#2287301 - 07/01/08 09:40 PM
Southern Colorado Weather Questions
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MoTurkeyHunter
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Registered: 01/11/06
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So my buddies and I have a first season elk tag for unit 78. We plan to backpack the trip. What type of average temperatures can we expect at night?
I understand that the weather in the high country can vary incredibly, just looking for an average that I can start to plan by.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
JL
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Jim
"When two opposing sides of an argument are presented, one by an honest man and the other by a liar, the liar usually wins, simply because he is not inhibited by the truth."
The Guru
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#2287583 - 07/02/08 06:08 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: MoTurkeyHunter]
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saddlesore
Campfire Guide
Registered: 06/22/01
Posts: 4117
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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Usually it is fairly mild. Low twenties at night, high 60's in the day at 8K elevation. Two years ago, we ahd plenty of snow and colder temoeratures. Last year it was warmer and dry.
Prepare for the nastiest weather.
_________________________
If God wanted you to walk and carry things on your back, He would not have invented stirrups and pack saddles
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#2288477 - 07/02/08 01:49 PM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: saddlesore]
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supercrewd
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 1891
Loc: Gunnison, CO
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Get on the stairmaster now... My MO hunting buddy did not realize how the altitude kicks your butt when I had him out 2 years ago... It will be cold at night, hope they are close friends as you may wish to share the sleeping bag with them. Look into a bag shell or something of that nature to add a little warmth to your bag. The high end sleeping bags are closer to their rating, I have one rated to -40 and it just barely keeps me completely warm thru a cold night (usually my toes where they press on the bag). Most importantly, keep your stuff dry.
_________________________
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Thomas Jefferson:
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
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#2289114 - 07/02/08 07:32 PM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: MoTurkeyHunter]
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LouisB
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Registered: 12/16/07
Posts: 90
Loc: TN
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Carry at least one (for each of you) of the cheap (buck or so at Wally World) plastic drop cloths with you at all times when hunting.
On at least one afternoon it will become apparent why!
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#2289163 - 07/02/08 08:00 PM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: LouisB]
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hotsoup
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Registered: 11/06/05
Posts: 1016
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i bowhunt colorado every year (starting late august). i'll stay on the mountain the first 12 days of the season unless both my buddy and i tag out. in the last 4 years we have seen rain, snow, more snow, 80 degree days, etc. the best advice i can give you is to prepare for snow and cold nights. have a way to dry your clothes. i've never gun hunted colorado (except several times with a muzzle loader and that season is during the bow season). weather during any of the colorado rifle seasons should offer more snow and colder temps. good hunting.
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#2289249 - 07/02/08 08:55 PM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: hotsoup]
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tikkanut
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Registered: 01/30/01
Posts: 997
Loc: Utah
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CO & UT are similar in elevation & temps...expect very wide swings in temps..65* daytime and 20* overnight..depending on elevation of course..the thin air cools fast...40* swings are common even in the summer months @ 6000'....let alone at 9000'...snow/rain/sleet or blaring sunshine & blue skies...expect anything & be prepared...oh yes..the elevation will kick your a$$....
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#2289616 - 07/03/08 06:58 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: tikkanut]
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supercrewd
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 1891
Loc: Gunnison, CO
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Oh, and don't forget sunscreen and chapstick.
_________________________
NRA Life Member
Thomas Jefferson:
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
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#2289704 - 07/03/08 07:49 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: supercrewd]
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Reloader7RM
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Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 839
Loc: NW La.
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I've been the last two years in Southern CO at 10,000 feet in Oct. The first year it was around 10-15 at night and up to around 50ish during the day. Last year it was around the 20s at night and 50s during the day. Snowed both years at some point during the 5 day hunts. Also hunted around the same elevation in '03 with about the same weather.
I would take clothes for 0-60 degrees and a good parka in case a good snow blows in.
From the guys that have more experience there, I've gathered that the weather is quite unpredictable. That said, I always carry gear for extremes just in case.
On any hunt I go on, I check the 10day on weather.com the day before I leave.
Good Luck
Reloader7RM
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#2289714 - 07/03/08 07:55 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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Kelk
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Registered: 01/29/08
Posts: 126
Loc: Fort Collins, CO
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We used to hunt the 3rd and 4th rifle seasons every year in the Gunnison Basin. My experience has been like most. Prepare for the worst when it comes to gear and clothes. Better to have it and not need it then not have it and need it.
We've hunted the 3rd and 4th in T-shirt weather with highs in the 60-70's. We've also been there when the highs have been 5 degrees. We've also hunted the 1st and 2nd seasons with the same circumstances. Like a few said, it did snow last year and the year before. I also remember that 2 years ago there was a blizzard that dumped several feet of snow during the 1st rifle season. So one can never really tell what you will get.
Last years snow cooled things quickly. Saturday was a high in the upper 50's and nice. Started to cloud over at sundown and by the time we woke up the next morning it was 9 degrees in camp. This was at about 10,200'.
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#2289718 - 07/03/08 07:56 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: supercrewd]
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Reloader7RM
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Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 839
Loc: NW La.
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Get on the stairmaster now... My MO hunting buddy did not realize how the altitude kicks your butt when I had him out 2 years ago...
Amen! The high altitude will kick your butt.
Took my dad on a hunt at 10,000+ and we had to leave early because the altitude caused him to panic(hyperventilate)on day 3 of a 5 day hunt. It was a scary experience. Even had to call in the paramedics....
Heck, my cummins diesel didn't care for it either. Took it about 15 mins to run right after each cold start.
Reloader7RM
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#2289725 - 07/03/08 08:00 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Kelk]
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Reloader7RM
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Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 839
Loc: NW La.
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I also remember that 2 years ago there was a blizzard
Man, we barely beat that storm by less than a day that year. When we got home, caught it on the weather channel and was sure thankful we got out safely.
Reloader7RM
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#2289735 - 07/03/08 08:04 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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Kelk
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Registered: 01/29/08
Posts: 126
Loc: Fort Collins, CO
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I also remember that 2 years ago there was a blizzard Man, we barely beat that storm by less than a day that year. When we got home, caught it on the weather channel and was sure thankful we got out safely. Reloader7RM
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Shut up and hunt!
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#2290025 - 07/03/08 11:07 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Kelk]
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supercrewd
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Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 1891
Loc: Gunnison, CO
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I was up at 10,000 a summer or two ago, I think it was July 4th, scouting a mountain top, when a hail storm came in and dumped 2 inches of hail on the ground in a hurry. The temp dropped from 65 to 30 in 15 minutes (per vehicle thermometer). It was nice on the not so distant hilltop. Those are the type of weather changes that can catch you in a bad way any time of year.
_________________________
NRA Life Member
Thomas Jefferson:
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
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#2291393 - 07/04/08 05:16 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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bwinters
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Registered: 02/24/03
Posts: 1422
Loc: Smoky Mountains, TN
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We hunted West Elk that year. We went in the day it hit and had 2 feet of snow by the end of the day. Spent all week hunting in those warm temps <g>
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Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
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#2291485 - 07/04/08 06:29 AM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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rost495
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Registered: 01/05/05
Posts: 9482
Loc: La Grange, TX
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NW La is about as flat as we are. Let me say that your dad may not have panicked, he may simply have had hypoxia. Talk to the docs, I carry an RX for same, and we do an aspirin regimen ahead of time and during the hunt. If the hypoxia hits the only thing to do is loose elevation.
I've found that often the first night and 1st day or so is tough, but it gets better after that, I know to push about as hard as I can the first day, but stop and recover when I loose breath. The harder I push the first day the quicker my system comes around, just like exercise, do it till it hurts, then stop to rest, then hit it again.
Jeff
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Get as close as you can, but use your skills as required
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#2295416 - 07/06/08 05:38 PM
Re: Southern Colorado Weather Questions
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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buffhunter
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Registered: 04/28/05
Posts: 375
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I've hunted Southern Colorado for about 20 years (most of it first rifle season). My advice is similiar to many others, be prepared for days of wet drizzle, 3-day snow storms (maybe 2 or more ft), and hot dry sunny days in the 70s. I always take a -20 sleeping bag, unless I'm in an area that I can walk out of in 4 or 5 hours at night if needed. Then I sometimes go with a 20 degree bag and sleep in my fleece hunting pants and parka if needed.
For me the worst, was one year when it rained almost constantly for 6 days and then turned cold. When backpacking, it's hard to keep your gear (especially clothes, headgear, and boots) dry during prolonged rain. Then once the temp drops to 15 degrees every thing freezes. As for me, stuffing cold feet into frozen boots at 4:00 in the morning is not what I consider fun.
But be prepared for weather extremes, and unless you are extremely unlucky (like a doctor and his friend who had hunted on horseback for years in one area, and then got hit with over 4 feet of snow. They had to abandon the horses to their fate, and try and make it down on foot. The doctor survived, but his friend died of exposure about halfway down.), you should have a good time and lows in the high 20s are not uncommon.
In my experience, October is usually pretty nice, but again, you never know what to expect. BTW I usually hunt the mountains around the San Louis Valley at around 10500 to 11500 ft. Durango and points SW can be even more extreme.
Good hunting.
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