Denver snow today
 

It's snowing like crazy in Denver now. Looks like we're going to have a white Christmas!

We seemed to have escaped the brunt of the snow down here in Dolores, but Durango got dumped as did Telluride and Wolf Creek...great for the skiers!
Debi

We had snow yesterday here in Vegas! My husband woke me and the kids up at 2:30when he got home from work to see the snow. When the kids woke up again later (at their normal time) the snow was still there. So we bundled up and went and played in it and touch tons of pictures. The news later reported that we got 2.5 inches of snow, can you believe that? Pretty seeing palm trees with snow on them! Alas, it is of course all gone now. :(

I posted in the Lounge asking if all y'all Denver area fodorites are ready!

Everything done?

Grocery stores stripped clean?

Martym, isn't the snow great!

I'm sure the grocery stores are still well stocked. In fact, I think most people were clueless about this storm until late yesterday evening.

It is good to hear that the SW ski areas got dumped on. I heard the central ski areas were only going to get 4 - 10 inches of snow.

In last 72 hours:

Telluride 29"
Wolf Creek 31"
Durango 33"

Daughter called from the grocery--said it looked like it does in NC when snow is predicted--but THIS is for real!! We were there 2 weeks ago and there was a bunch of snow then. Beautiful.
I70 is closed.

Snow? What's that? this has been the strangest winter so far. I mean, last Saturday my DH was in the backyard with just shorts on!! I don't get it. We had a freak snow a few weeks ago. That's probably it for us this winter. Its just brown and ugly here in Oklahoma! I hate it. I dream of my early childhood days skating on a homemade ice rink and playing in our igloo in Michigan.

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My in-laws were all set to fly from northern CA through Denver to Telluride today...and then United canceled all flights. My in-laws are are determined to go skiing, so they went and bought chains and are driving instead! Seize the day...

Oh ya-we're here in Fort Collins watching cars get buried up to their windshields. My sister is scheduled to fly in tomorrow night at 8pm-by then all should be well...hopefully! You know CO weather-it will probably be 80 degrees.

My next door neighbor works in Phillie (I know, long commute) and was due home tonight for the holidays. Just talked to his wife... he is rebooked to get home at 3PM on Christmas Day. My son at CU Boulder knows several kids that won't get home until the 27th.... guess we'll be having company for Christmas.

This 'Holiday Blizzard of '06' is the real thing. Many roads are closed and the drifts are gettin huge. Travel is not recommended. Both Denver & Colo Spgs airports are closed as are roads east & west. Looks like it may end by noon tomorrow but the road crews will be busy for some time.

Marty Coniglio forecasted this a couple of days ago. I really feel sorry for all those people stuck at the airport & am just very thankful that is not us! We are lucky that school was out last week (Douglas County). Only problem was the hassle my daughter was given for not being able to get in to her job at a well-known discount store,& she wasn't to go in until 3 when all the malls were closing. Betsy

Ani, hope your sister is able to make it in tomorrow. 9news reported earlier this evening that DIA would not reopen until tomorrow evening. FOX31 is now reporting the same.

Betsy, that is unbelievable about your daughter being hassled. The governor practically ordered everyone off the roads. Besides, who is shopping tonight?

The only people at the mall are the ones who were stranded on the Boulder Turnpike and are now spending the night at Flatirons Shopping Center.

Marty was also dead on about the Blizzard in 1993. I tend to trust his forecasts.

Our neighbors are from CO and flew back home yesterday to see family, and they were hoping for snow. Looks like they are getting it!

My sons were due to fly out of Denver today, to return home for Christmas (in the midwest). They're stuck in Denver. Any ideas from you who are in the Denver area? Are thre any other airports within a reasonable drive (once it clears) that might be a better bet on getting a flight out?They are hearing that the earliest flights out of Denver will be Sunday, because of the holiday traffic. Driving would take that long, too.

I think they need to just stay close to their airline counter and be squeaky wheels. CO Springs is equally shut down and doesn't have the runway capabilities that DIA does. It is just a HUGE storm--that I just heard is stalled so will take longer to move everything. I am sorry--and hope they do get out.
Our children were coming East from Denver one Christmas and were grounded in MN because of Chicago shutting down--didn't get in until Christmas afternoon.

Unfortunately, if your sons live in Denver and are travelling elsewhere for Christmas... I think they will not make it. Even my friends with pretty high status on the airlines are not getting out/home until the 25th. Kids at college are being told the 27th to leave Denver.

Flying out of Albuquerque is a possibility, but I25 was closed as of early this morning. IT should get opened soon, perhaps that is a something to consider. It is a straight shot down the interstate, but a long ride 8 hours or so.

Hope this helps...
Debi

Well, my sister was supposed to arrive tonight at 8 but obviously its not happening...airport closed until noon on Friday. Unfortunately the United reservations number is totally jacked and she cant get ahold of anyone over there to r/s her flight....ugh.

Ani, could she talk on the phone to a trusted family member who could do the change online for her?

the website is directing all changes to be made over the phone-but she STILL cant get through to anyone!

One of the things the airline is doing is rescheduling people onto flights. So if she can not get thru, they will call her (eventually). If I had to guess, she will be rescheduled for a date on or after Christmas (given what I'm hearing from friends in similar situations).

Personally, if I really wanted to get into Denver for Christmas from a remote location... I'd drive. By the time you get here, it will be fine. I believe only very lucky fliers will get here by Christmas.

Thats one idea...a long drive from San Diego though.

I've done it from NJ... and it is a long drive. Just probably the only option at this point. So it's a tradeoff between how much people want to drive vs. how much they want to be in Denver for Christmas... such a hard decision.

I'm waiting for my son (a sophmore at CU Boulder) to call with a headcount of how many kids are coming home with him. Sounds like it will be a few as more and more will not get out for Christmas.

Julie, you may have a full house! At least the CU-Boulder dorms stayed open for the kids past the original close time. I think they said last night the dorms would be open till midnight tonight, or tomorrow?

Yep, I've driven to Denver often--and one time had to pull off at Goodland after sliding off the interstate twice (within 6 hours of son's in Denver!!). Just heard an interview with the Goodland sheriff that says there is ice under the snow and nothing is moving.
Folks, driving is NOT an option!! From either direction. It s__s but it is true.

I hope so Maureen!... I love company at Christmas (tho I feel sorry for the kids that can't get home). My oldest when to Carolina, and he alway bought home a houseful of kids.

I think you can safely drive. You just can't arrive today. But if you are driving from San Diego, that's probably not an option. Truely, if it were me (and I love to drive, so take this with a grain of salt)... I'd leave to get here on the 24th.

BTW, I just heard they are looking at options to land Alan Iverson in a local military base....

Funintwos if your sons are in a safe, warm place, encourage them to stay put. The roads are a mess. Abandoned cars still need to be removed from the highways before any real plowing can be begin. I don't think there is any advantage trying to get to another airport.

Driving to the midwest isn't really an option at this point either as the storm is over the plains of Kansas and Nebraska.

I checked Amtrak and the trains are also sold out.

I'm sorry for the disruption to your Christmas plans.

30 inches as measured in my backyard this morning. Drifts are deeper. REALLY feel sorry for all those people at the airport or stuck on the freeways, or STUCK AT WORK!!
Snow has almost completely stopped here in the northern suburbs of Denver. Now to shovel out. DW and I took this week off anyhow, so we don't have to be anywhere. Daughter is stuck on campus up at C.U. for now.

DW says the first priority is to shovel out the hot tub!

DebitNM... do you ever accidentally call your town Mulva?
;)

The snow is letting up here in our Denver neighborhood. But we have drifts to three feet or so, and won't be going anywhere soon! Our street is small and doesn't get traffic except for residents, never gets plowed, so it won't be passable till tomorrow, I'm sure.

My husband and I are house-bound, which is fine with me. Lots of Christmas projects, wrapping, baking, etc for me to do. But he's getting stir-crazy because he'd rather be skiing!

The good news is that our kids were able to leave town the night before this storm, staying in Frisco at a friend's house. So they are in hog heaven! Not many people can get up to the ski areas, so the folks who are there get the runs to themselves. They skied Vail yesterday and today, will probably stay again tonight. I told them no need to hurry home. Probably couldn't drive into our neighborhood anyway. Poor things will have to stay with friends in Vail or Frisco tonight, and charge meals on my Visa card which they have for emergencies!
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TXTravelPro; Mulva! LOL and rolling on the floor

Yes, the snow has stopped and my shovelled driveway has even melted to the pavement, but the snow's repercussions on travel will remain for many days... my mother was supposed to arrive last night from Boston, but of course, the flight was cancelled (at least she never left home). BUT, just got off the phone with United (after AT LEAST 100 attempts to reach them - busy signal or disconnected every other time), the earliest they can get her here is the 26th, at that's with a 6:00 am flight with two connections! The nice gentleman in Bombay said that United is not putting on any extra flights. Could that be so? How can so many people who were affected get where they're going on existing empty seats? We're her only family, so my mother is understandably upset. Not sure what we're going to do... this is frustrating!

I don't think it's so easy as adding flights. I don't think the airlines have that option.. and if they could... you need gates, etc. So the flights they have are the flights they have. And many are already booked to capacity with skiiers and holiday travellers.

errr -- no. Do you ever call your state tex- ass?

Sorry Deb... it was just a reference to a favorite Seinfeld episode.

One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes too Tx! Sorry Deb but it just struck me as such a great non sequitor (which of course I've probably spelled wrong but you get my drift). Geez, back to the kahlua.

For anyone interested-here's an update on my sisters situation: the earliest flight they could get her was leaving SAN at 8pm Christmas night. She decided instead to rent a car (her law firm is paying for it-how nice!) and drive to Denver leaving San Diego at around 5 and driving all night. She'll drop off the car in Denver-we'll pick her up-and she's booked a one way ticket home. I think she's driving through AZ so as to avoid I70. So I should be seeing her tomorrow!

Will have good thoughts for your daughter Ani!

And I was kinda yankin' your chain, TxTravelPro!

I knew what the Mulva was in regard too, just couldn't see how it had to do with where I live! it took a minute; couldn't get the connection, , and went back to see what I had written and I knew!
:o)
Debi