By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 02:55 pm: Edit

Anybody have personal experience of weather conditions in Moab over Christmas ??

I'm thinking of making a trip...

keith
discosaurus

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 05:17 pm: Edit

It's hit and miss. I was there in December of 98, and it was in the 80's during the day, and around 32 at night. The week after we left, it snowed there.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Monday, October 15, 2001 - 08:01 pm: Edit

I spent 5 glorious, fun-filled days there Nov-Dec 1998. Cold wind, rain, sleet, and snow. Got down in the teens at night, and I had to break out the tent. I think my frozen REI thermometer is still on that tree at Ken's Lake...

One thing to consider: when it's that cold, you hesitate to change your underwear...

Let us know about your plans, I'm interested.

By PartyOn on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 10:13 am: Edit

Keith, You can check out weather.com for monthly stats. http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/USUT0165.htm?dayofyear=360

We were out in the Moab area last January and had pretty nice warm days and cold nights. Camped two nights and stayed in hotels for 3 nights. They are predicting an average winter in Colorado, which has similar storm systems. So I would guess little snow and fairly cool days.

I lived in the Durango area for 5 years and I cannot recall any winter being the same. First year we had 4 feet of snow on the ground around campus. Two other years were bone dry. As Axel said, it's a crap shoot.

One thing to remember. If the weather is really bad, head south into Arizona or New Mexico. You do have some good options.

By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 12:36 pm: Edit

Thanks.

Weather channel says average late December high is in the low 40's with avg lows in the high teens. Record low is ~0F. December is also the 2nd dryest month of the year with 0.7" avg (which I guess could still be a bunch of snow in that dry environment !)

It's easier for me to be away from my office over the holidays then in April, when I really would like to go. I guess the trip depends on who else I can get interested in making the long drive with me. Most of the 'usual' crew here seems unavailable then.

The cold (hell...that's not cold compared to here) doesn't bother me - it's the thought of snow on slickrock and getting stuck in a Nebraska blizzard that starts me thinking...

keith
discosaurus

By jim on Friday, October 19, 2001 - 05:55 pm: Edit

I Go down there to hike every winter. The weather is hit and miss. Most of the time it is decent in the winter time. Can be wet too. Only 3 hours from Moab so I just head down the next weekend if the weather is bad. I would love to do a December trip down there in the Disco. But I will be on the long drive from Utah to Indiana again this year. Maybe I will run into some discowebbers en route.
-Jim

By ErikS on Sunday, October 21, 2001 - 04:48 pm: Edit

Every time I've been down in nov-dec it's not too bad if you have a warm sleeping bag. Although murphys law will let it snow 10 inches the weekend YOU go. If someone wants to organize a disco trip for then I'm up for it