Yankee Boy Basin - Late June '05

[christiankiely]

Any helpful links for planning a trip to YBB in June '05 would be

appreciated.

 

If you've had any specific experiences w/ things like 4x4 rental,

lodging, etc that would be very helpful.

 

Thanks.

[stephen hazelton]

I'm not familiar with that particular area, but for sure check weather/snow conditions before you go. I've been snowshoeing in June in Rocky Mountain National Park, and there's a lot of areas that aren't thawed out then. Assuming you're hiking, that is.

[mike hardeman]

Yankee Boy is a lot of fun. There are a couple of 4x4 rental places in town. A jeep will run you $150 for a day. There are motels and campsites in town as well (Ouray). Motels are about $65 to $100 per night and a tent campsite at a private KOA type place is about $20. Plenty of tourists, but not as bad as Telluride.

 

You should be fine for snow in June. Even though we've had a lot of snow this year, it should be a quick thaw in the spring.

[daver1]

Late June is often too early to hit YBB--last year, for example, late snow storms infiltrated the valley and blocked the drive into the higher parts of the basin as late as July 4th. If you're looking for wildflowers, the time is mid-July to late July. The San Juans are getting an above-average snowpack this year (check out <a href="http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data/basinplotsjadsm05.html">this link</a> for details) so you'll likely be hiking in snow, if you can even get in there at all...

<p/>

-D<p/>

<p/>

<a href="http://coyoteimages.com">Coyote Images</a>

[christiankiely]

Is there any kind of hotline, or web update, for the flowers like there is out in SoCal for the desert wildflowers?

[christiankiely]

Sorry... I also wanted to state that I am not planning a trip from scratch to go to YBB, I will be in the moderately closeby in that timeframe. So, while I may be forcing the issue, the timing works for me. If there's nothing going on, or the snow conditions are bad, I will just to to Black Caynon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Canyon of the Ancients, etc.

[rich long]

You could keep tabs (or ask questions) on the discussion forums at <A HREF="http://colorado.naturephotographers.net">Colorado Nature Photographers</A>. There will be a fair amount of discussion there about local conditions. Right now, the snowpack in the San Juans is 176% of average, so don't expect any Forest Service roads in that part of the state to open early this spring.

[daver1]

I contact the local jeep tour companies, since they're out on those roads almost daily checking out the conditions for their own usage.<p/>

 

Another bet--try this 4x4 road conditions website: <a href="http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm">Bushducks</a>. They keep conditions for all interesting 4x4 roads in the state, but the San Juans have a number of them there...<p/>

 

Best of luck on the trip,

<p/>

-D

<p/>

<a href="http://coyoteimages.com">Coyote Images</a>

[dave_mueller]

For a 4x4 tour, I can recommend Switzerland of the Americas on 7TH ave. and see if you can get Pat. He's also a photographer as well as an excellent guide. I was there in July 2002, I hope they're still around. They had a poor snowfall that season, the flowers were relatively dull. I would also recommend Governor's Basin.

[christiankiely]

Thanks all for you replies, very helpful.

 

PS I found this link on a Google search today:

http://www.57z.com/page/2786/page.html