# Easterner Wants to Cross Rockies in May? Dumb? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606 "2009-05-16T03:04:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/1 "2009-05-16T03:04:41Z")
Having some time in Colorado, I’d like to make the drive to see the Arches National Park in Utah. To do so, I have to cross the Rockies on I-70. If there are snowshowers in the forecast, just how daunting can this be? (Note: Back East, snowshowers don’t even accumulate). In general, how risky can this be for May? Bear in mind I am on a business trip, not a camping trip. So, I am not prepared for winter weather. Am I crazy for trying such a trip in May, totally unprepared for winter? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/2 "2009-05-16T03:11:15Z")
I’m in Southwest Colorado, and it’s been shorts & tee shirt weather for a week. Sunny and 60’. No snow is going to stick at this point, especially on the roads, and it’s likely to be just rain in any case. My $.02 is that you should go for it. It’ll be hot in Utah, but it’s worth it to see Arches. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/3 "2009-05-16T03:18:13Z")
> [@Alpine](#): > > I’m in Southwest Colorado, and it’s been shorts & tee shirt weather for a week. Sunny and 60’. No snow is going to stick at this point, especially on the roads, and it’s likely to be just rain in any case. My $.02 is that you should go for it. It’ll be hot in Utah, but it’s worth it to see Arches. Alpine, I’m in Colorado Springs near (snow covered) Pikes Peak. (From the radio, it sounds like this is southern Colorado?) Anyway, we watched clouds roll over the mountain and, from the looks of the clouds, obviously dump precip on the mountain. We wagered it was snow as snowshowers were predicted for the higher elevations. Would you still say snow is not sticking to I-70 at the high elevations? Thanks, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/4 "2009-05-16T03:21:34Z")
I’d be surprised if it did, to be honest. Any CO dopers in the I-70 corridor want to chime in? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/5 "2009-05-16T04:44:25Z")
Sorry to disappoint you, Alpine, but the weather is looking iffy for the weekend. Since I’ve already had one SNAFU on this trip, I am not going to press my luck. I will get to see those Arches yet! (And yes, sadly, I heard of the casualty of the relatively recent fallen arch.) Thanks anyway, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/6 "2009-05-16T13:30:04Z")
It’s an easy drive. Snowshowers are nothing - it’s an interstate highway. If a big storm is forecast I’d pay attention and possibly adjust plans, but anything short of that is not a big issue. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/7 "2009-05-16T15:11:14Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Alpine, I’m in Colorado Springs near (snow covered) Pikes Peak… I just asked your question of my wife, who is a former Coloradan, lived in Colorado Springs for some years (as well as other places in the state), and is well-acquainted with weather patterns on and near Pikes Peak. She tells me that snow can fall on Pikes Peak year round, and is not a good indicator of what road conditions would be on I-70. She (and I, who has also driven in mountains in winter) agree that snowshowers are not the same as a big winter storm that makes roads impassable–we’re both thinking that this time of year, any snow would melt when it hit the road, leaving a wet road whose only danger comes from the spray thrown by passing trucks. It’s your choice ultimately, but it sounds like you have little to worry about, should you choose to head west on I-70. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/8 "2009-05-16T15:23:50Z")
Er… am I missing something here? I-70 is a freakin’ huge highway. It’s drivable in all but the worst winter storms. Thousands of people go over it all winter long, as it’s the way to get from Denver to the ski slopes. Unless you’re really really really uncomfortable driving in snow in general, it’s not a problem unless there’s a big winter storm predicted. The do close the tunnel at times, so you have to be aware of that, but it’s pretty easy to look at a weather report and see if that might happen. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/9 "2009-05-16T16:24:02Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Sorry to disappoint you, Alpine, but the weather is looking iffy for the weekend. Since I’ve already had one SNAFU on this trip, I am not going to press my luck. I will get to see those Arches yet! (And yes, sadly, I heard of the casualty of the relatively recent fallen arch.) > > Thanks anyway, > > - Jinx I don’t know what forecast you were consulting, but the entire state is going to be cloudless all weekend. The chances of snow anywhere in the state this weekend are virtually zero. You could drive 75mph all the way from Denver to Utah today, provided your car is powerful enough. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/10 "2009-05-16T19:42:17Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > (Note: Back East, snowshowers don’t even accumulate). My snowblower and I would like to have words with you next time you’re in Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/11 "2009-05-16T19:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > (Note: Back East, snowshowers don’t even accumulate) _Blinks_ Then what was all that crap I spent hours shovelling in Quebec? Cheese? ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easterner-wants-to-cross-rockies-in-may-dumb/496606/12 "2009-05-16T20:03:07Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Er… am I missing something here? I-70 is a freakin’ huge highway. It’s drivable in all but the worst winter storms. Thousands of people go over it all winter long, as it’s the way to get from Denver to the ski slopes. > > Unless you’re really really really uncomfortable driving in snow in general, it’s not a problem unless there’s a big winter storm predicted. The do close the tunnel at times, so you have to be aware of that, but it’s pretty easy to look at a weather report and see if that might happen. What **Athena** said. There’s usually only a few days in the winter where I-70 is either impassable or not worth the hassle. It’s extremely unlikely to happen in May. Also, the forecast for Denver the next three days is Sunny and 85, 90, and 89, respectively. Make the trip!