Hey guys getting ready to almost head out. I like to keep an eye on the weather and plan accordingly. I know if it's anything like NE, wait a minute and it will change. So I'm bringing everything. My question is when I look at the weather for Ridgway, CO for the week how much of a diff will their be up into the mountains? Thank you
Weather
- Thread starter NHK9
- Start date
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I live less than 100 mile sw of Ridgeway just over the mtns. Ridgeway will give you an indication, BUT.....I would plan for afternoon thundershowers EVERY day in the mountains.
Matthoek21
Veteran member
Yes exactly what CC said. I hunted not too far from there in Rico. Pretty much every afternoon we got a shower. It was said that September was the dry month in CO. Not the years we were there.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Actually June is our driest month here in SW Colorado, except for this year when we got record amounts of rain. Our monsoon season starts in mid July and lasts sometimes thru Sept. Just plan on it raining and you will be fine, just remember to off the mt when there is lightning. There is lots of it during the monsoons.
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Define off the mtn. I was planning on camping wherever the day brought me. Climbing down every day hinders the progress. I guess so would getting struck by lightning.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Experts sat to stay off high spots during lightning storms. To me that would mean not to sit on top of a point, ridge, mt top or under a tall tree. I would find a spot in a draw or canyon below the high spots to hunker down and wait it out.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Lightning is nothing to fool with. Years ago I was in a backcountry wilderness are in California's High Sierras. Been raining all day, came back to camp for lunch and change my boots. Went back out in the afternoon to look over a couple of spots that I figured might have some deer out feeding as the rain had let up some. I was easing down thru a wooded area when a bolt of lightning stuck a huge pine tree about 50" from me. It knocked me on my butt and limbs started fall and all the hair on my body stuck out. Smelled like sulfur or ozone. It really scared me. I hauled ass back to camp. I felt lucky that nothing happened to me....except for needing a change of
skivvies!!!
skivvies!!!
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
The monsoon season has really started here in the SW part of the state. Rained almost all night Tuesday. Some rain Wed am and rain again last night. This am is cloudy again. Forecast is 20 to 30% chance of rain for all next week for the area around Rico. Highs about 70 , lows in the 40's.
Bring your rain gear, waterproof your boots and have an extra pair if possible. Looks like a typical opening week for all you arrow hunters.....good luck.
Bring your rain gear, waterproof your boots and have an extra pair if possible. Looks like a typical opening week for all you arrow hunters.....good luck.
Kevin Root
Very Active Member
Not much rain out this way but we did have some lightning a few weeks back in the Sierras while I was backpacking. Both these pictures were taken at 11 pm or later before midnight. No flash on the camera, the lightning hit out in the distance and it lit up the sky on a long exposure picture I was taking.
Wow, I've never had lightning hit as close as that. When I read 50" that is way to close for comfort. That is an amazing event and it's lucky you came out of it ok.
Sounds like the weather is raining out in the SW. Tonight is the last shower for me here at home until early September and I'm headed out that way to west side but a bit more north in Colorado. If the roads will let me get in there I hope I can get to my 8,500 foot elevation spot to hunt. Next to lightning road conditions with rain are what I get concerened about. Sure hope the lightning slows down when I there too. It's about the highest ground out there where I'm headed and that is what seems to be where it likes to hit.
