Leadville 100 Course

The Red Flag Warning today is driven by the sustained 15-20 mph westerly winds and dry conditions, not a fire threat to your route — no active fires within 50 miles. It does mean the wind is real and cold. High today is only 37°F with that wind, so effective temps on exposed ridgeline segments like Hope Pass and Sugarloaf will feel closer to the mid-20s. Dress in layers you can shed, and don't underestimate the chill on the climb out of Twin Lakes if you're moving slow.

The snowpack is your primary trail condition concern. At 52 inches of depth in the zone, expect significant snow coverage on anything above 11,000 feet — which is most of the Leadville course. The Hope Pass crossing (12,600 ft) and the Powerline climb will have consolidated spring snow that may be punchy and postholey by midday, especially Thursday and Friday with full sun. Plan your high-elevation segments early in the day while the snow surface is still firm and supportive. Once solar warming kicks in post-10 AM, you'll be punching through and burning extra energy.

Thursday and Friday are the go days — sunny, light precip (7-11%), and as good as it gets this time of year at elevation. You've got 13.5 hours of daylight with sunrise at 6:18 AM and sunset at 7:51 PM. If you're running the full course or a long segment (say, Twin Lakes to Winfield and back, roughly 30 miles), a 7 AM start puts you on Hope Pass well before the snow softens and gets you back to Twin Lakes by late afternoon with daylight to spare. Saturday changes the picture — 43% precip by day with snow showers likely Saturday night. If you're still out Saturday, prioritize getting off Hope Pass and above-treeline terrain before early afternoon, when that precip chance materializes.

Stream crossing data in the raw feed reflects California gauges, which don't apply here — ignore those numbers. What does apply is that 52 inches of SWE is melting fast in this sun and warmth, so creek crossings on the Leadville course (particularly around Twin Lakes inlet and the Colorado Trail segments near Halfmoon Creek) will be running high and cold. Probe depth before committing, and expect wet feet.