Park visits are up by 16% thus far in 2008 and the snowpack in RMNP is just above "average" in most locations

By John Cordsen of the Estes Park Trail-Gazette

March 12, 2008

Favorable recreational snow conditions in much of Rocky Mountain National Park were credited for an upswing in visitors during February.

“Excellent snow conditions on both the east and west sides for snowshoeing and cross country skiing may have contributed to the increased visitation,” said Park public information officer Kyle Patterson.

Not all areas of the Park enjoyed the favorable snow conditions.

“Sledding conditions at Hidden Valley haven’t been that good,” said Patterson.

According to the February snow survey conducted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Fort Collins, the Hidden Valley area is below the 30 year average for moisture content of the snowpack and is well below last year’s snow totals. Water content of the February 2008 reading was 6.9 inches. This is 92 percent of the 30-year average of 7.5 inches. At the end of February, the snowpack in Hidden Valley was 30 inches. This is 86 percent of the same amount in 2007.

Water content of the snow in the other three areas surveyed by the NRCS was above the 30-year average. Deer Ridge, at 6 inches was at 136 percent of the 30-year average of 4.4 inches. Willow Park, with 14.8 inches of moisture in the 50-inch snowpack was at 108 percent of the 30-year average, while Bear Lake was at 105 percent of average with 13.6 inches of moisture in a 48-inch snowpack.

BEAR LAKE SNOTEL SITE at 9450’ in RMNP – Snow Water Equivalent Totals

         JAN             FEB           MARCH         APRIL           MAY         JUNE

1971-2000 average at 1^st of month 

           6.4              9.9               13.3              17.2              19.8             7.0

2007  Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at 1^st of month

           6.5              9.6               13.0             17.2                19.0            5.5

2008  Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at 1^st of month

           4.9              9.8               13.6

The favorable snows translated into more Park visitors as 71,150 were counted entering during February. This is 19.84 percent more than the 59,369 who entered the Park in February 2007.

For the year, Park visits are up 16.53 percent with 141,605 visitors. This compares to 121,522 through February 2007.