Colorado Passes and Snow?

[KootenayB]

Does anyone know when the GDR route passes in Colorado (and northern New Mexico) tend to be reasonably clear of snow in a typical year?  End of May?  Mid June?  (I'd posthole for a bit, but I don't want a day of it at a pass).

Also, if some passes (ex. Indiana) are snowbound, are there reasonable detours?

[bradh]

I don't know the route, hopefully someone else will respond w/ better info.  In general mid may is way early for colorado passes. For single track,  mid June about the earliest, but usually too early.  Sometimes there's still a lot of snow July 1.  Some of the paved roads don't get opened until Memorial Day.

[rocky rode]

Hi!  Gary Blakley here.  I got a private message from Matthew on this post.  I'm in Del Norte which is just north of Indiana Pass, the highest point on the GDMBR.

It's too soon to tell this year when Indiana Pass might be open.  Normally the USFS does not plow it, they let it open up on its own.  Typically it is around mid June  before it can be driven.  So far it's looking like maybe it will be early his year.  On a bike you can do it as early as you care to as long as you don't mind post holing through the snow, it could take a day or a week to get through though.

Email me at gcblakley AT gmail.com as the date gets closer and I can keep you up to date on the snow conditions locally, at least for the south San Juans.  So far we're pretty close to average snow fall, the La Garitas and the Sangre De Cristos are below average but all that can and probably will change in the next couple of months.

Indiana Pass can be detoured, as can Marshall and Canero, it involves almost all road riding.

Be sure to look us up if and when you come through!   

[salsola]

Folks may find this interesting/helpful-- current %-of-average snowfall for major river basins in the West:

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/drought/dmrpt-20110120.pdf

See page three for graphic that shows snowpack levels are average to way above average along the Divide from Colorado north.

[6thElement]

Looking at that pdf I might consider a pack raft for the TD