Colorado Weather

[Dos Perros]

You guys think the rain will keep the elk in the highest country longer? Assume that feed hasn't burnt off yet and won't for some time.

 

[Split toe]

You guys think the rain will keep the elk in the highest country longer? Assume that feed hasn't burnt off yet and won't for some time.

Things were super green and wet up high when I was out there a few weeks back and it does not look like the weather pattern has changed since then.

 

[Poser]

You guys think the rain will keep the elk in the highest country longer? Assume that feed hasn't burnt off yet and won't for some time.

My experience is the elk stay in the high country until the snow pushes them down. The green state of the high country is already starting to shift with some yellow starting to show up. High country vegetation is more effected by the volume of sunlight and cooler temps than anything else. Days are getting shorter and lows at 12,000 feet dropping into the 30s this week.

I’m sure the elk are enjoying the lush, green tundra and the mushrooms are insane this year, which they also love.

 

[Hoyt Ag]

My experience is the elk stay in the high country until the snow pushes them down. The green state of the high country is already starting to shift with some yellow starting to show up. High country vegetation is more effected by the volume of sunlight and cooler temps than anything else. Days are getting shorter and lows at 12,000 feet dropping into the 30s this week.

I’m sure the elk are enjoying the lush, green tundra and the mushrooms are insane this year, which they also love.

Agreed 100%. Where I hunt in 12 it is littered with yellow right now and soggy as can be. However we (locals) keep thinking it will be a nasty winter due to it being so cool already this year. Last year we were in the 90s this time last year and not a drop of moisture. This year I am driving to work in mid 40s at 7k elevation and highs around 80 if that. Im not complaining on the current weather, but I do think that we get early snow and the critters will be in lower elevations earlier that usual. Just my .02.

 

[ChuckInTn]

Nice. Congrats on doing that trail and finishing in 4 weeks. I’ll be up doing segments 23 and 24 (Cataract Ridge) over Labor Day weekend.
I’ve done that part on a bike (correction: pushing a bike) before. Thought it might be more enjoyable backpacking.

Thanks, that should be fun, hopefully dry. I don't know how you guys get those bikes up on some of those mountains ;-). Vestal and Arrow peaks - great photo ops. One of my best pics is from the RR tracks looking back at (I think Arrow peak). Also, one day I'm going to hike those sections again and take the train to Durango.

 

[Gerbdog]

My experience is the elk stay in the high country until the snow pushes them down. The green state of the high country is already starting to shift with some yellow starting to show up. High country vegetation is more effected by the volume of sunlight and cooler temps than anything else. Days are getting shorter and lows at 12,000 feet dropping into the 30s this week.

I’m sure the elk are enjoying the lush, green tundra and the mushrooms are insane this year, which they also love.

I didnt realize they liked mushrooms, your right they are everywhere this year and i could see something had been eating them but just figured it was bears / mountain goats

 

[Dos Perros]

My experience is the elk stay in the high country until the snow pushes them down. The green state of the high country is already starting to shift with some yellow starting to show up. High country vegetation is more effected by the volume of sunlight and cooler temps than anything else. Days are getting shorter and lows at 12,000 feet dropping into the 30s this week.

I’m sure the elk are enjoying the lush, green tundra and the mushrooms are insane this year, which they also love.

Ya, I meant...in my experience there is the time when the elk are spending a ton / most /all of the time in the alpine. And then there is the time they drop into that subalpine, maybe feed up and then bed down in the timber. I'm hopeful that early they might be in that former pattern and not the latter.

 

[Poser]

Ya, I meant...in my experience there is the time when the elk are spending a ton / most /all of the time in the alpine. And then there is the time they drop into that subalpine, maybe feed up and then bed down in the timber. I'm hopeful that early they might be in that former pattern and not the latter.

My observation is that elk hanging out above treeline, bedding down etc is mostly tied to calving groups. They like to be up that high when the calves are vulnerable. Once that phase of calving is complete, they don’t really casually hang out in super exposed, open terrain above treeline. You may see them feeding there, but always with purpose and intention and usually on the move.

 

[Dos Perros]

When do you think that phase is usually complete? I've observed cows hanging out above treeline as late as late July, maybe even early August before.

The one time I hunted the high elevation alpine on the opener elk were feeding up but hustling down early in the morning, but I assumed that to be because most of the good feed had burned off early that year.

If'n I were an elk I'd feel pretty secure on a large open face where I could see all around me. Until rifle season I guess.

 

[Poser]

When do you think that phase is usually complete? I've observed cows hanging out above treeline as late as late July, maybe even early August before.

The one time I hunted the high elevation alpine on the opener elk were feeding up but hustling down early in the morning, but I assumed that to be because most of the good feed had burned off early that year.

If'n I were an elk I'd feel pretty secure on a large open face where I could see all around me. Until rifle season I guess.

My observation is that vulnerable phase is complete by early to mid august, once the bachelor groups and calving groups start to pair up. At that point, elk tend to move quite a bit more since the calves are fully capable of keeping up. Generally, if you see them out feeding above treeline at this point in the year, they are close to timber or in a largely inaccessible location.

A very common mistake hunters make is seeing a ton of concentrated poop above treeline that is 2-4+ weeks and getting sucked into that elevation. What they are seeing is summer pattern sign that is N/A for September.

 

[Split toe]

Looks like it continues to be cool in SW Colorado, forecast for next weekend is looking really nice if it holds up!

 

[BBob]

I didnt realize they liked mushrooms, your right they are everywhere this year and i could see something had been eating them but just figured it was bears / mountain goats

They love them. When you see piles of reddish soft serve poo or diarrhea that’ll be the mushroom eating elk

 

[EJDXT21]

RE: CO weather...I have an inreach mini that I know I can get weather updates on, but if there is no service where I'm hunting, is that the most reliable or only way to get weather updates in CO? I'm wondering about looking at the forecast in an area that has cell service and going off of that, or possibly carrying something that may pick up an AM station or similar.

 

[Slugz]

RE: CO weather...I have an inreach mini that I know I can get weather updates on, but if there is no service where I'm hunting, is that the most reliable or only way to get weather updates in CO? I'm wondering about looking at the forecast in an area that has cell service and going off of that, or possibly carrying something that may pick up an AM station or similar.

NOAA broadcast on a radio works.
I carry a GPS/ Radio as a back up navigational tool if needed but with Onx I find myself only using it for a nightly weather update.

 

[Afhunter1]

View attachment 443781View attachment 443782

Where do you see these maps?

 

[cnelk]

RE: CO weather...I have an inreach mini that I know I can get weather updates on, but if there is no service where I'm hunting, is that the most reliable or only way to get weather updates in CO? I'm wondering about looking at the forecast in an area that has cell service and going off of that, or possibly carrying something that may pick up an AM station or similar.

My experience is the InReach weather is damn near right on the money

 

[Novemberfest]

View attachment 443781View attachment 443782

Where do you find these graphs at? I find them interesting.

 

[11boo]

RE: CO weather...I have an inreach mini that I know I can get weather updates on, but if there is no service where I'm hunting, is that the most reliable or only way to get weather updates in CO? I'm wondering about looking at the forecast in an area that has cell service and going off of that, or possibly carrying something that may pick up an AM station or similar.

Good reminder, I’m packing my little am/fm radio. Most of our two way radios have the NOAA channels too.

 

[Next Ridge]

Climate

@Novemberfest @Afhunter1

 

[Afhunter1]

Climate

@Novemberfest @Afhunter1

Cool. Thanks!