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Looks like we will need to find another way around the mountain! Trail Ridge Road over the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park will not open for the Memorial Day Weekend. According to Vaughn Baker, Park Superintendent, "With twice the normal snowpack, we are facing one of the most challenging years for opening Trail Ridge Road in recent memory. If we can get the weather to cooperate, we hope to have it open by early June."
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. We were planning to drive it on June 1. That would be really early June.
The amount of winter snowpack that faced park snowplow operators when plowing began, combined with recent storms, have hampered park snowplowing efforts. Last week's snowstorm produced 17 foot drifts above Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park. There is more snow along that section of road now than there was on May 5. Longtime park snowplow operators indicate this is the most snow they have encountered, this late in the season, in almost 30 years.
Park staff expect a busy Memorial Day Weekend. The three reservation campgrounds in the park are full on Saturday and Sunday. From lower elevations the mountain peaks look majestic with blankets of snow similar to those seen in the middle of winter.
- comments
Peter What a crazy winter they had. See you in 2 days
Susan WOW! That global warming is at it again!