Taos BC Forum - Recent Posts

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

JBella — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 15:27:04 +0000

TAC reporting 18-22” from the weekend’s and last week’s storm cycle.

Much needed boost to the somewhat disappointing start to winter. Another storm developing should do something mid-week, looks to be more wind than snow. Followed by another one through the weekend - hopefully this is the start of a consistent winter cycle.

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

JBella — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:38:11 +0000

Haven’t been up there yet his season, knowing the area and terrain I can say we’re still a few storms from Long Canyon really being ready. I’ve rode lines like the Asteroid Belt with this much snow, it might be possible but sketch, too much downfall to navigate until there’s about a 40-50” snowpack imo.

Current storm; looks like about 3” on the webcams this morning. Might produce a few more today on the Taos range.

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

nipdeep — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:30:17 +0000

How’s WPW looking? Still thin?

Anyone been up long canyon or have pics from before todays few inches?

RE: Hopewell/Chama Backcountry

nipdeep — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:26:27 +0000

This report is from Saturday.

Thin and sun effected snow below 10k. Bare S facing slopes, and FS roads were mostly drive able with high clearance. Above 10k, good skiing was found on NE faces. A few inches of powder on top of a foot of dense slab.

/‘’\

IMG_0051.jpeg

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

JBella — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 14:54:17 +0000

19th - 21st storm produced a few inches, some holding on north - east aspects. Last night (24th - 25th) got a bit more wintery. 5-6” -along the Rio Grande gorge. Looks like the mountains are socked in pretty good

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

JBella — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:36:38 +0000

The air has that clean, crisp, storm cloud wintery ocean smell to it…

Snowfall across the northern mountains began yesterday morning and continued through the night, with a boost in storm density following a temperature drop about 8pm … lingering showers and flurries continue today at the higher elevations near and above treeline. Just a dusting, at most maybe a couple inches by the time this one is done leading to sunny skies into the new week. Another one to add to the frequency of precipitation events to begin this El Niño winter … heard something’s developing about November 18th or 19th …

RE: Hopewell/Chama Backcountry

JBella — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 21:06:18 +0000

There's a blip on the radar showing for Wednesday afternoon through Thursday across much of the San Juans through the Tusas, extending eastwards across the Sangres with some precipitation possible as far south as the Lincoln National Forest.

RE: Santa Fe/Truchas Backcountry

CMYK — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:26:42 +0000

I was up in the Truchas cirque this Sunday - a few spots of snow leftover from earlier storms, and flurries were starting as we headed back down. Quemado falls were just starting to freeze on the edges, assuming the cold weather continues they should be climbable soon. Almost time!

RE: Taos Area Backcountry

JBella — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 13:47:37 +0000

Not much to report. We got some southern-side tailspin from the weekend’s storm, produced about an inch on the mountains above about 9.5k last night, apparent as a dusting above treeline. Most of the precipitation developed Saturday through Sunday morning across central Colorado, the Elk Mountains to the Front Range. The northern Sangres got a few inches while the New Mexico side was in the clouds with only a few brief flurries before yesterday evening. This week’s forecast is for mild temps, increasing gradually daily accompanied by clear skies.

The important factor to note is this is the seventh snowfall event since the first noted dusting on the Taos Mountains September 11th (snow flurries were observed twice during August with insignificant or no accumulation). Historically, the frequency of cold weather precipitation events during September and October have correlated with the overall winter weather pattern trend. With the developing El Niño looking to continue this could be good news.

RE: Hopewell/Chama Backcountry

JBella — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:28:46 +0000

Link to Hopewell Snotel site;

Hopewell (532) - Site Information and Reports (usda.gov)