Colorado: Freshies, and backcountry avy warning

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Backcountry travel not recommended in avy terrain

Buffalo Mountain looks good with a fresh coat of white.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Ski resorts rejoiced in an overnight storm that dumped 11 inches at Vail, 9 inches at Copper Mountain and similar amounts at most resorts in the northern and central part of the state. Get the full snow report from Colorado Ski Country USA.

Some roads remained icy and snowpacked Friday morning, but Loveland Pass was the only reported closure, and Highway 6 should re-open once crews have controlled the avalanche hazard.

In the backcountry, an avalanche warning is in effect through 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan, 28, as forecasters warn of dangerous conditions, with both natural and triggered snow slides likely on many slopes.

The storm added anywhere from .5 to .75 inches of snow-water equivalent in a 12-hour period. Combined with strong winds and a weak base layer, all the ingredients are in place for another round of dangerous avalanches. Only the South San Juans and the Grand Mesa zones are excluded from the warning, but even in those areas, the hazard is rated as considerable.

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Morning photo: Snnnoooowwwww!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Some Colorado freshies …

The storm clears over Frisco Friday morning, Jan. 26.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Nearly a foot of snow fell overnight in a classic Colorado snowstorm, with heavy waves of precipitation streaking through the mountains on a moist northwest flow. Here’s how it looked in Frisco at daybreak. Read more »

Filed under: Snow and weather, snow, photography, Summit County snow and weather, climate and weather, Morning photo, Colorado | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Arizona: Forest Service grazing plan deemed illegal

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Chiricahua leopard frog. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. FOREST SERVICE.

SUMMIT COUNTY — As so many times before, a federal court has overturned a U.S. Forest Service grazing permit because federal land managers violated the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

The court ruling at least temporarily blocks cattle grazing on 42,000 acres in the Fossil Creek watershed on the Coconino National Forest in central Arizona. The drainage is a stronghold for threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs. Download a copy of the ruling here. The Forest Service has made great efforts to help with the recovery of the frogs elsewhere in Arizona. Read more »

Filed under: Environment, US Forest Service, Summit County news, biodiversity, endangered species | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Winter sports gear sales down from last year

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Sales of backcountry related gear grew significantly, according to figures released by SnowSports Industries America.

Dry start to season hits retailers, but backcountry gear sales still going strong

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A warm and dry early winter hurt sales of winter sports gear, but not as badly as some retailers might have expected, according to figures released by SnowSports Industries America.

Most variance in snow sports sales can be directly attributed to weather, according to SIA, which pointed out in a press release that snow cover across the country was down more than 50 percent from December 2010.

Sales through December reached $2.2 billion, about 2 percent below last season’s record sale, but that total still surpassed the numbers from the the previous two seasons. Read more »

Filed under: business, Colorado, ski industry, Snow and weather, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Ancient skull gives new clues on history of dogs

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Research suggests multiple origins of domestic breeds

A profile of the Siberian dog skull shows the shortened snout and crowded teeth that helped scientists determine this ancient animal was domesticated. PHOTO COURTESY NIKOLAI D. OVODOV.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Archaelogists who found a well-preserved, 33,000-year-old dog skull in Siberia and compared with similarly aged skull found in Belgium have come closer to discovering how man domesticated his best friend.

The new evidence suggests that domestication of dogs may have occurred repeatedly in different geographic locations rather than with a single domestication event. Different breeds of dogs may have originated from more than one ancient ancestor, contrary to what some DNA evidence previously has indicated — inother words, chihuahuas may not have much in common with a rottweilers. Read more »

Filed under: Archaeology, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Weather: Dry spring?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Climate Prediction Center February to April will be warm and dry

The 2012 late December snowpack in the U.S. was the lowest in recent years.

bullseye.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — After several months of forecasting increased odds of above-normal snowfall for the 2011-2012 winter season, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has shifted gears and has upped the odds for below-normal precipitation for February through April.

According to NOAA, La Niña has peaked at about half the strength of last winter, and hasn’t influenced the weather as expected, at least so far. While the last few weeks have seen a shift in the larger pattern, the jet stream is still staying mainly north of Colorado and not driving down from the Northwest with abundant moisture like last winter.

Check out NOAA’s snow analysis web page for animated maps of precipitation and snow cover. Read more »

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, La Niña, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Forest Service close to finalizing new planning rule

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Agency wants to cut red tape, speed planning process and prevent lawsuits, but conservation groups say the new rule eliminates meaningful standards for protecting wildlife

The U.S. Forest Service is entrusted with management of precious public resources like this grove of bristlecone pines on Mt. Evans.

A couple of previous Summit Voice stories:

Forest Service releases draft of new national planning rule

Commentary: This land is your land … really!

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The U.S. Forest Service today took a big step toward finalizing a new rule that will determine how the agency writes management plans for 155 forests spanning 193 million acres of public land.

According to the agency, the rule will cut red tape, reduce litigation and try to deliver tronger protections for forests, water, and wildlife — all while supporting the economic vitality of rural communities.

While the Forest Service says the new planning rule bolsters environmental protection, some environmental groups were quick to point out that the rule actually weakens enforceable standards for protecting wildlife. Read more »

Filed under: Forest health, Environment, public lands, US Forest Service, forests, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Backcountry avalanche watch issued

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Snow Thursday night could set off another natural avalanche cycle

Parts of the Colorado mountains are under an avalanche watch. Click for more info.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A round of forecast snow — perhaps 4 to 10 inches Thursday night — could unleash another cycle of dangerous, naturally running backcountry avalanches, Colorado snow safety experts said, issuing an avalanche watch that covers the Front Range and mountains to the west from Fairplay up to Steamboat Springs.

Four people have died in avalanches this season, including two at ski areas. Get the latest backcountry update at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website.

An avalanche watch means that, if the weather forecast is accurate, the avalanche danger will rise to high in the watch area, with both natural and triggered slides likely. The watch is in effect through 11 a.m. Friday. A high danger rating means very dangerous backcountry avalanche conditions, and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. Specifically, the warning covers the Park Elkhead, Flattop, Front, Gore and Tenmile ranges. Read more »

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Colorado, snow, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Global warming: Is Arctic ice at a tipping point?

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

CU Boulder researchers lead effort to study changes in the Arctic sea ice

NASA satellite images show the state of Arctic ice from a distance, but a new two-year research efforts should yield more clues about global warming impacts to the planet's icebox.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A research effort led by the University of Colorado Boulder is launching a two-year study of Arctic sea ice to determine whether areas like the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent Canada Basin have passed a ‘tipping point’ and now are essentially sub-Arctic zones where ice disappears each summer.

Such ice loss could be causing fundamental changes in ocean conditions, including earlier annual blooms of phytoplankton, which are microscopic plant-like organisms that drive the marine food web.

The team will use unmanned aircraft and satellites to ocean buoys in order to understand the characteristics and changes in Arctic sea ice, which was at 1.67 million square miles during September 2011, more than 1 million square miles below the 1979-2000 monthly average sea ice extent for September — an area larger than Texas and California combined. Read more »

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, global warming, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Report: Energy development threatens biodiversity

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Many species at risk from pollution & habitat fragmentation

Kemp's Ridley Turtle. PHOTO COURTESY NOAA/KIM BASSOS-HULL, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Along with the significant pollution — including greenhouse gases — associated with use of fossil fuels, the push to extract more oil and gas is also a driver in the great wave of species extinctions currently sweeping the planet.

From tiny river mollusks in the Appalachians to the mighty polar bear, aggressive development of fossil fuel resources is endangering dozens of species. In the West, greater sage-grouse is under pressure, as habitat is increasingly fragmented by well pads, compressor stations, access roads, power lines and pipelines.

To draw attention to the threats, the Endangered Species Coalition last week released a report on wildlife endangered by energy development, highlighting 10 species that are particularly at risk. Read more »

Filed under: biodiversity, BP Gulf oil spill, endangered species, energy, Environment, gas drilling, oil drilling, Summit County news, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 255 other followers