Overland Expo in Flagstaff May 15-17

[BrianBlair]

Anyone in Flagstaff care to comment on what the weather is doing today? I'm arriving tomorrow morning via Amtrak and am hoping to ride(my bicycle) down to the Expo.

How does the soil up there do after a good rain/snow?

Thanks!

BB

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by BrianBlair

Anyone in Flagstaff care to comment on what the weather is doing today? I'm arriving tomorrow morning via Amtrak and am hoping to ride(my bicycle) down to the Expo.

How does the soil up there do after a good rain/snow?

Thanks!

BB

Well, today it is winter. Here's a pic from my backyard:



and it's already snowed 7" in Parks which is a bit west of Flag.



The NWS upped the forecast for today:
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS
EVENING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FLAGSTAFF HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST
THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...PERIODS OF SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TO SNOW SHOWERS THIS
MORNING...BUT WILL INCREASE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW MAY
BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EARLY
EVENING HOURS.

* GENERAL EVENT TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 5 INCHES. SEE
DETAILS BELOW OR CONSULT POINT SPECIFIC FORECAST AT:
WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF.

* SNOWFALL FORECAST FROM 6 AM MST TODAY UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

FLAGSTAFF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILLIAMS 1 TO 2 INCHES

* OTHER IMPACTS...LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW FELL OVERNIGHT FROM PARKS
THROUGH BELLEMONT AND TOWARD FAR WESTERN FLAGSTAFF. OVER 6
INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN AND AROUND BELLEMONT. LOCAL ROADWAYS WILL
BE DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS THIS MORNING...BEFORE SOME
MELTING OCCURS. ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK AND SNOW COVERED AGAIN
LATER TODAY...AS SNOWFALL INTENSITY INCREASE AGAIN.

The storm will be pushing outa here tomorrow (Sat) and I bet the day will actually end up being pretty decent. Sloppy in the morning. As for the trails, Dry Lake Hills/Elden/SF Peaks dry out pretty good and will probably be stellar on Sunday with a little sunshine. Near the Expo, however, is death mud. The predicted hi for Sunday in Flag is 58F. Sedona will be prime.

[eddyturn]

Snowing at Mormon Lake. Some nice SMBs there but hard to visit them all while it's precipitating so much. Heater in rental SMB is not working due to the low altitude/warm weather propane fill. Holed up in a nice warm hotel room in Flag and will try again tomorrow. Weather forecast is the same... water in some form or another falling from the skies.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by eddyturn

Snowing at Mormon Lake. Some nice SMBs there but hard to visit them all while it's precipitating so much. Heater in rental SMB is not working due to the low altitude/warm weather propane fill. Holed up in a nice warm hotel room in Flag and will try again tomorrow. Weather forecast is the same... water in some form or another falling from the skies.

Dang, that sucks. Is it a Suburban? They are finicky. If you have OBA give it a blast intp the exhaust. If there is dust in there it affects the igniter. You could also try venting the propane. I'm not so sure about the idea that there are different blends of propane for different altitudes. Is that really true?

I'm heading out there tomorrow prepared for mud. Things should start clearing up by early afternoon.

[Viva]

Originally Posted by JoeH

I'm not so sure about the idea that there are different blends of propane for different altitudes. Is that really true?

I thought it was different blends related to temperature. More butane in the blend in warmer places and more propane in colder ones. Butane doesn't work as well in colder weather. That said, I'm not any kind of expert.

I've never been to Expo but am in the general area and was thinking of coming. But since I'd be car camping (in a borrowed "non-outfitted" car), I was a bit put off by the snow today. Thinking now of coming up tomorrow afternoon or evening for Sunday. Does anyone know if Sunday is a "real" day --- or is it more like everyone is packing up and sort of mentally heading out already...?

[JoeH]

Having gone twice to the one in Flag, yes folks are packing up and leaving in the afternoon on sunday. So, I would go in the morning for sure.

Sun is out at 8am and storm is in the White Mountains and NM. Maybe a little wrap-around this afternoon but it's going to be a gorgeous day in N. Arizona.

[rionapo]

caught between Woodstock and a mud truck competition:



but the San Francisco Peaks at Flag are gorgeous, just to far away for a picture.

Don

[rionapo]

Originally Posted by rionapo

caught between Woodstock and a mud truck competition:



but the San Francisco Peaks at Flag are gorgeous, just too far away for a picture.

Don

[BroncoHauler]

Looks like a great weekend not to be in a tent.


Herb

[Viva]

Thanks for the note about Sunday. I think I'll either head up this evening (and just basically pull in and snooze, so I'm there in the morning), or head up bright and early tomorrow. Looks muddy, but how fun to have all those rigs/folks to see and chat with!

I'm about two hours west and at around 4,000'. It's sunny with puffy clouds here, and around 48º.