Fat Flakes and Fresh Powder

This was a weird storm. It completely shut down Hoosier Pass but just quietly snowed all day on our side, while melting off quickly on the Breck side. Mountain life, amirite? We ended up with about 6 inches when it was all said and done, and the boys set out in the afternoon and through the night to get it cleared. They’re out today finishing up, and said it’s going quickly, so everyone should be done by tomorrow morning at that latest. If you have any questions or concerns, call Carey or Christin, and we can help you out.

One thing to remember with these March storms is that the snow can be pretty wet. Thankfully, the temperature yesterday was still really cold, so it’s not nearly as wet as it could be. However, as the sun hits it and it melts quickly today, you’re likely going to see a lot of ice and slush around the forest roads. Just take it slow and give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going.

Stay safe and warm out there!

March comes in like a...

I say it every year- nowhere embodies the old adage about March and lions better than Colorado. March started off with a huge storm, the same storm that has paralyzed California and made national news. Mountain life is weird for a lot of reasons but none more so than the microclimates that exist here. Some parts of our neighborhood saw a pretty decent drop (6+ inches at our house), whereas other parts didn’t even hit the trigger of 4 inches. We are still under an avalanche warning, as well as a winter storm warning (into tomorrow morning). You can expect to see us over the next 48 hours, but if you live below 11,000 feet, don’t be surprised if we come in and check without plowing. As a reminder, we do not plow under trigger because it moves around your driveway material and the exposed rocks can damage our blades. Yes, we know we are already there, but we plow this way for a reason, one based in years of experience doing this all winter long. Trust us. We know what we’re doing.

The guys have been out since the storm started to let up around noon and they will continue into the night, returning to the route tomorrow to get to those whose snowfall continues overnight. Please make sure your cars are out of the way so that they can get in and get out quickly with little disruption.

Before we sign off here, I wanted to give you a bit of a heads up. We all know that March tends to be an exceptionally busy tourist season up here. Spring Break for much of Texas starts next week, and we are already seeing an influx of out-of-state plates in town. We are slated to get another big storm on Friday which is forecast to drop at least 4 inches on Valley of the Sun, and likely more at higher elevations. If you rent your home out, please communicate with your guests and advise them to have proper snow gear in their car- this means winter tires/chains/AutoSocks, a tow strap, shovel, cat litter or sandbags for weight and traction, as well as extra food, blankets, water, and flashlights. These are the things that can make the difference between sitting in a ditch waiting hours for the tow truck and being able to get themselves out of the ditch and to their nice, warm AirBnB. This shouldn’t be news to anyone, as there are sign all throughout the neighborhoods here that tell you that snow chains are required, but unfortunately, some people still need you to hold their hands. Just be clear with your guests and let them know that this should be taken seriously. If they don’t know where to go for this stuff, direct them to Napa in Fairplay, or Al-Mart in Alma, where. you can buy traction devices. The more prepared they are, the better time they will have here.

Stay safe and warm out there folks!

UPDATE 3/4/24: CaveBuug continues its route. Please make sure your cars are out of the way so that we an get in and out quickly.

A Heavy Storm Delivers Over a Foot!

Boy oh boy, this storm is a doozy! The storm raged all day yesterday and through the night, dropping easily 12-16 inches on Valley of the Sun. The guys set out yesterday just after noon, while the storm was still going strong, to get a head start, plowing late into the night. They left early this morning to continue on, and will be out all day. We know everyone is anxious to get out, and we are working diligently to make that happen. Please be patient. We will be there. If you have questions or concerns, please call Carey or Christin, and we can sort it for you.

Let’s take just a quick minute and talk about storm safety. We received several calls yesterday regarding STR renters who wanted to get out. Let me be clear- if you rent your home out and you currently have guests, PLEASE ADVISE THEM TO STAY PUT. As I said, this storm has dropped well over a foot, and in some areas nearly two, on South Park. We’ve been experiencing 65 mph wind gusts and whiteout conditions. Even with a clear driveway, it’s very unlikely that your road has been cleared by the county, or if it has, it’s already drifted back in. It’s dangerous out there, folks, and unless you are very experienced in driving in these conditions, you could easily find yourself in mortal peril. There’s no reason to be on the roads if you don’t absolutely have to, so play it safe and stay in. Have a fire, make some cocoa, and let the storm rage on.

Stay safe and warm. :)

Let It Snow? Please?

This week we got a couple of minor storms, and the guys were out checking driveways and shoveling all week ahead of last night’s intended storm. They’re out again today, checking on driveways after the meager snowfall we got last night (2.5”, come on, what?!). Please try to help them out by making sure that your cars are out the way and all of your obstacles are still properly marked. If you have renters, please let them know that they need to have their cars parked out of the way, and if we honk, we can only wait a maximum of 5 minutes for them to come out before we have to move on. If you see them pull in and leave without dropping the blade, know that this is because there’s not enough snow in the driveway to meet the trigger. Remember: we measure from the middle of the driveway, not the edges where it rolls off and builds up.

If you have any questions, give Carey Bjornnes or Christin Lander a call and we can sort it out.

Stay safe and warm out there.

Early Spring? I don't think so!

Punxsutawney Phil might think Spring is coming early, but we Coloradans know better. February started off with a nearly a foot falling on Valley of the Sun, with more up in the higher elevations. The guys set off before dawn to start the route, and will be plowing all day long. Hopefully, the light and fluffy snow will make things go quickly, but you never know. Just be patient and know that we will get to you.

This storm is slated to continue all day, so it is possible that we will plow and then have to come back tomorrow or Monday. As always, we ask that you do not call, text, or email Christian or Clint while they are on the route. Interrupting them to ask if they’re going to plow is disruptive and can cause delays to the route or even put their lives or your property at risk. We know you don’t want that, and we definitely don’t want that either. If you have any questions, or if you’re worried that you got skipped, please call Carey Bjornnes or Christin Lander and we can get it sorted out.

Stay safe out there, and enjoy this gorgeous snow day!

Finally a break...time for some back-breaking shoveling!

Phew, this was a beat down! The guys were plowing for 7 days straight, Sat-Sat, and took a much needed rest on Sunday. They were back out yesterday, shoveling decks for those of you who paid the additional retainer for shoveling services. PLEASE NOTE: unless you request this service at the beginning of the season, we do not shovel as part of our standard contract. This has caused some confusion in the past, so please be aware that we do not shovel automatically unless you have requested it and paid the retainer. If this is a service you’d like to add, please let us know and we can determine availability.

Thankfully, last night’s snowfall didn’t reach the trigger, with only about 2 inches falling on Valley of the Sun. This means that shoveling will continue today and likely tomorrow, maybe even Thursday. We ask that you please be patient. Christian and Clint might look like hot young stallions, but they are in their 40s and this is truly back-breaking work.

Stay safe on the roads out there. Warmer temps plus light snowfall equals ice, and let me tell you, it’s a slippery mess out there. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

It just keeps coming!

This storm has been absolutely crazy and it just keeps on coming. It has snowed continuously since Saturday, with small breaks here and there. Coupled with intense winds, this one has made an absolute mess of our neighborhoods. Heck, between yesterday morning and afternoon, our road almost completely drifted over. This one is a nasty one, so I would strongly advise you to stay home if that’s possible. Check the weather before you come up and go to CDOT to check the road conditions and cameras. Make sure you have water, food, blankets, flashlights, and candles in your car just in case, as well as shovels, chains, and any other device that can help with traction. Know where your tow points are and if you have straps, ropes, or tow chains, bring those too. You do not want to be stuck out in this. Trust me. I spent the better part of an hour digging a friend out of a drift yesterday, and it was a full-body workout to say the least.

Christian and Clint have been plowing 12 hours per day for the last 5 days, and there’s no immediate end in sight. They’re back out again today and will keep going until this is done and everyone is totally clear. Please do not text, call, or email them during this time. They need to focus so that we can all get through this, and stopping to answer messages will only delay things. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carey and Christin and we will do our best to help you.

Stay warm and stay safe, and if possible, stay home. If you don’t need to be out in this, don’t be. :)

UPDATE 01/18/24 10:30 AM-

After speaking to Park County Road & Bridge this morning, the consensus is that if you don’t absolutely HAVE to be out in this, please stay home. They quite strongly advised me of this, There is a blocked culvert (or possible burst pipe) creating a massive 10-12” deep frozen flood on CR 14, and as such all available road crews are working on that today. Tertiary roads (nonemergency routes through the neighborhoods) will not be plowed until the situation is resolved. This means that unless you are very lucky, it’s likely that your road and all the surrounding roads are going to be drifted with massive 2-4 foot drifts and a whole lot of people stuck in the ditch. The fewer people on the road, the better.

And it's not over yet!

Boy oh boy, this storm has been a doozy! Temps have been below zero all weekend, with wind chills up to -30. Carey drove back from DIA last night and it was hands down the scariest drive of her life. Snow, ice, wind, abandoned cars, and jack-knifed semis…it was a nightmare. Best idea is to stay off the roads completely. If you’re up here, stay put. If you’re thinking about coming up, come up next weekend. If you have renters, it’s likely their flight has been either cancelled or delayed, so they should stay put as well if possible. Additionally, the intersection of CR 14 and Melba Ln is a frozen lake right now, thanks to someone’s gushing water system, so it’s the definition of treacherous.

The boys are out all day today, so they will be getting to you at some point today. It is crazy out there though, so please be patient. We will get to you. Stay warm, stay safe, and stay off the roads.

Holy Moly! What a Storm!

Now THIS is what we’re talking about! Last night’s storm dumped almost 10 inches on our corner of heaven, and thank goodness, because we desperately needed it. Christian and Clint are out all day today and tomorrow to get you guys cleared out, so rest assured, you will see them.

As always, we ask you not to text, call, or email either Christian or Clint while they are out on the route. This is because it can distract them and cause delays to the route, taking even longer to get to you guys. You know you don’t want that, and neither do we. If you have questions or concerns about your service, contact Carey Bjornnes or Christin Lander and we can get you sorted out.

With a storm this size, everyone is going to get done, so please be patient and know that you’ll see our vehicles rolling through very soon.

Stay warm, and honestly stay inside. This one is a doozy and the roads are a mess. Better to stay put with a roaring fire, cocoa, and slippers.

Finally some decent snow!

Hooray! We finally got some measurable snow, with this small storm dropping just about 3.5” on our little corner of Valley of the Sun. Even though it’s under trigger, we are still going out to check driveways and clean up the ones with 4” or more. Don’t be surprised if we come, check, and don’t push, because there’s too little snow in the driveway.

As always, we ask that you don’t text, call, or email Christian or Clint while they are on the route. This is a distraction, causing delays to the route and possibly even damage to our equipment or your property. We know you don’t want that and neither do we! If you have questions or concerns, call Carey Bjornnes or Christin Lander, and we can help you out. Also, please refer to previous entries on the Snow Blog if you’re wondering why we plow the way we do.

Stay warm out there, guys!