As trees bloom green in the town of Ouray, a May snowstorm cakes the surrounding mountains in powder.
Couldn’t help but stop the truck and take a photo of Ouray this morning on the way to a quick lap in the powder!
Spring Snow in Ouray
Tag: Colorado
Pristine Spring Snow
Skier: Don Moden. Mt. Sneffels in the background.
Despite a relatively low snowpack this year here in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, the spring skiing/snowboarding has been fantastic lately — in large part due to the pristine snowpack free of the dust pollution that typically blows into the mountains from the desert southwest every spring. So far this year the dust storms haven’t hit the San Juans (knock on wood), so the snow remains smooth, white, and shreddable!
See lots more photos below from recent lines this last week. Continue reading “Pristine Spring Snow”
Wetterhorn Ski Mission
April sunset behind Wetterhorn Peak (14015 ft / 4272 m), as seen from the summit of Matterhorn Peak in the Uncompahgre Wilderness of Colorado.
Wetterhorn Peak stands above its surrounding basins like an ancient crumbling volcano. Rising to 14,015 feet, the pyramidal fourteener is not only one of the most photogenic mountains in Colorado, but its steep eastern face holds a classic ski descent that I’ve been wanting to snowboard for years. This last weekend I ventured out into the Uncompahgre Wilderness with a friend to hopefully ride and photograph this beautiful mountain. Continue reading “Wetterhorn Ski Mission”
Occasional Outings
Here’s a couple photos from the few occasions I managed to get outside during the last few weeks.
Almost Spring
Late March sunset over Ouray, Colorado.
Southwest Powder Days
Towards the end of February our month-long drought of snow here in southwest Colorado ended with a powerful snowstorm that dropped several feet of powder on the mountains. I suspect that nearly every skier in the entire region dropped what they were doing to get out and enjoy the return of winter! Continue reading “Southwest Powder Days”
First Day
Today was my first day on the splitboard this season. We are finally back in Colorado after our time abroad and it is great to be home, especially with a bluebird powder day greeting!
Autumn Light
Last light shines on golden aspens below Mt. Sneffels, San Juan Mountains, Colorado – October.
Autumn Glory
Morning reflection of the Red Mountains and golden aspens caked with fresh autumn snows. San Juan Mountains, Colorado – September.
Is there ever a more beautiful time and place than autumn in the aspen forests of Colorado? I seriously doubt it.
Mr. Moose agrees. More photos below! Continue reading “Autumn Glory”
Stormy Sunset over Potosi Peak
Stormy sunset over Potosi Peak and Yankee Boy Basin – Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.
This afternoon I spontaneously decided to attempt an evening hike of Mt. Sneffels. I suppose I was overly optimistic about the weather forecast because when I arrived in Yankee Boy Basin the ominous dark clouds had me scared to get out of my truck, much less hike a peak! So I sat in my truck for a few hours, enjoying the sound of the rain and the flash bangs of lightning and thunder.
Right before sunset the storm relaxed and some sunlight beamed through the clouds, illuminating the landscape with an eerie warm glow. It would have been a stunning scene to see from the summit, though probably not worth dodging lightning bolts for!
