Colorado: Cloud-seeding ends for the year

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

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Does cloud seeding enhance Colorado snowfall?

Biggest storms came after the silver-iodide burners shut down for the year

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s cloud-seeding program for the central mountains ended April 10, just as a series of strong spring storms rolled into the area.

While the winter’s biggest snow totals came after the end of this year’s program, the seeding operations may have helped bring near-average snowfall to area in February and March, according to the operators, who are now measuring their efforts under a “target and control” evaluation that will be submitted to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for review. (more…)

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

Morning photo: Randomized …

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

A little photo-foolin’

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Winter dreams.

FRISCO — I hope these images don’t come as too much of a shock to readers who are used to seeing traditional landscapes in this space. But after about a year, I re-opened the PS Express app on my iPhone after updating it and found all sorts of groovy new features that I had to play with. PS Express is the Photoshop iPhone app, and while some of these effects are questionable for photojournalism, others could come in handy at the right time. The point is, get to know the tools you have available; that way, you’ll know how to use them when you need them.

Slightly swirled rose, edited in PS Express, the iPhone Photoshop app.

Slightly swirled rose, edited in PS Express, the iPhone Photoshop app.

(more…)

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

Morning photo: Mountain light

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

First snow, last snow …

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Mt. Guyot sunlit above the shadows after one of the last snows of the season.

FRISCO —A little mix and match in today’s photo essay, with some shots from one of the last snowstorms of the season juxtaposed against early season snow images. It may just be that time of year, but the light feels a little warmer in late April than it does in October, but the feeling it evokes is similar. And while we may not have had the best snow season, it’s worth remembering that the storminess began more than seven months ago, and may well go into May, which would be month eight. Just sayin … (more…)

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

Colorado: Report says deadly Loveland Pass slide went unnoticed for several hours

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

State report concludes the April 20 avalanche accident that killed five people was avoidable

Looking east along the crown line of an April 20 avalanche that killed five men in the Sheep Creek drainage

Looking east along the crown line of an April 20 avalanche that killed five men in the Sheep Creek drainage near Loveland Pass, Colorado. Photo courtesy CAIC.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — It’s April in Colorado and heavy snow is falling on the mountains of the Continental Divide, where a high-spirited group of mountain enthusiasts gather to plan a short backcountry tour, envisioning dreamy, floating turns and faceshots on the slopes of Mt. Sniktau, a mountain along the Continental Divide between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin where planners once hoped to create an Olympic ski arena.

Well equipped and versed in backcountry travel, the six men head up Loveland Pass, a Mecca for Colorado backcountry skiers since the early days of the sport. At Scotty’s Corner, the last hairpin before the crest, the men headed east across the face of the 13,234-foot peak, aiming for northwest facing slopes on the far side of a broad gully that splits the face of the peak, according to an April 24 report from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Recognizing the potential danger of avalanches, the group identifies what they thought was a safe zone near a cluster of trees on a knoll on the far side of the drainage. They discuss the avalanche danger again, agreeing to spread out as they crossed the slope. But they aren’t cautious enough, given the magnitude of the slide they ultimately trigger at about 10:15 a.m. (more…)

Filed under: avalanches, climate and weather, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Morning photo: One more storm …

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

April showers …

Clearing storm in the North Tenmile Creek drainage, Frisco, Colorado.

Clearing storm in the North Tenmile Creek drainage, Frisco, Colorado.

FRISCO — If the weathermen are right, this may truly have been the last big snowstorm of the season (but who knows, right?) so I had to pick out just a few more shots from an early morning Frisco iPhone walkabout. Snow is good anytime of the year, but the late-April bonus storms are the best, not just for the scenery, but for the sake of boosting our mountain snowpack. (more…)

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

Morning photo: Winter … in April

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Springtime in the Rockies

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Morning light highlights the texture of fresh spring snow on the frozen surface of Dillon Reservoir in Summit County, Colorado.

FRISCO —It’s not unusual to get April snows in the high country. After all, when you live at 9,000 feet you have to willing to accept the fact that there are really only two seasons — snow and non-snow. But this year seems a little unusual, especially compared with last year, when spring weather went to the other extreme, with a March heatwave that broke records. The cool and showery weather this month won’t break any records, but it’s been fun going out to capture the late winter scenes around Summit County. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Morning photo, photography, seasons, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Avalanche kills snowboarder near Vail Pass

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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A winter-like series of storms has resulted in considerable avalanche risks in parts of the Colorado backcountry.

Risk of slides persists in the backcountry

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s backcountry snowpack proved deadly for the sixth time this winter, as a snowboarder was killed Thursday by an avalanche in the backcountry near Vail Pass — specifically in an area known as Avalanche Bowl, on Ptarmigan Hill.

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the accident involved a group of three skiers using snowmobiles to access fresh backcountry powder at a time when the snowpack was more winter-like than spring at higher elevations.

The CAIC reported that one of the riders was caught and washed into a stand of trees, where he likely died of injuries. The deep, persistent-slab avalanche likely released on a northerly aspect in a near-treeline area, according to the CAIC. (more…)

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

Morning photo: Going with the flow …

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Winter hangs on

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No, it’s not cotton. It’s fresh snow piling up on aspen catkins.

FRISCO — Another day, another snowstorm in Summit County, but the good thing is, you don’t really hear anyone complaining about the snow. Well, maybe a few good-natured comments about flip-flops and bikes, but for the most part, people are quite aware that these April storms are the only thing standing between us and extreme summer drought. As far as photography, you just gotta go with the flow — or with snow, in this case. (more…)

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

Morning photo: Insta-snow

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

One more sparkly winter morning!

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This big boulder along the shore of Dillon Reservoir is always much more interesting when it’s covered with sculpted snow.

FRISCO — It’s not every year that you can get up on an April morning and find scenes that look like mid-winter, but after a snow-sparse year like this, I’ll take it whenever I can get it. Probably the most amazing thing was how fast all that new snow melted, probably helped by the dark-colored dust that settled on the surface. (more…)

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

Morning photo: What a storm!

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Not quite a drought-buster …

Translucence ...

Translucence …

FRISCO —While this mid-April storm may not quite qualify as a bona fide drought buster, it sure won’t hurt and it will definitely take the hard edge off concerns about summer water supplies. As of Monday afternoon, about 16 inches had piled up here in Frisco, and more snow is, supposedly, on the way. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Morning photo, photography, seasons, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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