💧 Summer Flows Expected to Run Low

Good morning, Stoke Crew. Long days, endless trails, and that summer mountain energy, we've got the outdoor news and stories to match your adventure appetite!

In today's report:

• Local Community built around a weather report
• You can still ski in Colorado
• A peek into the summer water flows
• Concerts happening in June

Today’s Stoke Story

❄️ Seths Weather Report

The Report: Seth Linden (pictured in photo above) started forecasting weather for one simple reason, to find the best powder days for himself. What began as a personal passion project has exploded into a 68,000 member Facebook community that's become a well trusted weather source in Colorado's outdoor scene. Seth covers the entire state but focuses on Denver, Boulder, and the Summit County mountains, delivering forecasts that grew organically as people realized they were getting more accurate and passionate weather reports than elsewhere. What sets Seth apart is that he doesn't just forecast from behind a computer, he's out there skiing the backcountry at Vail Pass, verifying his predictions in the field, and sharing real-time observations with his followers.

I personally use his weather reports to plan ski trips and backcountry adventures. I get stoked when Seth forecasts big snow totals near Keystone because I know I'm about to ride some good powder! It's not just about the data Seth provides, it's the adventure that comes with that data that fires people up! Seth has been forecasting for 25 years and takes serious pride in his work, spending time outside his full-time job crafting each forecast and always verifying his predictions against actual snowfall totals, something most forecasters skip.

This dedication has earned him the trust of everyone from weekend warriors to serious backcountry skiers, and his impact on Colorado's outdoor community goes far beyond just weather. He's built a tight-knit community where people don't just check the weather, they connect over a shared love of powder days and mountain adventures! Seth, if you're reading this, it was great to chat with you and I'm looking forward to skiing some backcountry lines with you this upcoming winter!

• Check out his Facebook group here
• Check out his website here

Local Stokelight

⛷️ Still Winter at Arapahoe Basin

Arapahoe Basin just proved once again why they call it "The Legend" by announcing they're extending their already marathon season through Father's Day weekend, giving Colorado skiers one final chance to earn their turns before summer officially wins! The resort was originally set to close June 8 but decided to keep the party going through June 15, operating weekends only with Black Mountain Express and Lenawee Express spinning from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. serving front-side terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers. This late-season extension means A-Basin is once again the last Colorado resort standing, living up to their reputation as the place where winter refuses to die! Thanks to their snow management team and well positioned north-facing slopes that hold snow long after everyone else has switched to mountain biking mode.

Mountain Briefing

💧 Summer Flows Expected to Run Low

Colorado's 2025 water year is shaping up to be a challenging one, with state climatologist Russ Schumacher delivering some concerning news about what to expect this summer. The year started with the second warmest October in 130 years and ranks as the 10th driest water year start on record, setting up conditions for below-average streamflows throughout the summer months. While Eagle County managed better snowpack than most of Colorado, even local favorites like Vail Mountain only peaked at the 15th percentile for snow (meaning 85% of years had more snow at peak than 2025), and the early warm weather triggered faster-than-normal snowmelt that's leaving less water for the critical summer period. The forecast shows the Eagle River near Gypsum will hit about 85% of average flows from April through July, but the situation gets worse downstream with Lake Powell expected to reach just 55% of normal levels.

The bigger picture is even more concerning, summer flows have already dropped 25% compared to historical averages, and climate change is accelerating this trend by causing earlier snowmelt and longer dry periods. For anyone planning summer adventures on Colorado rivers, this means lower water levels and potentially shortened seasons for water-based activities.

Events

☀️ Concert Lineup for June!

Dillon Amphitheater

• June 11: St. Paul and the Broken Bones
• June 20: Alison Krauss and Union Station
• June 21: Tash Sultana
• June 23: Drive-By Truckers and Deer Tick (free)
• June 27: Modest Mouse
• June 28: Dirty Heads

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail

• June 5: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
• June 14: Trevor Hall
• June 20: OAR

Red Rocks

• June 6: QUINN XCII
• June 7-8: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
• June 12: Stick Figure
• June 20: Tash Sultana
• June 21: OAR
• June 22: Halsey
• June 25: Charley Crockett
• June 26: Dirty Heads
• June 27-29: Widespread Panic

Name That Nature

🔍 How to Identify the Colorado Blue Columbine

🌼 Flowers

• Outer petals: Lavender-blue to light blue
• Inner petals: White
• Center: Bright yellow stamens
• Distinct five outer petals
• Looks like a star

📏 Plant Size

• Height: Typically 1 to 2 feet tall
• Growth: Slender stems with one or several flowers per plant

🏞️ Grows in

• Habitat: Shady forests, moist meadows, alpine slopes
• Elevation: Found at 6,000 to 12,000 feet in the Rockies
• Bloom Time: Mid-spring to mid-summer (May–July)

Fun Fact! This is the Colorado State Flower!

Trailhead Trivia

There are 58 14ers in Colorado. Can you guess how many 13ers there are?

🔥 Share The Stoke

This newsletter is for mountain lovers, dirtbags, powder hounds, and people who base life decisions on trail conditions and snow reports. Basically, the kind of folks who think a summit beer counts as hydration.

If you know someone like that, forward this email or send them to thestokereport.com. Thanks for spreading the stoke — it seriously means a lot!

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Answer!

As could be expected, the official number of 13ers in Colorado is up for debate. Sources seem to agree that there are between 600 and 700