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Snowplow operators met for the first time this season on Trail Ridge Road on May 29.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
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It remains unclear when the road will be opened due to the remaining winter conditions.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
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Snowplow operators began clearing the road back in April, but late spring snow storms have delayed their progress.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
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Crews are used to dealing with snow drifts as tall as 18 or 22 feet.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
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The latest Trail Ridge Road has ever opened was June 26, 1943.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
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Trail Ridge Road has the distinction of being the highest continuous paved road in the country, sitting at an elevation of 12,183 feet.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators from the east side and west sides of the park met on Trail Ridge Road for the first time this year on May 29.
East side plow operators were again able to reached the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store area. They initially reached the Alpine Visitor Center complex on May 15 – soon afterwards multiple spring snow storms pushed plow efforts back to lower elevations on Trail Ridge Road.
It is too soon to predict when Trail Ridge Road will open for the season. The extended forecast for higher elevations is improving next week.
When plow operators began plowing in mid-April they reported that the snowpack conditions were average to below average. That changed in May. Snowplow operators experienced a lot of drifting snow on the east side, which indicates there was a lot of high winds over the course of the winter. The drifting snow is depicted with the photos of Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store.