🗻 Weather
Planning for the Weekend — Snowfall Tracker ❄️
Heads up: the big snowfall everyone’s been whispering about looks real this weekend—especially up north and central mountains. Long-range winter guidance suggests active storm setups and a chance for powder across the Rockies as February rolls on. La Niña/neutral dynamics are still flirting with the jet stream, meaning snow isn’t guaranteed—but it could definitely be coming.
Here’s how things shape up for the next big window (Fri–Sun):
❄️ Weekend Snowfall Tracker — Colorado Resorts
Rank | Resort / Zone | Expected Snowfall | Weather Window |
|---|---|---|---|
🥇 | Steamboat (Northern Tier) | 10–16″ | Sat midday → Sun AM |
🥈 | Vail / Winter Park (I-70 Corridor) | 5–10″ | Sat night → Sun midday |
🥉 | Breckenridge / Copper | 4–8″ | Sat → Sun |
4️⃣ | Aspen Snowmass | 3–6″ | Sat afternoon |
5️⃣ | Wolf Creek (San Juans) | 2–5″ | Sun AM |
Upcoming Races & Events 🏃♀️🚴
Here’s what’s live and begging for registration or your attention:
🚴 Old Man Winter Bike Rally & Run — Feb 1–2, 2026 — Lyons, CO
Three distances of bike courses (23, 40, 75 mi) plus a mixed‐terrain run. Bring quads—and maybe hand warmers.
🏃 MLK Freedom Run — Jan 17, 2026 — Centennial, CO
A solid weekend challenge for your base miles and caffeinated pride.
🏃 Polar Bear 5K — Jan 18, 2026 — Denver, CO
Cold hands, warm finishers. Classic winter vibes.
(Pro tip: check the full Colorado run calendar for Feb–Mar options like Stories Ultra and Pikes Peak Road Runners Winter Series IV)
Trail Suggestions & Local Routes — South State MTB Edition 🏜️
While the mountains are playing freeze–thaw roulette, southern Colorado is quietly stacking rideable days. If you’re itching to move fast outside instead of staring at a trainer, this is your sign.
🚵♀️ Palmer Park or Pulpit Rock — Colorado Springs
Distance / Difficulty: Endless combos | Moderate
Why it works: Technical, rocky, and surprisingly dry for winter. This place is a skills clinic disguised as a city park.
🚴 Pueblo Reservoir — Pueblo
Distance / Difficulty: ~16–20 miles | Moderate
Why it works: Dry gravel, open skies, and steady rollers. This is winter base miles without winter misery.
(Pro tip): Lock your suspension and warm up on Inner/Outer limits loop, then tackle all the blues, blacks, and double blacks South to North.
🚵♀️ Royal Gorge Tour — Canon City
Distance / Difficulty: 11–18 miles | Moderate–Hard
Why it works: High desert riding that stays shockingly dry. Long climbs, fun descents, and way fewer people than Springs trails.
(Pro tip): Park at the bottom and add on Royal Cascade for an epic climb out and descent out of the canyon.
Why Go South Right Now?
More sun + less snowpack = rideable dirt
If you’re willing to drive an extra 30–60 minutes, southern Colorado offers real training days deep into winter.
Local Meetups This Week 🤝
🏃 Denver Trail Time (Denver) — Tuesday 5:30pm, Thursday 6:15pm, Sunday 7-8am
Front Range trail group hitting 60-120 min runs — locations vary weekly.
🏃 Colorado Running Company Group Run (Colorado Springs) — Monday 5pm & Wednesday 5:30 PM
easy pace, post-run brew vibes.
🚴♀️ NoCo Cycling (Fort Collins) — Weekly TBD
Strength with intent—think lunges that hate you tomorrow.
(Tip: Strava local clubs and shop calendars are gold for weekly specifics.)
Training & Performance Science (Altitude Edition) 🧠
❄️ Cold + Altitude = Sneaky Dehydration
Science says your thirst signal is blunted in cold, especially at altitude. Translation: you’re drying out slower but deeper.
What matters today: Start every long session with 300–500 ml electrolytes and another 300 by mid-workout. Your lungs feel cold, but your blood volume cares.
Use it today: Hydrate before you leave the house—not when you’re already at the pass.
💪 Strength Work = Endurance Boost, Even in Winter
New research keeps affirming that off-season strength training isn’t just for power athletes—endurance gains, reduced injury markers, and better uphill economy show up big when you keep lifting.
Use it today: Two 45-min sessions/week with squats, RDLs, and plyometrics = more watts and safer joints.
Colorado Outdoor News 🗞️
Rare mountain lion attack turns fatal near RMNP
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating a suspected mountain lion attack that left a hiker dead on the Crosier Mountain Trail near Estes Park on New Year’s Day. Hikers who stumbled on the scene reported seeing a lion nearby and scared it off by throwing rocks; a short time later, they found the woman without a pulse. Officials later located and euthanized two mountain lions under CPW policy for animals involved in attacks on humans. Mountain lion attacks in Colorado are extremely rare — with only 28 reported since 1990 and the last confirmed fatality occurring in 1999 — but this incident underscores that wildlife encounters can turn deadly even on popular trails.
How to Travel in Cougar Country 🐾
Move loud, move aware: Avoid dawn/dusk solo missions, keep your head up (no headphones), and make noise—mountain lions hunt by stealth.
Stand your ground if spotted: Don’t run. Make yourself look big, maintain eye contact, back away slowly, and be ready to fight back if it comes to it.
What’s on my hitlist for the weekend:
Taking advantage of the new snow I’ll be headed to Monarch Saturday for my first ski day of the season following a late, warm start. Monarch is an early-season favorite typically having more terrain variety open earlier with fewer crowds despite relying solely on mother nature for snow making.
Forward this as an offering to the snow gods. Then go earn your turns.
Till next time,
