grouse
Well-Known Member
I'll be in unit 6 first week in early December. What weather should I prepare for? What type of cold weather gear do you suggest?
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December weather northern Colorado unit 6
- Thread starter grouse
- Start date
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I don't live in northern Colorado but more central to Southern Colorado. I'm sure more people will tune in but I would bring anything from cold to mild. Our weather has been so unpredictable specially winter months. Be prepared for everything.
Monster Toms
Well-Known Member
Early December in Walden can be -20 or +50. Prepare for both as each can happen a day apart. Might be dry and dusty or easily have 18+ inches of snow. East side of unit 6 is a whole different world than the west side. I have a house in Cowdrey, spend a weekend or so every month there. Every type of western weather you can imagine will be experienced. Good boots with removable liners, wool overalls, dressing in layers if it's cold. extra lightweight clothes if it's warm and starts to drop. Cold and weather can set in quickly. Pay attention to the weather reports.
grouse
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I'll be near Walden. Should I bring snow chains?
Yes always a great idea to have them in Colorado.
Elkeater
Well-Known Member
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- Dec 3, 2017
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Lived in Walden for years. I would plan on weather in the single digits to teens and a bunch of snow. Could be an off year too and be 40 degrees and sunny. The weather up there is finicky and can turn on a dime. Be very wary of the weather, ive seen it drop 60 degrees and go from sunny to snowing in an afternoon. Take chains, a shovel, chainsaw, winch or come along.
Yes always have tire chains! An axe and jack as well! It's no fun using spare tire jack and chopping wood because I didn't think I needed my chains on. Now I take tire chains all 4, chainsaw, winch and come along, and a few 2x8x24 boards, tarps, lights and fire starting materials. It's not much fun sliding off a forestry road in the mountains alone after dark!!!!
Gar Guru
Well-Known Member
I remember it like it was yesterday, but was 1994 and first trip to Antonito in Southern Co. Arrived the evening before gun season for elk and drove around the mountain roads scouting thinking life is good. Woke up about 5 am and snow was almost touching the front bumper of the truck in motel parking lot. we tried going up a forest service road and promptly got stuck. Had plenty of help getting unstuck as people were coming down off the mountain and had to get us out of the road for them to pass by. Luckily, we had bought wyoming antelope tags so we left colorado immediately sacrificing 2 elk and 2 deer tags to get out of the blizzard we could not drive in. Be prepared for a 2 foot snow at any moment even if forecast says sunny! I just got back from an archery elk hunt in NM and did not even take long johns or a coat as temps were 85 down to 57 in mornings. I like the warm weather hunting better.
I put chains on a Jeep Cj5 and still had some issues. The snow can come by the truckloads in a few hours over night. One thing is that that kind of snow helps to push the Elk to lower elevations and into the conifers. They don't like having to push through chest deep snow either.
Also keep a watch on weather patterns for several weeks before your trip. A week or two of cycles of heavy weather coming in from the west will likely continue. Also watch for that arctic clipper dipping down from Canada. There's where your minus temperatures will come from. If the pattern is west to east watch the extended forecasts for like Twin Falls Idaho. That weather will eventually make it to northern Colorado.
grouse
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone. Anyone have a sense of how the cell coverage is there? I want to stay in touch with the family while I'm gone
Monster Toms
Well-Known Member
Cell coverage is pretty good for a 5 mile circle around Walden. pretty spotty outside of that.
SCdeerhunter
Well-Known Member
I'll be up there this weekend and next. I'll let you know about the cell service.
