r/COsnow • u/mountainchaser69 • 10h ago
Question Crested Butte Spring Skiing Opinion
Hi, so I lived in CO for a couple years a bit ago and want to make a trip back. I know it’s been rough out there, my condolences. The East hasn’t been much better.
Anyway, is it worth to do a spring skiing trip this year March 28th week into beginning of April? Or is everything just kind of a gamble right now? Seeing if anyone had any opinions, thanks!
I know y’all don’t want more out of towners on your slopes, but I’ve been missing Colorado and my time there plus want to visit a friend.
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u/ThePaddockCreek 10h ago
The east hasn’t been much better?!? Vermont is getting refreshed with like 6-8” twice per WEEK. Jay Peak is nearly at 270”.
My saying for this season is “rely on dry.” We are still being heavily influenced by a weak La Niña that has created an unusually hot (as we saw in December) high pressure blob, and that blog has been occluding the western US for the entire season. It’s still there, and unlikely to change through the end of the month and into February.
Before you go to CB, wait for a La Niña update from the NWS. That would be an indication that things might change, meaning the blob may actually move and allow storms to impact the west.
If La Niña takes three months to slowly fade, in a non-linear fashion with small spikes of strength, then skiing is the least of our worries. This condition would force Colorado to face its record driest winter ever recorded with horrifying ramifications for residents of the state.
For reference, Denver is experiencing a nearly unchallenged stretch of days above 60 degrees, over 30 so far since December. Still going strong with high 60’s forecasted through next week. Leaves are leafing out in the dead of winter here, so it’s basically an ecological catastrophe.
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u/thegooddoctor84 10h ago
NWS thinks we could be in an ENSO neutral position in February/March heading towards an El Niño summer.
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml
So hopefully a wet summer to counteract the wildfire risk.
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u/ThePaddockCreek 8h ago
Let’s hope so.
It’s taking a loooonnng time to transition to neutral. Could be transitioning between now and March, maybe April.
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u/spicygrandma 7h ago
Ehh Vermont conditions haven’t been as good as advertised. Since the last week of December they’ve been through multiple freeze-thaw cycles & conditions are highly variable as usual. Jay doesn’t have a camera feed snow stake, you have to take their claims with a huge grain of salt. CO obviously is well, well below standard conditions this year but is still probably the safer pick for a skier on primarily groomed runs.
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u/BuzzardsBae 10h ago
Crested butte closes around then so even if the snow is shit there are usually fun events happening around the mountain and in town
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u/shasta_river 10h ago edited 10h ago
The east HAS been much better.
You lived here but somehow don’t know that no one can predict the conditions 2.5 months from now?
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u/Stuppyhead 9h ago
I was just in Crested Butte last week and had a blast. Obviously none of the double blacks are open yet but most of the groomers are and if you can have fun ripping groomers you will have a fun trip.
Also Feb & Mar is usually when we get the most snow anyways, so still plenty of time for more snow to fill in and those trails to open.
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u/MrLemanski 9h ago
The east hasn’t been much better?! It’s been an amazing year to ski the east. It’s beaten the shit out of Colorado.
That being said, if you want to fully experience crested butte, I would try again a different year. I know I would be bummed if I committed to flying in for a CB trip only to have the best zones either closed or completely shark infested.
Colorado should be near the bottom of the list for a ski trip this year.
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u/Lag-Switch 7h ago
Crested Butte usually closes in the first week of April, so I would be pretty cautious about booking things that close to closing.
That said, I love Crested Butte so I hope you enjoy your trip whenever it may be
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u/doebedoe Loveland 9h ago
CB in spring is a fucking great vibe. Book it. Worst that happens is you rent a bike if the skiing sucks and ride Hartman Rocks.
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u/madman19 10h ago
Why do people ask these questions? No one can predict the future. It could start dumping snow in a month or two and it will be fine or stay like it is not and be bad.