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Rifle Conditions early April?

Original Post
Arthur · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 136

Anyone have any beta on likely conditions in Rifle for the first week of April? Looking to spend a week there but have never been nor do I know the snow situation out there this year.

Any info is much appreciated.

Thanks

Arthur · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 136

Anyone? Bueller?

S Denny · · Aspen, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 20

Just got a bunch of snow yesterday. very probably seeping, but there is usually a good selection of dry stuff. really depends on the rest of the month. early April is certainly early for Rifle season...

Lincoln B. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 0

I went one year in early April. The holds were very wet and we used a stick clip with a shirt on it to dry some of the holds. You may have to be a bit more choosy with what routes you can climb as a lot of the holds seep worse than the summer. Because there are so many caves in Rifle you can stay pretty shelterd from the elements.

Then the last night we were there it snowed about 8 inches and collapsed the crappy Walmart party tent we brought. So choose your gear wisely! If you do that and expect April conditions, that is prepare for the unexpected, you will have a good time.

Arthur · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 136

Thanks for the info fellas. Utah hills or Bishop it is!

Michael Schneiter · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 10,406

There were more rock climbers than ice climbers in Rifle today.

First week of April will be fine for Rifle IF you're okay with picking and choosing climbs based on conditions. It isn't seeping much right now but it may seep a lot more in the next couple weeks. Of course, there's plenty of stuff not affected by seeping. And, in April as it is now, it will depend on current conditions. Today, it was beautiful in the sun and not bad in the shade. The same is likely to be true in early April. There's not much snow out there and it could all melt quite quickly with the warm temperatures we have forecasted for the next weeks.

Camping in Rifle is probably a no go but you can camp 10 minutes from the park on BLM where it's a lot warmer and sunnier.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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