Snow!

In Dillon, Colorado for the evening after spending the morning driving from Estes Park to Loveland Ski Resort, and spending the afternoon getting owned by a real ski resort. Blue/Single Black Diamond routes in West Virginia/Pennsylvania are Green out here in Colorado.   

I spent last night at the Longs Peak Campground in Rocky Mountain National park in Estes Park.  I was originally planning on making an attempt today on Longs Peak, but ski fever got the best of me.  Since I bought my skis last March I have not had a chance to use them, so I simply could not wait another day.  Because several inches of snow fell overnight, the drive from RMNP to Loveland Ski took far longer that I expected it would.  By the time I got to Loveland and got my gear squared away the day was more than half over, so I did not get a full day on the slopes.  Tomorrow I'm planning on spending the entire day at Loveland and taking a commensurate number of photos of the above tree-line skiing action.  

I'd like to thank everyone for checking in on my blog.  I really appreciate your support.  

Pulling into Estes Park late yesterday morning.

Early this morning, with a few inches of freshly fallen snow.  Pretty mild night, when I crawled in my sleeping bad it was a balmy 24 degrees at 9000 feet.   It probably bottomed out at 15 degrees because it was cold enough to freeze water that I left in the car.

Critters on the side of the road.  However close I would love to get, these are wild animals that should not be approached.  Thankfully, the Nikon D200 has a 1.5 magnification factor, so my 200mm f2.8 becomes a 300 mm f2.8 and my 300 mm f4.0 becomes a 450 mm f4.0.  Good times.  

I would not like to butt heads with this guy!  

Late in the day I managed photograph the ever elusive volkswagenus skibumus coloradoian.