Snow in the Beartooth Pass

[MstrJim]

Anyone have any idea how much snow has accumulated in the pass.  I bet tons if it's been anything like our winter.  More or less than usual?

[zer0netgain]

The pass always has snow.  The question is if it's on the road or not.  

[stromgal]

Yellowstone National Park Service has issued the 2011 spring plowing schedule for the west end of the Beartooth Highway from the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park to the Wyoming-Montana border close to Beartooth Pass.

According to Al Nash, YNP Public Affairs Officer, the following opening dates have been confirmed for May, 2011:

In Yellowstone National Park / Second Friday in May , 5/13/11:
Lake to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful, and South to Old Faithful opens to wheeled vehicles. These roads could open as early as the first Friday in May if snow and plow conditions allow. Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway intersection to the Long Lake gate shall open as soon thereafter as possible.

Beartooth Highway / Friday of Memorial Day weekend, 5/27/11: Long Lake Gate over the Beartooth will be open.

For the past several years YNPS plows have been successful in opening the section of the Beartooth Highway between Yellowstone's NE Entrance and Long Lake on the first weekend May.

Memorial Day Weekend each Year - May 28, 29 & 30, 2011

The entire Beartooth Highway is generally open seasonally from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October depending on snowfall. To check road conditions and opening and closing dates travelers should call the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce at (406) 446-1718.

First Weekend in May each Year - May 7, 8 & 9, 2011

National Park road plowing crews arrive in Cooke City, Montana during the first weekend in May each year to being annual plowing of the Beartooth Highway from Cooke City, through the Wyoming section of highway, to the Wyoming/Montana border. Yellowstone Park's northeast entrance, via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway ( Wyoming Highway 296 ) is usually open to hearty visitors during or just after this first May weekend. To check road conditions call the Cooke City Chamber of Commerce at (406) 838-2495.

Somewhere there's a webcam that shows plowing progress once they start... can't find it at the moment.

[mtrider16]

It will be interesting to see how the snow clearing goes.  Its been cool and wet here, however Billings has been warmer.

David

[Eric308]

It will be interesting to see how the snow clearing goes.  Its been cool and wet here, however Billings has been warmer.

David

Well...they had almost 2 feet up top of Beartooth last night. Here's a good link for snow clearing progress up there.   PS...my avatar is top of Beartooth in early June last year. Same with the pic.   http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/

[JimWilliamson]

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/

FANTASTIC VIDS!!

The map link at the bottom of the page is nice too.

Weather today, May 10, is calling for snow around the Grand Valley in Colorado for tomorrow (unknown amount estimate). I heard Yosemite's Half Dome is having a delayed opening due to excessive snow - they can't get the cables set.

[Justin]

Weather today, May 10, is calling for snow around the Grand Valley in Colorado for tomorrow (unknown amount estimate).

Yeah, I hit Cameron pass, Willow Creek pass and Berthoud pass on Sunday, and there is still a ton of snow. I'm thinking there is going to be some flooding in the Canyons and low lying foothill areas this year  

[bikerfish1100]

This was the pass over Snowy Range (a bit southwest of cheyenne) at the very end of April, being checked out by WYDOT staff:



that sign says "Open Range", in case you couldn't tell.
yeah, we got snow this winter.

[sfarson]

Sweet pic Justin.  Read where the Cameron Pass snow levels were almost 200% of last year, and 150% of the Long Term Average (LTA).  The Cache Le Poudre is gonna be a roaring fire hose soon.

[bikerfish1100]

and i heard where Conifer just got the better part of another foot of new snow. You gonna attach a snow plow to the GS?

[Justin]

Sweet pic Justin.  Read where the Cameron Pass snow levels were almost 200% of last year, and 150% of the Long Term Average (LTA).  The Cache Le Poudre is gonna be a roaring fire hose soon.

Yeah, it's way more snow then I ever recall seeing on Cameron pass this time of the year, or even in winter for that matter. I think the floodgates will be getting some use this year in towns like Boulder and Ft Collins.

[Eric308]

Yeah, it's way more snow then I ever recall seeing on Cameron pass this time of the year, or even in winter for that matter. I think the floodgates will be getting some use this year in towns like Boulder and Ft Collins.

Doesn't the Big Thompson by Estes Park usually flood with just normal snow amounts? Should be a good rafting season on the Arkansas I would think.

[bikerfish1100]

Doesn't the Big Thompson by Estes Park usually flood with just normal snow amounts? Should be a good rafting season on the Arkansas I would think.

regular flooding? nah, not quite. but there will be volume this year, that is for sure.

"good" rafting? the word used for the skiing this year was "epic". I think that will come close to describing the rafting season as well.

[bubba zanetti]

Headed to Beartooth in about 3 weeks ... looks like I better pack my wholly jammies.

[Eric308]

Headed to Beartooth in about 3 weeks ... looks like I better pack my wholly jammies.

It was 65 in Red Lodge and 32 when I got to the top of Beartooth last June 3rd. You just never know up there...it can be very windy at times. Last year it was calm and very nice albeit a bit cool. Make sure you check to see it is open....I remember one year it didn't open until mid-June.  http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I can only hope that all of this snow helps to replenish the Colorado and Glen Canyon, et al  

[JimWilliamson]

Should we plan a meet for rafting?

Arkansas or the little Poudre?

[bikerfish1100]

i'd be up for some of that!

[bubba zanetti]

I can only hope that all of this snow helps to replenish the Colorado and Glen Canyon, et al  

It is just that here dd.  Slow melt, with huge pack. It will keep many out of the mountains but replenish so much of the watershed as a consequence.   Snow pack is good in the long term.  

[blakebird]

End of March..... not far from Cameron Pass on 14.



Northern CO is around 200% snowpack in places (Steamboat got nutzo amounts of snow) and much of the state is in the 120% - 150% range. News radio a few days ago was talking about the warm temps and still-falling snow potentially leading to a 500-year flood event.

[JimWilliamson]

News talking about the snowpack and great rafting to come...

[bikerfish1100]

this report on WYO 130 - "Snowy Range" pass- came in the other day. things downhill are gonna get wet, lemme tell ya.

May 24, 2011 For the first time in memory, WYO 130, the alpine highway between Centennial and Saratoga in southeast Wyoming, will not be opened by Memorial day weekend, WYDOT officials announced today. "Mother Nature won," said District Engineer, Jay Gould. WYDOT crews are battling snow levels unseen across the Snowy Range in at least four decades. Drifts rise to 20 feet and higher for long stretches and water content is heavy. Crews on the Laramie side began snow clearing operations on May 9 with two snow-cats, a dozer, and three rotary plows. The Saratoga operation began on May 5 with three dozers and three rotary plows. Additional snow has fallen everyday on the workers, including a foot and a half one night last week. The men had to plow themselves back in the next morning to start again where they left off. At day's end on May 23 the Laramie side had advanced four miles and the Saratoga side two and a quarter miles. This adds up to half the daily progress vis-à-vis recent years. The crews remain over six miles apart from meeting. The road opening has also been slowed by high demand for personnel and equipment at events away from WYO 130. On Thursday of last week, 11 plows were dispatched to work a heavy spring snowstorm that caused multiple crashes on the summit of I-80 east of Laramie. The WYDOT crew in Rawlins has been hauling fill material to Baggs to strengthen the dike. They've delivered over 60 truckloads of sand to the State Penitentiary where prisoners fill sandbags in preparation of high water. Gould said that he appreciates the patience of the traveling public and the support from Wyoming residents for WYDOT's responsibility to protect life and property in what may be a very wet month ahead. "We'll stay after it," he said. "We'll get the Snowy Range open when we can, then clean up WYO 70." Last year it cost WYDOT more than $270,000 to open WYO 130 by Memorial Day weekend.

[birdrunner]

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
----------------------------------------------------
Plow crews resumed work clearing snow from the last few miles of US-212, the Beartooth Highway. After clearing snowfall which has accumulated last week, they will finish opening the road between West Summit and the Montana-Wyoming State Line. Weather conditions permitting, this should allow the entire length of road between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana, to open to travelers by next weekend.

Information on park road conditions is available 24 hours a day by calling the park’s road information hotline at 307-344-2117.



Whoa.  

[greench440]

I've programmed that number into my speed dial.  SunnyD and I are hoping it's open Sunday.

[birdrunner]

I've programmed that number into my speed dial.  SunnyD and I are hoping it's open Sunday.

Might see your there,  always go into Cooke City for a Capuccino.

[Mr Sunshine]

Here's a recent pic of Beartooth if anyone wants to see it.