by Jess Evans
May 22, 2018
While Thunder Snow sounds like something out of Mad Max, it is far less terrorizing. It is a phenomenon that occurs fairly regularly in Colorado. There is all that electricity in the air, but it is still too cold to rain, thus thunder snow reveals itself.
Recently, Shawn and I decided we needed to test the Continental Divide in Colorado to see if we had what it took to cross those intimidating mountains with winter snow still clinging to their peaks. We chose the Buchanan Pass Trail in Indian Peaks Wilderness. The day started out easy enough with a clear trail that was often a small stream of water running downhill from the snow melt high above our heads. As we climbed above 9500 feet, the snow drifts became more prevalent, forcing us to strap on our snow shoes. Our feet were already wet, but the snow shoes saved us from needing to post hole up the mountain and kept our knees somewhat drier. Post holing really works those hip-flexers, by the way.
As the terrain became more steep and the snow deepened, we lost sight of the trail. We would peer at the maps periodically to ensure we were not way off course. Luckily, we knew the trail followed the creek. Bolstered with that knowledge, we removed our snow shoes and began to climb up a very rocky, steep mountain side listening to the roaring creek to our right. Eventually the creek valley opened up, flattened, and the rocky ground was covered in deep snow again. We put our snow shoes back on, and found a snow bridge over the creek to follow the invisible trail. We attempted to angle up the slope as best we could, knowing the trail rose quickly in elevation at this point.
As we climbed and slid down, and climbed and slid down again, loosing elevation each time, the thunder started. It rumbled in the near distance to the south. After several long groans from the sky, the snow began to fall. It was a heavy, wet snow with huge snowflakes. I noticed our packs were quickly covered in the white stuff, and we were becoming very wet. I could squeeze my hands into tight fists and see the water drip out of my gloves. We concluded it was time to turn around. The mountain had rejected us by throwing deep drifts, slippery slopes, thunder (probably lightning), and heavy snow fall at us. We had made it to nearly 11,000 feet when we were turned away. It was a spectacular adventure, and the thunder snow made it way cooler.
