If you’ve driven through Eagle County lately, you’ve probably noticed something unusual for February: dry pavement. With the current “snow drought” hitting the Rockies, I-70 often looks more like it belongs in late April than the middle of winter.
For many drivers, this feels like a relief. The roads are clear, the sun is out, and the white-knuckle blizzards seem to be taking a break.
But here is the reality check from the cab of a tow truck: We are seeing just as many accidents now as we do during heavy storms.
We call this “False Spring,” and in many ways, it is more dangerous than a blizzard. When it’s dumping snow, drivers slow down, engage 4WD, and pay attention. When the roads are dry, they let their guard down.
Here are the three specific hazards causing trouble in the Vail Valley right now—and why you shouldn’t trust the dry pavement.
The biggest danger right now isn’t sand—it’s speed.
When I-70 is covered in snow, traffic naturally slows down to 45 or 50 MPH. Drivers are hyper-aware and cautious. But during this “False Spring,” dry pavement gives drivers the confidence to push 75 or 80 MPH. They get comfortable, cruise control goes on, and the winter mindset turns off.
The problem is that confidence can be fatal when conditions change instantly.
In the Rockies, the weather turns on a dime. You might be cruising on dry asphalt one minute, and the next, you drive into a sudden, isolated snow squall on Vail Pass. When you hit that slick spot at 70 MPH because you were “comfortable,” your tires lose contact before you can even touch the brake.
We see this constantly: a driver hits a sudden dusting or a patch of frozen meltwater at highway speeds. If they had been going 45 MPH, it would have been a minor slip. At 75 MPH, it turns into a rollover or a multi-car pileup.
The Fix: Don’t let the dry asphalt bait you into speeding. Even if the road looks clear, keep your speed in check—especially in the early morning or late evening when that “wet” spot is actually solid ice.
The days are warm and sunny right now, often reaching above freezing. This melts the snowbanks that do exist on the sides of the road. That meltwater trickles across the highway during the afternoon.
The danger strikes around 4:00 PM when the sun drops behind the mountains. The air temperature might still read 35°F on your dashboard, but the pavement surface temperature in the shade instantly plummets below freezing.
That trickle of water turns into a ribbon of invisible black ice. This is happening daily in known trouble spots like Dowd Junction (Mile Marker 171) and the shady S-curves into Minturn. Drivers hitting these patches at 75 MPH (because the rest of the road is dry) have zero reaction time.
The Fix: Watch the shadows. If the road looks wet in a shaded area, assume it is ice.
Usually, by February, deep snow in the high country forces elk and deer to herd up in specific lower-elevation areas. They tend to stay put to conserve energy.
But with the lack of deep snowpack this year, wildlife is moving much more freely and unpredictably. They aren’t confined to their usual winter yards. We are seeing deer and elk crossing I-70 and Highway 6 in random spots where they usually wouldn’t be this time of year.
The Fix: Keep scanning the shoulders, especially at dawn and dusk. Just because there are no snowbanks blocking your view doesn’t mean a deer won’t bolt out from the median.
If you do slide off, knowing your location is the fastest way to get help. Keep these Mile Markers (MM) in mind for the most common trouble spots in Eagle County:
Vail Pass Summit (MM 190), East Vail Steep Grades (MM 180–186), Main Vail (MM 176), West Vail (MM 173), Dowd Junction Curves (MM 171–173), Eagle-Vail (MM 169), Avon (MM 167), Edwards (MM 163), Wolcott (MM 157), Eagle (MM 147), and Gypsum (MM 140).
When “False Spring” catches you off guard, you need more than just a ride—you need the right equipment to get you out safely. At West Vail Towing, we have been serving Eagle County since 1970, so our fleet is specifically built for these mountain conditions.
Don’t let the sunshine fool you. “False Spring” is a major transition period for the Rockies, and the mix of high speeds, loose gravel, and shadow ice makes it a prime time for towing calls.
Drive safe, enjoy the sunshine, but keep your winter guard up.
Stuck in the “False Spring” trap? Whether you slid on sand or found a patch of ice, West Vail Towing is ready to help 24/7. Call us at 970-476-3394 Serving Vail, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, Gypsum, and Vail Pass since 1970.