Clouds cover the Longs Peak Cirque on Sept. 21st, 2009- click to see more photos of the snow coverage in this area.

With up to a foot of new snow forecast to fall tonight and tomorrow, this could be a very different scene by the weekend.  I am heading up into the cirque this week to scratch around with the tools and we will report on what's happening ice wise before this upcoming weekend.  Ice routes such as Alexander's Chimney, the Eighth Route, Duncan's Drips, and potentially the Headdress on Chiefshead could all be icing up well and in-shape soon.  Temperatures at 9k last night were below freezing and although we haven't given up on warm weather in the Front Range this season, the alpine world is quickly turning into a frozen wonderland.