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Expected Night Temps – San Juan Mountains, Colorado?
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Home › Forums › General Forums › General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion › Expected Night Temps – San Juan Mountains, Colorado?
- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by Kevin Manley.
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May 2, 2019 at 7:07 pm #3591417
What night temperatures can I expect at altitude in the San Juan Mountains Colorado?
The trip will be either the week of August 19 or September 9 with a preference for September.
I’ve looked at the climate data for nearby cities such as Silverton and Telluride but am hoping that someone with experience can tell me what to expect from 10k to 13k ft in the surrounding countryside – Cinnamon Pass, Engineers, Black Bear, etc.
I’m not looking for Donner Party experiences – extremes and outliers. That’s all I really get when I ask individuals. “It was so cold one year that I had to eat my leg” and so forth. I know that it can snow in September.
What am I really looking at for normal nighttime temps? Can someone ballpark or let me know what you have encountered?
-Tim-
May 2, 2019 at 7:50 pm #3591419I live and play smack dab in the middle of the San Juans. Nighttime temps at elevation can vary depending upon storm fronts. In August, you can expect high 40’s on warm nights. Upper 20’s on cold nights. Likely the same thing in early September as we often have a bit of an Indian summer then. Snow can happen any night but will likely melt off quickly as soon as the sun appears.
Mindful campsite management is key to mitigating temps. Avoid low-lying areas. Even moving up a hundred feet from a valley floor or drainage basin makes a world of difference.
Happy Trails.
H
May 2, 2019 at 8:21 pm #3591421Fantastic info. Thanks!
May 3, 2019 at 3:42 am #3591485Good stuff, Matt!
Site selection indeed. Wind protection can go a long ways (be mindful of deadfall or anything leaning). I learned that the hard way in the San Juans and Sangres (lived in TX and OK back then – we called strong winds tornadoes).
Check mountain weather reports. On the NOAA website you can find remote weather station locations and see the usual data for that location – temp, wind, direction, gusts, barometric pressure, relative humidity, dew point. Pick the point nearest your location/elevation and/or the one upwind of you. Or carry an instrument to gather that data, like Ryan does!
Mid Sept, aspen time, can’t be beat!
Cheers,
Bill in RoswellMay 4, 2019 at 1:47 am #3591608My CT hike last yr ended Sept 1 in Durango.
Couple night near freezing, one 29. At camping elevations, not highest. Pretty much as said above, 30s and 40s, a few 50s even . Its all over.
May 6, 2019 at 3:14 am #3591781Bring a real 20F bag and be prepared to sleep in all your clothes if things go sideways. Temps drop about 7-10F for every 1000ft of elevation gain. That said, the advice above about staying out of valleys (particularly closed valleys) is key. Also, if you choose the Wet Mountains near Crestone, expect rain and some very cold nights. Oh, and if they say 30% chance of rain, it will rain. The higher the number, the longer the duration. Enjoy!
P.s.-Check out Ice Lake and Island Lake. Spectacular!
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