San Juan Weather  |  | ||
Page Type: Album Image Type(s): Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Alpine Climbing, Hiking | Page By: mtnhiker13 Created/Edited: Feb 21, 2006 / Sep 1, 2010 Object ID: 174603 Hits: 2712 Page Score: 79.41% - 5 Votes Vote: Log in to vote | ||
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| markmahlum | Monsoon | |
Hasn't voted | Actually, the August monsoon comes up from the Baja, predictably around July 12 or 13. The lightning in the San Juans during our monsoon is something to respect as much as our avalanches. I have experienced the crackling of my hair at 13,500' and nowhere to hide. I was an atheist before that! Not afterward, though. Mark Take care, Mark | |
| Posted Feb 10, 2009 8:52 pm | ||
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| Aaron Johnson | Re: Monsoon | |
Hasn't voted | Hi Mark- Thanks for stopping by this "backwater spot" of SP. I've seen monsoon back up from the Gulf and generally all degrees south into the San Juans over my many years. And you're right about the lightning. I've written some trip reports about some hair-raising storms I've experienced and they're here on SP if you're interested. Despite all of the evidence and people supporting the monsoon concept in the San Juans, there are still folks that don't believe the monsoon actually makes it into Colorado at all! | |
| Posted Feb 12, 2009 7:49 pm | ||
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| markmahlum | Re: Monsoon | |
Hasn't voted | I've lived here and avidly hiked, fished, hunted, backpacked and rockhounded the San Juans for 37 years. If I fail to spend time above treeline during the weekend, the entire week has been a waste. The Southwest Monsoon is a monsoon by definition, a dependable daily rain. It is dependable and as the Hayden Survey discovered in 1876, extremely dangerous in the afternoon. The San Juans are particularly prone to lightning strikes. Lightning is , by far the greatest obstacle to high mountain activity down here, and by far, the thing I fear most. As a homebuilder, my livelihood is somewhat affected by the weather. I've learned to watch the Tucson and Phoenix weather. If it's raining there, we will get hammered within 24 hrs. Good rule for mountaineering, too. By the way, nothing terrifies me like lightning because of the numerous close calls I've had. Nothing is so uncontrollable. Take care, Mark | |
| Posted Feb 12, 2009 10:51 pm | ||
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| Aaron Johnson | Re: Monsoon | |
Hasn't voted | Hey Mark- We'll be in your neck of the woods this summer. We have friends in Durango to see. We might visit Mesa Verde since the wife has never been there previously. Our biggest chunk of time will be spent hiking in the La Platas. Neither of us have done anything in that part of the San Juans, so we're really looking forward to it. Any recommendations you would have would be greatly appreciated, or if you'd like, feel free to join us! If you're interested, I can let you know as soon as our dates are firmed up. We're thinkig mid-July for the flowers. | |
| Posted Feb 20, 2009 7:36 pm | ||
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