The snowstorm that moved in late Thursday buried the eastern San Juan Mountains, leaving just under 3 feet of snow in some places, closing off mountain passes and boosting snowpack levels.

A storm system that could dump up to 4 feet of snow in the eastern San Juan Mountains hit Thursday afternoon and was expected to sit over the area through late Friday.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for noon Thursday to late Friday, calling for 2 to 4 feet of snow in the mountains above 10,000 feet. The storm could feature wind gusts of up to 60 mph, prompting the weather service to urge drivers to avoid travel in the warning area, which includes U.S. 160 over Wolf Creek Pass and Colorado 17 over Cumbres and La Manga passes.

The Rio Grande National Forest is taking comment on a draft environmental statement for a proposed timber salvage 30 miles west of Antonito. The Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project would salvage up to 878 acres of dead and dying Engelmann spruce trees, make improvements to the current road system and move Los Pinos trailhead. Spruce beetles have killed thousands of acres of mature Engelmann spruce trees in the area. The agency already has approved the County Line Project to remove trees from a nearby area. The draft environmental impact statement is open to public comment for a 45-day period. While the online version was not available as of Wednesday afternoon, forest officials plan to post the document online.

In a continuing educational series of crossing the Rocky Mountains, up next is the southern route over La Veta, La Manga, and Cumbres passes. This is one of the safest, and lowest ways over the Continental Divide. First, here’s a look at the route itself.

New snowstorm again closes highways into SLV. Wolf Creek, Cumbres and La Manga passes were closed early Thursday afternoon followed by the closure of a 25-mile stretch of U.S. 285 from the state line south to Tres Piedras, N.M.

Photo by SLV Native

The past 24 hours have seen lots of snow -- up to 3 feet in the higher elevations. Too much snow, in fact, to get out of SLV Dweller headquarters. The Cumbres Trestle Snotel Reports 11 feet of snow. The Conejos River Webcam Gallery shows the past two days - notice the tree in the foreground.

Shelters have been set up in Antonito and Del Norte for travelers unable to continue their journeys due to road closures in those areas.

U.S. 160 over Wolf Creek Pass reopened late Tuesday afternoon.U.S. 160 over La Veta Pass was back open after closing Monday night, U.S. 285 south of Antonito reopened Tuesday morning, and Colorado 17 over Cumbres and La Manga passes also reopened later in the day after blowing snow and poor visibility forced its closure Monday.

A winter weather system with two separate troughs and an associated cold front moved into northeast Utah Monday afternoon and brought with it high winds that affected travelers in the San Luis Valley that included blowing snow and avalanche threats that closed schools and mountain passes, essentially cutting of the San Luis Valley from the outside world! More winter weather is expected in the coming 10 days.

The drive on Colorado Highway 17 between Antonito, Colo., and Chama, N.M., is a winner, even though it's not a white-knuckler.

Conejos County’s National Forests were damaged by recent windstorms. Spruce, Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine and other species of trees were blown down by the storms, ending up blocking roads and trails and making at least one campground unusable.

One lucky accident helped resolve problems from an unfortunate accident around noon Saturday, Feb. 10.

Several environmental groups and three individuals are seeking a federal injunction forcing the U.S. Forest Service to stop any further work on a proposed logging project in the San Juan Mountains.

The Rio Grande National Forest was given the green light by U.S. District Judge Phillip Figa to move forward with timber sales within the County Line Project.

JK Rail Road Productions has created a 5 Part series of videos documenting the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad from end to end. Watch [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ]

photo by Len Espinoza

"We've covered almost 3,000 miles on our cross-country bike ride so far, and I don't remember any place as unique as this. I almost feel like I'm in a different country." Read More...

"...I rode in the middle of on an empty Colorado Highway 17 between Fox Creek and Antonito when I passed a farmer making hay while the sun did shine. Had I been remotely hydrated, I would have shed a tear at the sight." Read More...

Down the road after climbing La Manga Pass, riders dove into a sometimes-twisting 2,500-foot descent toward Antonito and eventually Alamosa.

A rushing creek of freshly melted snow cascades from atop La Manga Pass.

Photo by Leonard Espinoza of Romeo