Snowpack May 2012 vs July 2011

[Scott P]

These photos were taken at the same place (Black Mountain in the Elkhead Mountains).

May 31 2012:

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/793217.JPG
July 9 2011:

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/727625.JPG

July 2011 had much more snow than May 2012!

The snowpack is very dismal right now!

Graph:

http://images.summitpost.org/original/793227.bmp

[Sandstone Addiction]

I wonder if there has ever been back to back years in the past that have had such extremes? It has always seemed to gradually go in and out of wet and drought periods. Kinda weird.

[Scott P]

I wonder if there has ever been back to back years in the past that have had such extremes?

1993 and 1994 did, but this year is still drier.

[powderglut]

Could be a very scary fire year.
We were just up in the Zirkel Wilderness where I usually am putting tracks on the hills up there. Very patchy snowfields. Snow pack is almost gone. Hiking conditions remind me of late July. Weird.

[Alex]

Ya I ended up switching my Yampa river permit to Gates of Lodore because of record low water... sucks :(