A glimpse of sun deep in the tall trees near North American.

Gateway to the domain of the elves below Northstar, filled with fresh snow beneath sparkling air. Really.

Your line through trees. Snow fresh but variable. Sweet in pockets. Worth it.

Aspen. Sunshine. Snow in forecast. Empty slopes. No lift lines. As per usual.

"This should be a good little storm"

That's the word from Spencer Logan at the Colorado Avalanche Information this morning on the storm expected to come in late Tuesday and early Wednesday. National Weather Service calling for one to three inches tonight and two to four inches on Wednesday. Doesn't look like much snow fell overnight, instead, most of it fell yesterday. Still, consistent recent snowfall should make for some quality conditions. Six more days at Aspen Highlands as the mountain closes Sunday, April 5, along with Buttermilk. Snowmass and Aspen Mountain close a week later. Some rumors floating around about possible late-season weekends but nothing firm yet. Last year's late weekends at Highlands were very popular ...

Cold and wintry day

Two to four inches are in the forecast for Aspen on Monday night, with a low of nine (!) degrees. There is another one to two inches in the forecast for Tuesday night, and another one to three inches forecast for Wednesday. That looks like nine inches by Thursday. Might be time to put those flip-flops aside for the week. Steamboat got hammered Sunday night, picking up 17 inches. Shoosh! Monarch got nine inches and Snowmass eight as mentioned earlier. Still winter in Colorado!

Cream on dusty ice

Three to five inches on Aspen Mountain, all right. A thick layer of cream fell hard before midnight, brought in by a steady wind. There were still some firm brownish bumbs in between wind-driven piles of snow. Spar first thing with three to four inches over a flat surface on the left-hand side was pleasant. Walsh's rope-drop at about 10 a.m. lead to some soft, some hard snow. But it is snowing steadily on top and it was a nice morning of skiing, no question. Just in case you wanted to know...

Still winter

Three to eight inches fell overnight and the streets of Aspen are covered in snow once again. Snowmass picked up the most with eight inches. Looks like another decent day of winter sliding.

Storm trooper pulls it together at the top of the Bowl during last week's snow cycle.

Overflow parking at the Aspen Environment Forum on Friday.

Windy on top and skiing well, sticky down low. Gondy/Bell stay down for the day.

High winds shut done gondy and Bell and force use of Nell to 1A. Storm comimg...

Sunny afternoon on Lift Six. Fairly righteous afternoon.

Gondy shadows.

View of the world on a string from a bucket full of sunshine.

Bottom of Conage with field reporter mopping up in the trees.

You know, it is just such a pleasure to go out skiing on a sunny morning with good friends. There is something about heading off and exploring together to see what is open, what is untracked, what might be better than something else. It is that whole strategy game and sometimes the combining of several decades of insight and experience really pays off. It is not rocket science, but more like a game of hide and seek. And it is just plain-ass fun to do. Anyway, it looks we're on the far side of the late March bonus snowstorm that has brought big smiles all around. Saturday looks like it will be mostly sunny with a high of 40 degrees.

Bluebird bowling...

Trainor Ridge first thing Friday morning was nice.

The day after Disaster Thursday...you shoulf have been here yesterday...

Blizzard rages over river near the Aspen Meadows.

Bizzard of '09

Colo. Gov. Bill Ritter declared an emergency situation today and authorized the national guard to help drivers and others stranded or impacted by today's blizzard. The weather forecast is calling for 4 to 8 inches to fall late this afternoon and another 1 to 3 inches to fall tonight. First reports trickling back from the hill include the word "sick." Still snowing as of 4:20 p.m. in Aspen and conditions should be very high quality on the hill again tomorrow.

Here is text from the governor's declaration of emergency:

"Beginning early on the morning of March 26, 2009, a blizzard hit the State and it is predicted to cover much of Colorado before it dissipates. It is predicted that this blizzard will drop between one and two feet of snow in communities along the Front Range and in excess of three feet of snow in the foothills, mountains, and southwest part of the State. Moreover, current high winds and rain turning to snow and ice have impacted traffic safety, including causing the closure of U.S. Highway 36 between Westminster and Boulder. The blizzard has already stranded motorists who are now in need of rescue, and it is expected that this need for emergency assistance will only grow as the full force of the blizzard moves across the State."

Big stormy powder day with several fresh inches in town.

Three to seven inches in the forecast today and tonight, which means not only will today bring high-quality skiing and riding, so will Friday morning. So nice to see winter return with a purpose. Vail Pass was expected to closed in both directions for avalanche work according to Colo. State Patrol at 10 a.m. for at least an hour. Good sign if you are a skier ... on this side of the pass.

View from the gondy after EPA head says energy, enviroment and security gonna be OK.

Yes, the EPA is back on the job, was the message tonight given at the Sundeck. Oh, and it's dumping, which explains those wicked white streaks of snow in the photo.

"Green" gondola riders, both from an eco standpoint and their first time up the bucket...

Aspen eco forum kicks off with Gov. Ritter in the bucket...

And heading back up Deep Temerity through winter, take two. All is well...

Cruising through the runout zone out of the Bowl, with jelly legs in tow.

These weak photos don't do the snow justice. If you squint, you can see freshies.

It was profoundingly good in the bowl and "lucky" is one word to describe how it feels to get an untracked line the whole way down, especially the kind that unfolds through the trees as if it was cut just for you. There really was no firmness underneath until the lower section when a touch of the old nasty layer could be felt. Very satisfying all in all.

Untracked at the top of the G Zones lead to fresh turns through the trees.

Waiting for the bowl...

More powder awaits at Highlands which got another 7 or so ... On the bus ...

Seems like we're back in a good cycle with snow sticking to the forecast through the week. Good for riding, good for spring run off.

Another great Swanson photo of today's epic Bowl session.

SkiCo offers up evidence of today's powder day. Photo by Jeremy Swanson.

Heard from a reliable source that the Bowl was deep as advertised. Right on and thanks to all mountain workers who made it possible.

Powder day at Copper, which, got a big piece of last night's powder pie. Photo from Copper...

Heard Highlands was also nice today with four to eight inches in places. Waiting for details from the Bowl. Copper is also offering low price lodging the week after the lifts close here, wbich is on April 12. Just in case you can't get enough sliding.

13 inches in the Bowl

Highlands was second in the statewide snow derby last night with 13 inches in the Northwoods in the last 24 hours. Silverton reported 14 inches, Copper and Powderhorn both had 11 inches. Snowmass checked in with 7 inches and Aspen Mountain tallied 4 inches. Forecast is calling for another inch throughout the day and more snow again tomorrow. Fair enough. Snow is back on the menu. The new layer of snow should cover the dust that fell Sunday night, which is now thought to have come from either Utah or Arizona.

Blizzard blows into Aspen with wind and snow. Hurrah!

Okay, it didn't last all that long. But still, kind of nice to see it really come down for a change. And the weather guys are still calling for up to three inches tonight. We could certainly use a fresh coat of white paint to cover the red desert dust.

Magpies screeching at the otherwise quiet Aspen Institute as clouds hover over Ajax.

Was lurking around the campus in anticipation of this week's environmental forum at the Institute. Nice to see the sage covered in snow...

Here's a good example of the raining mud drill: the muddy music tent.

Clouds sweep in over Aspen and another several inches in forecast today.

Three to five inches of snow in the forecast for Monday and another one to three inches Monday night. Snow in the forecast throughout the week along with cold temps. Could be winter's last hurrah. Or just March being March. The skiing today was okay, all in all. Yes, it had "rained mud" last night, according to one local who was walking home late. And the hill was covered with red dirt today. But the fresh snow on top of the mud was fairly creamy. Where the snow could be found over groomed, it was nice. Then again, the snow over the ice/dirt bumps was, um, exotic, to put it mildly. But it was the first snowfall in some time so we'll take that.

When you make turns through the fresh, the tracks behind you are colored with red dust.

Early tracks on Little Nell this morning.

The dirt/dust was swept in and then glued down with rain and snow.

Here's a detail shot of the mud caked on the railing overlooking the gondy plaza. Tough day for a neat freak. Brings to light the source of the frequent local reference to "high desert skiing."

Every run is Red's Run today. "Red Run, Red Run," says one pro ala The Shining.

High winds coated Aspen Mtn in red dust from Utah, then it snowed.

It happens sometime but the whole mountain - whole town - was covered in red sand. Then we picked up five inches on top. Research has shown, as you might imagine, that true dust on crust speeds the melting of the pack. And it remains a fogged-in blur on top at this hour.

The wind in my heart

Okay, pretty much right on schedule, the clouds have moved in and the skies have grayed. Up to 11 inches is in the optimistic end of the forecast by Tuesday morning. It seems far fetched, still, but the sat map does show a cluster of clouds sweeping into Western Colorado. Today's high in Aspen was forecast at 61. Tomorrow's forecast is forecast at 36. Winter returns for what appears to be a week. Bring on the powder!

Prayer»flags bending in the wind at the top of Tiehack.

When the wind blows in the spring does it portend fair or stormy weather? One thing is sure, the Tiehack lift gives one plenty of time to think about it. And plenty of time to enjoy the warm sunshine as Aspen's early spring continues. On the groomers there is plenty of cream of wheat for all. Very "just right" today. It is a little hard to believe, as it feels like summer outside, but the weather forecast is calling for one to three inches (of snow) tonight and another one to three on Monday. Seriously? Do the clouds not see the next door neighbor's kids who are actually out playing in the sprinkler?

Nice sunny Sun-day on the edge of Buttermilk, with a view of ancient Pyramid.

But really, the bliss factor was relatively high today.

The day was just nice, although the glue factor was rising steadily on the lower slopes..

End of day slush factor high, style factor low.

Ah yes, the $20.43 cheeseburger, fries and coke at Cafe Suzanne.

A few clouds and wind at the top of Ell Camp hint of colder weather due Monday.

Aspen trees on Two Creeks...

Don't let the puddles atTwo Creeks fool you, the skiing is still good...

Nother big hot day on Ajax...here in mid-April...and the thin spots are growing.

Last few weeks for the BM pipe under the strong spring sun.

When the grass is green and the red sleds come out it ... the snow is sparse

Glorious new day in Aspen. See if you can spot a skier on the hill.

Another warm, pleasant and quiet day in Aspen with a few puffy clouds drifting by. A high of 56 expected today and a high of 59 degrees forecast for Aspen on Friday. Friday and Saturday in Moab are expected to bring temps there around 77 degrees.