I had been planning to do a 2-3 day backpack trip in the San Juan mountains NE of Durango, Colorado, in mid-October this year. The objective of the trip was to scout an area I might elk hunt in 2005. The elevation runs from 11,400' to 12,000'. Unfortunately, the signs all point to an early winter, and I fear snow accumulation will prohibit my making this trip. There have already been two snowfalls above 10,000' in the Colorado Rockies. A snowfall this past weekend may have deposited 5" of snow over 10,000'. What are my prospects for a mid-October trip above 11,400'? pretty dim it seems to me.
I was planning to do this when returning from a pronghorn hunting trip in Wyoming back home to Dallas, Texas. Can anyone suggest a short 2 day backpacking trip between SW Wyoming and Dallas, Texas, which I could have reasonable hope of not being plagued by snow? I know places around Taos, New Mexico, but these are high country areas too.
