We had planned to leave this morning on a ski up-and-over the Continental Divide to Winter Park and back. Had we looked at the weather a year in advance, and picked the absolute worst two days of the year to go, this might have been it:
Today: A chance of snow before 11am, then snow likely and areas of blowing snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -16. Very windy, with a west northwest wind 30 to 33 mph increasing to between 46 and 49 mph. Winds could gust as high as 80 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow likely and areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -16. Strong and damaging winds, with a west northwest wind between 45 and 55 mph, with gusts as high as 90 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Wednesday: Snow likely and areas of blowing snow before 11am, then areas of blowing snow and a chance of snow after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as -15. Strong and damaging winds, with a west northwest wind between 50 and 60 mph, with gusts as high as 90 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
We're postponing the trip. It would probably be possible if nothing went wrong, but if something did go wrong, conditions like these could make it go tragic in a big hurry. Right now, the fire crackling in the wood burning stove suits me fine while determining a different adventure for the day.
Alta Backcountry 