I CAN'T GET UP THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!

[Native Vail Gal]

AUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I can't get up the mountain! We wanted to get up there today and tomorrow and I-70 is closed between Denver and Vail! (has been since yesterday and no word on when it will open!)

I can't believe this! I don't remember this EVER happening! What the heck!

I WANT TO SKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

 

[num]

That must be so frustrating!

Did they clear it fully before closing or did anyone get caught in the middle?

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Nope! LOTS caught in the middle!

Shelters were opened and they reported "thousands" stranded!
https://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=83628

They are talking about now working on Vail Pass....the problem is that they can't open it up now because they are blasting for avalanches the whole way! For those of you not familiar with Colorado, Dener to Vail is 100 miles of highway! YIKES!

Here is the latest on when they may open...or not!
https://www.9news.com/news/top-article.aspx?storyid=83626

 

[ski diva]

Oh this is so awful! So close and yet so far!!!!

The good news is that there's so much snow that it'll be there for a while. Enjoy it when you get there!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Thanks for update. Wow. DS reported closure from the tunnel west but I had not heard that the whole thing is now down ! He said the wind yesterday (Sunday) was unbelievable. He is lucky to be able to take side roads to work (Frisco to Silverthorne). Keep us posted, and if I hear more from him, I'll report.

 

[Robyn]

I drove down the mountain yesterday, leaving Silverthorne at about 8am and the winds were pretty bad. A friend of mine called me yesterday evening and it took them 2 hours to go from Copper Mountain to Silverthorne, about 12 miles. Fortunately, her family has a condo in Silverthorne so they are holed up there.

Maineskilady, they are actually allowing some local traffic to travel I70 in Summit County.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Just heard from my son, he said this is all a wind issue more than heavy snow, lots of blowing and drifting have created some serious avalanche dangers. Also reports pending food shortages if supplies can't get moving. Store shelves emptying fast. Shelters filling fast, people with flat-out nowhere else to go. Rough stuff. Thoughts and prayers to all.

 

[Robyn]

Well, I just talked to a friend up there and when she answered the phone I asked if she was on the mountain and she said yes and it's COLD! I told her she needs to get to the grocery store and pick up some food when she gets off the mountain and their condo isn't well stocked (unlike my family's condo which has enough staples that I could eat for a few days at least without any worries.)

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Might be too late already! Son reports empty shelves at this point, as trucks can't get up there to make deliveries. Apparently, the only round-about way is via Hoosier Pass?? Not sure how bad it is at this time, but he is headed that way to meet up with someone who is trying to make the journey. Absurd weather....

 

[Robyn]

Well, I guess they'll just have to scrounge up whatever they can. Who knows, they're adults and this woman and her boyfriend sometimes just need to learn the hard way. They know enough people up there that they won't go hungry but she laughs at me when I show her the stash of food that I keep in my car. Maybe she won't laugh any more.

Yes, 285 through Fairplay is open but I figure if weather is bad enough to shut down I70 I would be foolish to try to go up today. Hopefully it will open this afternoon so I can go up tomorrow.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Son says winds have died down, nothing like yesterday's, so maybe this will mean the passes can be cleared of avalanche danger today and tomorrow??? Imagine what 70's going to be like....wow.

 

[altagirl]

I got loaded up this morning and started to drive and could barely get 2 miles from my house before the line going up the canyon started. And it was just barely inching along. I've never seen the line that bad and I just turned around and went home. Ugh.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

That must be so frustrating!

Did they clear it fully before closing or did anyone get caught in the middle?

Problem is keeping it clear - very high winds on Saturday produced tremendous amount of blowing and drifting - plus avalanche danger at the passes. Basically, when they have to close mountain interstates, the police just set up road blocks and send everyone off at the closest exit(s). Some of the great plains interstates (thinking of I-80 through Nebraska specifically) have closure gates at the on ramps. Not something that's too common in Chicago!

 

[SnowHot]

AUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I can't get up the mountain! We wanted to get up there today and tomorrow and I-70 is closed between Denver and Vail! (has been since yesterday and no word on when it will open!)

I can't believe this! I don't remember this EVER happening! What the heck!

I WANT TO SKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

My inlaws are out there visiting my sister in law for the holidays. They called to tell us I-70 was shut down.
This has my husband worried because now he has visions of the highway being shut down when we make our trip out there at the end of January.
I'll post in the GTG forum about the dates so you can meet me.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

One of the reasons we're all talking about it at such length is that it is EXTREMELY RARE for it to close, especially this long of a section. Really extreme conditions. I wouldn't worry about it this far in advance. I'm sure those divas (quite a few) who travel it frequently will also assure you that this is beyond rare.

 

[pinto]

One of the reasons we're all talking about it at such length is that it is EXTREMELY RARE for it to close, especially this long of a section. Really extreme conditions. I wouldn't worry about it this far in advance. I'm sure those divas (quite a few) who travel it frequently will also assure you that this is beyond rare.

Indeed it is rare. I can't remember it being closed for this long before ... not to say it hasn't been, but wow.

It's still closed, almost 24 hr. (check cotrip.org for road info in Colorado)

 

[Robyn]

Okay, parts are beginning to open. Westbound I70 from Copper to Vail is open as is aastbound Berthoud pass (US 40). They are opening in phases to try to avoid a massive traffic jam.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

My inlaws are out there visiting my sister in law for the holidays. They called to tell us I-70 was shut down.
This has my husband worried because now he has visions of the highway being shut down when we make our trip out there at the end of January.
I'll post in the GTG forum about the dates so you can meet me.

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

My son got to Denver and DIA via Hoosier Pass, which is open. I'm not sure of the geography, but it's a pretty roundabout way of getting to Denver. He had a friend stranded at the airport without enough $ to stay anywhere. He said he's seen worse road conditions (at least on that set of highways), especially in Maine!

 

[Robyn]

MSL, call him now! WB I70 just reopened about 30 minutes ago so he can get back up that way.