Beacon In The Night
In memory... Cross and steeple of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, on Main Street in Aspen.
On the night when I took this photo, the illuminated cross and steeple of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, on Main Street in Aspen, served as a beacon to me…
On this night, I hope faith is with our friends… While I was coaching an out-of-town hockey game today, we received some awful news: a parent of a boy on the team was told that her husband was killed in a small plane crash. So, tonight I pray that Christy, Dante, and the rest of Bryan’s family and friends can find their own light amidst the darkness of their loss.
Taken 12/1/2007.
Bridgework And Snow
the railing along the Rio Grande Bridge gives a nice patterned contrast to all the white snow.
Since we got more snow again last night… here’s another fun, snowy shot. The dark, shadowed pattern of the bridge provides great contrast against the sunlit white snow along the river.
Taken 3/3/2008.
Snow, Horses At Dusk
Horses at Owl Creek chillin' out on a nice spring evening with snow all around.
I encountered near whiteout conditions driving home from Snowmass this evening, and as I passed the barn on Owl Creek Road, I kinda’ wondered if the horses were braving the snow…
I took this shot in the spring, on my way back from skiing (I think), and I really just liked the light as the sun was getting low in the sky; it lit up the mountains across the valley, and even enhanced the fence posts in the foreground. In fact, it almost looks like the horses are looking back into the setting sun… that, or someone had a carrot over there!
Taken 4/12/2008.
Winter Wonderland
Snowy Shadow Mountain, with bright blue skies overhead.
It’s been snowing all weekend… So, here’s a shot of Shadow Mountain, from the morning after a big snow last year. Notice the clear bright blue sky. That’s how we like to order up our ski days here… big dump overnight, followed by a clear sunny day!
Taken 1/8/2008.
Snowy Tree, Streetlight, Stop
Downtown Aspen at night, after a big snow storm last year.
Taken 12/1/2007.
Snow Sculpture
Snow accumulates on a sculpture by the Aspen Art Museum and on the Rio Grande Bridge.
In hopes of encouraging the snowfall we had last year… here’s a shot of the type of snow which accumulated last winter, creating a balanced pillow of snow on this sculpture near the Aspen Art Museum, and on top of the Rio Grande Bridge over the Roaring Fork River. Notice how the snow on the top beams of the bridge has melted and refrozen repeatedly, becoming flexible enough that it’s hanging well over the edge, especially on the far side. This was my view as I walked into work every day, looking at the snowy, sunlit Aspen Mountain in the background.
Taken 2/22/2008.
Steaming Stream
Beautiful snowy morning, sunshine, and steam rising off the water.
OK, it’s actually a river—the Roaring Fork River to be precise—but I went for the catchy name! I took this shot from the Rio Grande Bridge, right by the Aspen Art Museum, on a beautiful snowy morning. A typical day here in paradise last year… tons of snow the night before, followed by a beautiful sunny morning! The sun illuminating the steam rising off the water was really quite inspiring and peaceful all at the same time.
Taken 3/3/2008.
Last Run Ravens
end of day at Highlands, sunlight through clouds, ravens in lone gnarled tree
This lone, weathered tree really stands out, on “Deception” ski run at Aspen Highlands (double-black in Oly Bowl), and it’s usually a good spot for a breather after the first pitch of pretty steep moguls there. This was my last run on this particular day (happy bday, sis!), and the sun was breaking through the clouds and really lighting up the snow where I was skiing, contrasting the darker areas all around me. This pair of ravens up in the tree squawked when I first came down–and helped draw my attention to the scene–but then they seemed content to let me hang out too, and take it all in… another good day on the hill! (ski day #13 of 52)
Taken 1/19/2008.
Spring Glaze
early evening sunlight reflects on the way up Tiehack at Buttermilk Mtn.
Keeping with my anticipation of skiing theme… this was also taken after the end of last season, when the lifts were no longer running. In fact, this was the day before my “Highland Bowl From Ajax” photo (posted two days ago).
As I skinned up Tiehack on Buttermilk Mtn. in the early evening, and noticed how the thawed and refrozen snow created a glaze which shimmered as the sun sank lower in the sky. That “glaze” also made the telemark turns a little more interesting on the way down; not as bad as a true crust layer, but definitely not like powder either!
This was also the same day as my “Empty Chair” photo. Again, very cool having the entire mountain to myself… didn’t see another soul on the way up or down (just their tracks… but I took another route down, to get some fresh turns, of course!).
Taken 5/3/2008.
Let It Snow!
First major snowfall of the season, as seen from my bedroom window this morning!
We had our first big snowfall of the year last night! Reports of up to 12-14 inches fell up in the mountains, and we got at least 4-5 in. here in town, so everything was blanketed in white and beautiful this morning. I guess as many people prayed for snow as voted for President-elect Obama yesterday… Well, at least I can be happy about all this beautiful snow! 
Bring on ski season! (And, I look forward to being proven wrong on the political front.)
Taken 11/5/2008.
Summer Ski Jump
Big kicker built on Sneaky's at Snowmass, still kickin' it in August!
This was from the same hike as yesterday’s post, up Snowmass ski area, near the top of Big Burn on the ridge of Sneaky’s. They built this huge kicker jump toward the end of the season, actually closed Sneaky’s while they were apparently filming some guys doing insane stuff off this monster. You can get an idea how big it was by how much snow is still left in almost mid-August. Would’ve been a cool backdrop too… with Snowmass Creek valley and peaks for a background (behind me in this shot).
Taken 8/10/2008.
Snowy Winter Stream And Trees
Snowy Winter Stream And Trees
Since tomorrow will officially be one year since I moved to Aspen, I thought I’d share another pic from the beautiful day at Ashcroft when I finally made the decision to move up here. See my Oct 14th post for another photo from that day.
Taken 1/30/2006.
Route To Highland Bowl
Ridge hike to the top of the Highland Bowl
I can’t wait for ski season! So, here’s a photo of my favorite place to ski last season…
This is the start of the hike up to the top of the Highland Bowl (12,382 ft), from the top of the lift-served part of Aspen Highlands ski area. The hike up takes ~30-45 minutes (45 my first time, <30 on my last), if you don't take the snowcat (which I never do!).
This particular day featured fantastic skiing in deep powder, with cool but sunny weather, and some low clouds, which created the great lighting effects here.
Taken 1/13/2008.
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For a video which gives a good flavor of the Bowl experience, check out Highlands Bowl- Colorado’s premier “mid country terrrain” on Brightcove.tv
“Highlands Bowl on Aspen Highlands Mountain is the premier expert destination for expert skiers looking to challenge themselves.“
Fall And Winter
Snow and sun on the changing aspen leaves
It’s supposed to snow tonight, so I thought I’d share a shot I took last year, on an adventure up Basalt Mountain, about a month before I moved out here. It was probably the first snow of the year, and the leaves were still turning… the morning sun really made everything look beautiful, and it was so cool to see both Fall and Winter at the same time.
Taken 9/30/2007.
Ashcroft Sunny Snow Day
Sunny Snow Day in Ashcroft
A great sunny day, after a big snow, backcountry skiing in Ashcroft. This was the day, two years before I moved here, when I decided I HAD to live to Aspen! Taken 1/30/2006.
Snow Is Coming
Snow on Pyramid
We had a dusting of snow last night, which really highlights the high peaks in the area, and made for a great view of Pyramid Peak (14,018′) as I was leaving the Aspen Rec Center after coaching a hockey game this morning. You can also still see some bright yellow aspen trees scattered about as well, telling us it’s still Fall, but Winter is on the way…
Taken 10/12/2008.
