Plenty of snow birds out today in the sunny chilliness. Snowpack dry and grippy and thirsty for more fresh snow.

Perhaps Aspen's busiest day of the season unfolded today under mostly clear skies and warmer temperatures. Lots of chat on the lift about how cold Christmas Day was, with one local saying she can't remember it being ever so cold here. Could be. Twas brutal. Today was still cold and you could feel the day's chill long after coming off the mountain. But it was downright tropical by comparison to Xmas Day. The snow now has a dry chalky feel to it, which means you can get an edge in alright, but it is also best to watch for hard chips lurking in the snowpack. The cold sucked the base depths down and the snowpack is once again hungry for more cushioning. Maybe later in the week it will fall once again from the sky...but still, the skiing is fine and worth getting up for.