Planning a visit ... help with "worst" time please ... (Evans: house, closing)

[Aggie]

Howdy. I've been in COS a couple times and was quite impressed. I am considering retirement there. I have been HOT my whole life and seem to tolerate heat/humidity less and less as I get older. I grew up in SW Texas, worked in S Texas and spent 26 years in South Carolina. I've never experienced much in the way of a cold winter ... and have no interest in moving to Minnesota <g>. All that to preface my question.

I want to spend a couple weeks (maybe a month) in COS this winter. When would I experience the worst COS has to offer? In my mind I'm going to love it ... but I think a little experience before I make the leap would be wise ... yes that is the sound of experience ...

[captain_hug99]

We'll usually get a cold snap in January. This year it was very cold for about a week or so, highs at zero with wind chills in the negative numbers. As far as snow, our worst is usually in March/April.

The really weird thing is, if it is 20 degrees, sunny, with no wind, it will feel nice out.

[Aggie]

Originally Posted by captain_hug99

The really weird thing is, if it is 20 degrees, sunny, with no wind, it will feel nice out.

... that IS my current fantasy! Thanks for the thoughts ...

[Mike from back east]

Dec and Jan can have come very fine temps of -10 to -20, with or without snow.

Of course, the top of Pikes Peak (14,115 Ft) is ALWAYS 30 degrees colder than down at the base. So, if it's 20 in the city then it'll be -10 at the peak, and with a wind chill that can register at -40F. Deadly, but .... once in your life ... you gotta feel that sting to know what it means to be alive ... and by all means ... during the 40 minute layover between cog train arrival/return, be sure to eat a couple of the Pikes Peak donuts, which taste awesome for some reason, especially with some hot coffee when it's -20F. Yummm.

Beware of dehydration when you come here, at ANY time of year, so drink LOTS of water, go easy on the alcohol, wear sunglasses to protect against the extreme brightness of the sun as our thinner air lets in more harmful rays. Have saline spray to protect against nosebleeds as the low humidity will dry out your nostrils as badly as any clothes dryer could, and it's worse in winter.

[Aggie]

OP here. It seems that I will schedule a trip in January or late March - early April. I suspect I'll aim for January. Thanks to all for the input.

[Aggie]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Deadly, but .... once in your life ... you gotta feel that sting to know what it means to be alive ... and by all means ... during the 40 minute layover between cog train arrival/return, be sure to eat a couple of the Pikes Peak donuts, which taste awesome for some reason, especially with some hot coffee when it's -20F. Yummm.

Donuts it is ... it'll be a first for .... donuts at 14,000 ft. and -20 that is.

[Baron of BBQ]

Originally Posted by Aggie

I have been HOT my whole life and seem to tolerate heat/humidity less and less as I get older. I grew up in SW Texas, worked in S Texas and spent 26 years in South Carolina. I've never experienced much in the way of a cold winter ...

Based on this alone, you'll love the weather here. I grew up in the deep south where 90+ degrees and 90+ humidity were the norm. Now when I go back there on business or to visit family I find it absolutely brutal. It's all in the humidity. Even winters here are much more pleasant than"warmer" regions with higher humidity. I can recall wanting a jacket with temps in the 40s in the South - but here if the wind's not up and the sun's out short sleeves can be very comfortable if you're in/out or not sitting still at a ballgame. The snow we get never sticks around for long so it's not snow-on-the-ground from October to April like in some parts.

Summer "heat" is subjective and I still get tickled when people complain about the "heat" here. Our first house didn't have air conditioning and frankly we didn't miss it. This was unheard of to someone coming from the South. As soon as the sun drops below the peaks it immediately cools off and by middle of the night you're reaching for a blanket for the bed. Temperature management is all about opening / closing the appropriate windows and shades to get a nice cross breeze going. We can get a few days at or near 100 in the summer but typically only a literal handful of days like that throughout the whole summer.

[Aggie]

Originally Posted by Baron of BBQ

Based on this alone, you'll love the weather here. I grew up in the deep south where 90+ degrees and 90+ humidity were the norm. Now when I go back there on business or to visit family I find it absolutely brutal. It's all in the humidity. Even winters here are much more pleasant than"warmer" regions with higher humidity. I can recall wanting a jacket with temps in the 40s in the South - but here if the wind's not up and the sun's out short sleeves can be very comfortable if you're in/out or not sitting still at a ballgame. The snow we get never sticks around for long so it's not snow-on-the-ground from October to April like in some parts.

Summer "heat" is subjective and I still get tickled when people complain about the "heat" here. Our first house didn't have air conditioning and frankly we didn't miss it. This was unheard of to someone coming from the South. As soon as the sun drops below the peaks it immediately cools off and by middle of the night you're reaching for a blanket for the bed. Temperature management is all about opening / closing the appropriate windows and shades to get a nice cross breeze going. We can get a few days at or near 100 in the summer but typically only a literal handful of days like that throughout the whole summer.

Ah yes ... the old twin 90s! That was summer in upstate SC. And now here in SW Texas summer starts tomorrow and we've had nearly 2 weeks over 100 already with the humidity hanging at 40 to 50%. I stated to say "you have no idea how good that sounds" ... but you do, you just described it perfectly. The very idea that you could shower on a summer evening and go outside without needing to shower again ... how radical <g>.

Thanks for your comments.

[j96g]

Speaking of Pikes Peak, does it still have snow on top? I saw the pikespeak webcam and it doesn't show snow. Is there snow on the way up? Would i have to try Mount Evans instead or where should I go to see snow. My nephew and neice from South Texas are coming this weekend and want to see snow.

[Bullitt007]

There is very little snow on the Peak. I was just up there this past week... There is some on the north facing slope however.