Planning for the Weekend — Snowfall Tracker ❄️
Heads up: the “big weekend dump” rumor is… mostly a Friday party, not a Fri–Sun rave.
Colorado’s mountains already got fresh (especially north + I-70), and the weekend (Sat–Sun) looks mostly dry with just a few leftover flakes in spots. Translation: ski Friday like you mean it; weekend is for leftovers + corduroy flexing.
Here’s how things shape up for the next window (Fri–Sun, Jan 9–11):
❄️ Weekend Snowfall Tracker — Colorado Resorts
Rank | Resort / Zone | Recent Snowfall (24hrs) | Snow Window |
|---|---|---|---|
🥇 | Steamboat | 12″ | Thurs → Fri AM |
🥈 | Winter Park | 7″ | Thurs PM → Fri AM |
🥉 | Vail | 6″ | Thurs → Fri |
4️⃣ | Wolf Creek | 6″ | Thurs → Fri |
5️⃣ | Aspen/Snowmass | 5-10″ | Thurs → Fri |
What this means for your weekend plan
If you can ski Friday: do it. That’s the “new snow” day almost everywhere.
Sat–Sun: expect packed powder → groomers → chalky leftovers, with cold temps helping preservation where wind doesn’t wreck it.
Hunting pow on Sunday? You’re mostly hunting stashes, not storms.
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 and Colorado Cross Country calendar for a comprehensive list)
🥾❄️ Trail Suggestions & Local Routes
Fresh snow overnight means it’s not a running day — it’s a float day. Grab the snowshoes, traction, or fat footwear and lean into it. With new snow comes new avy danger. Reference CAIC before going out.
1) Northern CO: Cameron Pass — High-Output Snowshoe Grinds
Distance / Difficulty: 6–12 mi options · Moderate → Hard
Why it works: Long rolling climbs above 10,000’ with consistent snow coverage turn this zone into a pure aerobic engine builder. Great for sustained Z2–Z3 work without technical distractions.
Pro tip: Snowshoes with aggressive crampons matter here. Wind scours ridges fast — expect variable density snow and adjust stride length to save calves.
2) Denverites: Mount Galbraith — Front Range Power Vert
Distance / Difficulty: 5–7 mi · Short, consistent gradient
Why it works: Fresh snow makes Galbraith a weighted step-up simulator. You’ll hike hard, descend controlled, and leave with glutes cooked. Perfect for strength-biased winter days.
3) I-70 Corridor: Butler Gulch — Alpine Endurance Test
Distance / Difficulty: 8–12 mi out & back · Hard
Why it works: Sustained climbing toward treeline with fresh snow = leg-burning, lungs-on-fire winter endurance. A favorite for skimo cross-training and big-mountain fitness.
Pro tip: Treat this like a mountain day. Start early, bring layers, and turn around before wind slabs start forming above the trees.
Athlete takeaway:
Fresh snow is resistance training disguised as endurance.
🧠 Training & Performance Science (Altitude Edition)
A major Cochrane review of nearly 5,000 adults across 73 randomized trials suggests that regular exercise can reduce depressive symptoms almost as effectively as psychological therapy — and in some comparisons, similarly to antidepressant meds (though that evidence was less certain).
What matters for athletes:
Consistency beats intensity: Light to moderate activity spread across 13–36 sessions showed the best mental health benefits — that’s your weekly long run + strength sessions paying double duty.
No magic move: No single sport stood out — mixing resistance training with aerobic work seemed more effective than just one modality.
Few side effects: Exercise had minimal negative effects (mostly muscle/joint fatigue), while meds brought typical pharma-type side effects.
What to take home:
Building movement into your routine isn’t just physical training — it’s real, evidence-backed mental health work. Especially in dark, cold months, keep sessions regular, varied, and sustainable — your brain wants the same training stimulus your legs do.
🗞️Colorado Outdoor News — Telluride Patrol Strike Ends, Resort Reopens
After a multi-week strike that had much of Telluride closed (beginners only on limited terrain), the Telluride Ski Resort patrollers accepted a new labor contract and returned to work, allowing the resort to fully reopen lifts and terrain this weekend. The strike stemmed from long-running disputes over compensation amid Colorado’s high cost of living and the safety responsibilities patrollers shoulder. The resolution came just as new snow and machine-made snow have combined to improve coverage, letting the hill offer more skiing and riding.
What’s on my hitlist for the weekend:
This week was the highly anticipated Leadville 100 MTB lottery results. Unfortunately, I wasn’t awarded a slot this year so signed up for the Silver Rush 50 MTB to earn my spot for next year. I’ll likely kick start my training with a local snowshoe around Pike’s Peak with the fresh 10” overnight.
p.s. I had my eye on skiing the recently opened Mirkwood Basin terrain at Monarch, however a shoulder injury from last weekend has me sidelined. View the skiing carnage here on my YouTube channel.
Forward this an an offering to the snow gods. Then go earn your turns.
Till next time,
