me to start planning now and make an organized BWA event. Here in the Aspen area there is many different stretches of rivers of varied difficulty, some with hot springs along the banks.

As of this weekend, we have the same snow base that the resorts closed down with, so there should be plenty of water. This past weekend we got another 35 inches of solid whitewater, so anyone wanting to ski/ride/x-country let me know too! It has been said that this may be the first year that skiing will go through July and maybe strait through in some places to next season. I'm planning on mountaineering trips (with ski decents) on weekends when the water isn't quite there, so that's also an option.

Also, if not enough already, June 19-22 is the 35th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I'm going to order my ticket soon, just wondering if anyone would like to add that one on. Lots of boating down there and they've gotten about twice the snow we have so they've had hyper-epic conditions getting over 50 inches this weekend in Wolf Creek.

Email me if interested...
wirednut14er@yahoo.com

Dustin

I'll be there. Prob first two weeks in june. going to race few events teva games then chase some water. prob vallecito, OBJ, like to do Bailey again, as usual up for whatever. party at dustins.

matt

Hey Dustina!

You lucky dawg you out there during all this pow pow! Take my advice if you havent already been...GO TO WOLK CREEK young man. The place is flippin sick! I caught it once during a 5 day, 110 inch snow storm and multiple other bluebird pow days. No place like it in the lower 48 with lift access.

Shred the gnar gnar brah brah!

wavey

WaveyDavey

Before this snow we had 130% of the seasonal average in the Roaring fork Basin. Now, there's another 1-3 feet depending on where your at. The mtns south have received way more snow for you OBJ fans and streams around Durango. Our base in the area ranges from 2+ feet at my house in the valley floor to at least 8-14 ft in the mountains around. Avalanche danger is in extreame right now with heavy wind loaded slabs forming last night, so backcountry travel once again will be minimal for the next week or two after a short reprieve. We're expecting another foot or so by the end of the week before another storm comes in this weekend. BTW, we usually get the most snow in March, so if the temps stay cold, the rivers will be flowing well into july and it will be likely that we will be skiing thru next season in the backcountry! This is the most snow they've had here in over 20 years, great considering we opened with only manmade snow and 5 inches in November. We're no longer in a drought condition and they've actually started releasing water to make room for the spring thaw in nearby reseviors. On thanksgiving the locals went to the mountaintop and set series of huge Ullr Fires to appease the snowgods over 20 feet tall, we were rewarded with 35 inches the next weekend and it's hardly stopped! Now the river gods will be happy too!

C'mon out and play!

Love the Durango area. Got my butt handed to me though on Adrenaline Falls on Lime Creek in '95 when we had big snow pack.
Brent

[www.aspentimes.com]

Just an update... The snow is still falling, almost up to 350 at snowmass for the season! Apparently the San Juan rivers will have about 300% of the average annual snowpack. This year the snowpack has a higher moisture content than average too. I may just go boating on Sunday, the temp may blow up to 49!!! maybe... EPIC SNOWMELT!

Dustin

Latest report from Colorado...

Harry and I had an action packed weekend here in the Roaring Fork Valley. We closed out the lift assisted ski season with not one but two days of skiing at Highlands and hiking The Bowl both days. We even got to see some horrific carage when a death wishing hang glider suddenly turned into a rockbanger as it plummeted some 600 feet before stopping. Good news, he survived with only minor cuts and managed to ski down the mountain. Even the birds were telling him which way to aim... go figure! BTW, Independence Gap is scheduled to open around May 15, unless we get dumped on again, so hitch and ski will be easy with huge turns above the treeline.

We also managed to boat both days as well! We put in at Snowmass Creek and ran down to Basalt both days on the way home from skiing. Very happy to report some good surfing!

The Roaring fork is rising up to its name and will be running bigger in the comming weeks, possibly peaking out the third weekend of June (or later). The Crystal is now at the minimum level right now and rising also. The Fryingpan will also be there this year too.

Other good news, the Glenwood Springs playpark is great and a surprise for us all to see what happens at huge water in June. It is being said that it may rival Big Sur on the Colorado, which will most likely rise from the river this year.

Southwest Colorado has been going crazy for the last week, but it's a haul from here and the passes are not open yet. The Arkansas and Lake Creek are just over the pass!

BTW, i've recently moved down from the Apen bubble to live in Basalt. Easy striking distance to everything i listed above, and more. Best news though, is the wave/hole that is beside my place! I've got much more room now and even a hot tub, so make plans to visit!

SYOTR!!!
Dustin

yeah, but runoff is sooo cold.

Dustin, have you hit Escalante Creek over near Grand Junction? Some of GJ friends say its their favorite run on the west slope. Long boatin' season in the desert this year.

Brandon

Dustin: A really cool creek is Homestake above Vail. It flows into Gilman Gorge of the Eagle, so you can combine runs. Of course, don't forget south of you near Durango with Lime Creek and Vallacito over towards the Piedra. Going to be a great season in your backyard!
Brent

Brent, I've been looking at Homestake in the guide books too. It will be a close option also for some steepness. I'm going down to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in June, so i'm hoping to link up with some people i don't know yet to run some Durango area streams. Escalante Creek would be quite the haul to go to, especially with gas near to $4 per gallon. That's one reason I haven't gone to Moab yet. I'd like to do a lot of stuff around, but with as much as i do have i'll be happy until i make some boating buddies out here. Maybe i'll just meet Scotty Ray out at Escalante for some creekin and then hit up the single trax down there too!

Good times!