Connie in Ouray

 We're up to a whopping 29 inches for the season.  The lack of snow and warm temperatures are causing so many problems for Ouray and surrounding communities.  The skioring competition this weekend seems set to go, and they were building the track when I came through this afternoon.  However, with such warm days, I'm sure it's going to be difficult to maintain.  The ice that had formed at the Ice Park all melted, and they're trying to rebuild it in time for the Ice Festival January 22-25, but there isn't a lot of relief in sight.  Sorry to be all woe is me, but it's getting dire. Mike and I took care of those two trees on the trail.  One took two cuts and the other we were able to lift off. Ironton Park got six inches of snow Friday, so Mike and I went up yesterday.  He cross-country skies, and I take Dempsey snowshoeing in a different direction.  I'm always on the lookout for moose, and I see their prints everywhere.  I rarely see anyone...

 I hope Christmas or Hanukkah or any of the other December holidays landed gently for everyone.  I know it can be a difficult time of year. I'm still coughing, but I managed to make it to the True Grit mine this morning.  There is very little snow, and what remains is crunchy and hard.  There is one tree blown over the trail, which Mike and I will take care of soon, and I saw this interesting paw print in the snow.  Knowing that there is at least one mountain lion roaming the area, I automatically jumped to that, but it could be a dog print.  We'll go up later today to try and identify.   woe is me! Tuesday night was windy, and we all woke up - Greg is visiting - around midnight to what we thought was a roof avalanche.  Instead, we had part of a tree fall about 15 feet from our bedroom.  It was the top part of a live evergreen tree that had branched out at the top into two big parts.   the scar in the middle of this picture We ...

 And none in the short-term forecast.  And I've had a cold.  Grrrr!

 No new snow, and, yes, I'm whining.  The trail still has snow, but Mike did it yesterday with the Ouray Trail Group, no snowshoes, just boots.  In the meantime, some pictures. Ouray Trail Group work never ends.  We cleared the bridge near Baby Bathtubs. Christmas parade, and below

 Marchelle and Aaron have been hard at work clearing Mineral Farms Lane.  Since November 17th, we've gotten 25 inches of snow, 12 all in one night on December 1st.  Mike and I went to Ironton yesterday to clear two aspens that had fallen across a cross-country/snowshoe trail, and we plowed through a lot.  It was breathtaking! So lucky to be here!

 ...snowshoeing in 12-plus inches of snow on untouched snow is hard!  The serenity and quiet is not to be missed. Challenge accepted Snowshoes are in there somewhere