Sun-drenched day in a town getting younger and hipper by the hour...the X factor is increasingly in effect.

East facing terrain in the morning sun: more on tap

It was a nice empty slope in the morning sun. Ah, that's simple. And
refreshing. Friday and Saturday shaping up to be sunny with temps in the
high 30s. Two fine days for sliding, or flying, around...

X Games fogged in this morning, sunny in rest of town

Not what you're looking for as a television producer...

Your daily aspen tree-shot line on the east side...

...meanwhile, the X Games has been fogged-in...time for Fog-Style..

Lovely low clouds draped in to the valley below Shadow Mtn.

A spritzing perhaps of fresh snow on the hillside, but the sunlight is gorgeous. Good to be out and up.

Light snow falling now in Aspen...adding to this morning's light layer of fresh snow.

The new snow could be the start of a new storm cycle (hurray!). Weather
Service is calling for 1 to 2 inches this afternoon, 2 to 4 tonight and
another 1 to 2 on Thursday, during the opening day of the X Games.

Monday morning free way, with a fresh inch under blue sky.

Mostly empty tram cars on the line so far, as the energy shifts either to B'Milk for the X fest or to the upper reaches of the bowl. It is a day for renewing the spirit, to be sure. And the state of the Aspen nation is strong.

Blustery, busy day in Whale. About four very fresh inches so far this pm, with wind..

Snowmass picks up ten wonderful inches...deep pockets on Ajax

Snowmass won the snow derby last night with ten inches and Aspen officially
picked up three inches. However, one of our loyal scouts reports that the
Face was heavily wind-loaded last night, as the wind was pumping out of the
south most of the night, and there were definitely deep pockets to be had.
Could be the deepest day of the season and for sure it was the deepest day
of 2010. Thanks be to Ullr. And there is lots of promising numbers in the
forecast, with another 1 to 3 possible this afternoon, another 1 to 3
tonight and another 1 to 2 of snow in the forecast for Saturday, which
should bring some locals out who've been home sheltering the skis they got
for Christmas. The photo above is by SkiCo's Jeremy Swanson of this morning
in Snowmass. Righteous!

Windy under gray skies, still waiting for snow in Aspen

Buttermilk reported a fresh inch in the last 24 hours, but that's it. So
far, the big storm has not brought salvation or a powder day. But the
forecast remains promising. The weather service thinks we might get one to
three inches tonight, one to three on Friday and another one to three on
Friday night. But the forecast has been howling wolf all week, so we remain
breezily skeptical.

Hope it snows some more, joyful it is snowing at all.

Yes, for second day in a row, actual snowflakes have fallen. Just a dusting at dusk in town, but it did technically snow. Got cold too. Feels like something is coming in with bite and punch.

As we were waiting for snow, we came across this spectacular Aspen ManFur

This is Don Knobler of Dallas. As you might of guessed, he was gregarious
and happy to chat for a spell. His wife is a cardiologist and they've been
coming to Snowmass every January for 22 years for a medical conference. They
stay at the SilverTree in January and then come out again later in the
season and stay at the Mountain Chalet in Aspen. "We love it here," said
Knobler. He definitely won "best-dressed on the Mall" yesterday.

Aspen gets a trace of snow so far out of the storm...

It was actually snowing in Aspen this morning and early afternoon. But all
that was left on top of Aspen Mountain was a trace, although Snowmass picked
up three inches and Highlands got an inch. At the closing bell, the sun was
out and it was a pretty nice day with the local world given a very light
fresh coat of paint, including at the top of Buckhorn. But it was not what
we were hoping for, especially knowing that Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe
awoke to 15 to 21 inches this morning. But we haven't despaired, as snow is
in the forecast throughout the week.

Flakes falling, but long way to go before old roads on Bell fade away...

As you can tell by the dark photo, it was mostly gray on Monday afternoon on Bell Mountain. That's good, at least in terms of weather, if not for phone-photography. Some misty clouds were out on the surrounding peaks. Forecast still calling for one-to-two inches of snow tonight for Aspen. Lots of rain in California, though, which can lead to snow here. Just skied Copper and Spar and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's quite firm, but still a relatively enjoyable experience, with rock-free runs possible, even probable.

Very light snow just starting to fall...will this storm cycle be enough to open the Queen?

One to two inches possible Tuesday...

...which would be nice. The Spring Valley cross-country tracks were pleasant this afternoon in the warm January sunshine. A few other skiers out there today agreed it made sense to cross-country ski as we await fresh snow on the lift-served mountains. The forecast looks slightly promising this week with Tuesday's two-inch possibility the brightest note on the horizon. Congrats to Aspen's Jeremy Abbot for punching his ticket today to Vancouver. His mom used to announce snow conditions and events for Aspen Skiing Co. on the KSNO and KSPN radio morning shows in the 1980s. Her name at the time was "Happy" Abbot. Through her radio work she met KSNO News Director Allen Scott, and she eventually became Alison Scott. They both moved to Colorado Springs so Jeremy could train and work on his Olympic dreams, which are now coming true.

Snowmass under a settled sky on a nice Friday morning

Yes, we're still obsessing over the weather forecast, which on Friday night included this glorious phrase: "By the end of the (next) work week significant amounts of snow will be expected over the mountains...especially the southwest slopes of the San Juans." Good God, man, that's beautiful. The NWS also noted today that Grand Junction just experienced a 22-day string of below 32-degree days from Christmas Even through Thursday. That tied for the fourth-longest cold stretch in Grand Junction weather history, which might say something about how unusually cold, and dry, it has been. But there is much talk of "unsettled" patterns now, which continues to cheer us. Local upper-mountain base depths have shrunk a bit. Buttermilk is at 24, Aspen Mtn at 25, Snowmass at 43 and Highlands at 52 inches.

Sunny, mild, dry and nice, don't you know.

"I can't complain but sometimes I still do." You know that line? Well, it's
really quite delightful out. Again.

Expect this trend to continue

And so now we turn to the “area forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service, desperate and thirsty for news of precipitation. Ah, we seize on the news that “a chance of light snow will persist over the eastern mountains as the deformation zone passes,” but no, alas, it is countered by the fact that “skies have already begun to clear from the west…and (we, they) expect this trend to continue.” So we're in for two more days, at least, of mild and dry conditions from the latest ridge of high pressure wafting eastward above us. It is true that a weak “upper level disturbance” will bring a brief period of high clouds to our sacred lands but “otherwise mostly clear skies (are) expected.”

We're crushed, basically, but we quickly take solace in seeing that a “series of pacific waves” will soon be moving across the forecast area. But then we find that “clouds are expected with no precipitation.” Oh, harsh. That’s like friends showing up to a BYOB bar-b-que with no “B.” But, wait. Hope springs again in the forecast: “Precip should be fairly light at first but will increase Monday night through Tuesday…” That’s very hopeful. Precip will increase!!! But it is too early to tell, really, reflects the doubtful author of the weather forecast.

And then, one last kernel of hope is dropped in front of us: “It appears that one of these shortwaves will be strong enough to scour out valley inversions but at this point its hard to tell which will be strong enough,” says the weather wizard at the National Weather Service.

Mild and dry again for a bit, then, with a slight chance of snow next week. Sigh.

Heard tell today from a certain loyalist that the skier’s left of Jackpot was still worth a second lap but much of the mountain is very fast. And there is word that Highlands is still holding up well. So, it is a time for inner calm and patience. It...will...snow.

Dry, clear, and warm on the nordic trail.

There are spots on the route where the snowpack feels and looks thin. But it sure is nice out. Dry. Clear. Warm.

The statue of Max Marolt looks better in snow than in the dry January air...

...but I doubt Max would have been complaining about sunshine, or the relative lack of snow this season. No, he probably just would have gone skiing and made the best of it. One of the last times I saw Max he was making steady, stylish turns down the center of Highland Bowl, making the best of a average day, a big smile on his face. So, yes, it is always better to go than not to go, even if it is not an epic pow day brah. And besides, who doesn't like sunshine? That being said, let's take a gander at the relatively thin snowpack statistics we're working with here. The top of mountain depths and percent of advanced/expert terrain open are now as follows, according to SkiCo's online report: Aspen (26 inches/88 percent), AH (54 inches/97 percent), BM (24 inches/0 percent) SM (44 inches/69 percent). Note that the measuring station for Highlands is in the North Woods in Highland Bowl, which is why it tends to be a bigger number than Aspen Mountain or Snowmass. Some bright spots: according to SkiCo's report, every run in Highland Bowl was open Monday. That's not always the case. And the Hanging Valley Wall is open in Snowmass. Again, not always the case. Also the Snowmass half-pipe, all 22-feet-high of it, is now open, as crews are giving the Buttermilk a good going over in anticipation of X Games. Here's another way to take our measure. The Colorado Ski Country USA report, which no longer includes the Vail Resorts areas, reports snowpack by mid-mountain depths. If we put our biggest mid-mountain base depth into the ring - the 33 inches at Highlands - how do we compare? Well, Copper has a 37-inch base mid-mountain, Crested Butte is at 37, Steamboat is at 36 and Telluride is at 37. Hmmm..

Waiting for mo sno, later this week, maybe

Sunshine and more sunshine, at least through Tuesday, is the call, as our
knees grow calloused from all of our praying for snow. But the snow gods
seem preoccupied, worried about things other than the 26-inch base on Aspen
Mountain and the grass poking through on Slalom Hill. Heard that dedicated
snow searchers did fine in the Northwoods on Sunday and that there are still
good pockets of skiing for those in the know. But there are also tales of
gravely transition areas as the cold air and sunshine do their eternal work
on the snowpack. Wednesday could bring a 40 percent chance of snow and
Wednesday night and Thursday a 50 percent chance of snow. So, say on your
knees and prostrate yourself to the god of flakes...

Warm, dry and mostly clear on the Aspen golf course track.

The tang of jet fuel is in the air...as we seek alternatives to going downhill.

Clear cold blue-sky in Western Colorado...

...Where relics of the past can still be found on the way to the slopes.

One of the bigger powder days of the year...with three inches.

It was just a coat of light and fluffy baby powder, but it allowed for some
quality turns in a few places. And we needed it. And so we enjoyed it. At
least the still-interested few did. Cold temps are now expected to sweep in
from the north putting Aspen into a not unusual January dry freeze.

Powder kitty ready to prowl the ridge over a fresh 3 inches.

Just over ten degrees on top with amazing clouds swirling around. Very quiet and serene...

Shifting from warm and gray to cold and snowy? Please make it so...

It was snowing lightly at mid-day on top of Aspen Mountain. Flakes fell casually from the broken clouds and occasionally it was snowing as the sun was shining, which is nice. The very thin fresh layer of snow brightened hopes a bit, but did not change the skiing surface much. But it was warm and pleasant and quiet on the hill, although the Sundeck was full at lunchtime. While there were definitely friends out skiing together, there was nary a lift line. Still, we could use a refresher course and a dose of snow. One good indicator of the depth of the current snowpack is Silver Queen, which remains shuttered awaiting maybe six inches or more? Dunno. But while it looks fluffy at the top behind the closed signs, the patroller's side-packing steps on the lower steep pitch reveals there is still more padding required.

But it appears that the relatively mild January weather we've been into so far this week is about to slip away and we might be once again treated to an ankle-deep powder day like last week. The weather service says snow is likely Wednesday night, with a low in Aspen of minus five degrees, which is a big swing given it was 27 degrees at 5 p.m. The chance of precip is 60 percent and we might get one or two inches downtown tonight. We'll take it. Please, and thank you very much.

The Limelight Lodge, much in the news today, may soon become a SkiCo property. Well, it is aligned nicely with 1A, just to the left of Wagner Park and kitty-corner from the Crystal Palace building.

Secret in Aspen today is that it's hot, sunny and much quieter.

The lunchtime lift line, such as it was, was a small indicator that most of the Christmas crowds have left town after the holidays. It was fine to have people in town enjoying themselves, but it certainly is nice to enjoy a quiet mountain, especially today when the forecast high temp is 29 degrees under sunny skies, which given the cold temps the last two weeks, counts as "hot." Aspen Mountain is now sporting a 26-inch base up top and has 84 percent of its advanced and expert terrain open. There are 644 acres open. Highlands has a 54-inch mid-mountain base and a 34-inch base on top, with 96 percent of its advanced and expert terrain open, including 1,001 acres open. As Big Bald Bobby put it yesterday on his SkiCo blog, "The mountain is in relatively good shape considering how busy we've been the last two weeks. It's hammered in a few spots but overall not too bad."

Beautiful Sunday out with a fresh three inches gracefully dropped just before dawn.

Nearing mid-day, the sun was out and the snow was sparkling. "We should
probably go skiing" is no doubt being said around more than one condo
table of Sunday newspaper readers and football watchers. The forecast for
the coming week seems to include a mix of sun and clouds and a healthy
chance for more snow. Yesterday on the hill, it did soften up quite a bit,
but the base is still relatively thin. One person called it
"grass-skiing," and while there were weeds sticking up here and there, and
some rocks lurking behind the steep side of some bumps, the conditions are
decidely moving in the direction of "real skiing." There are still a few
very steep runs, i.e., gated terrain, that have yet to open on Ajax. But
every three-inch snow flurry moves us closer to being able to speed about
everywhere with impunity. In the meantime, "should go" remains the
operative phrase. It's a fine day for flying, too, as no doubt many are.
On Friday on the lower slopes of Highlands, one could smell and taste the
jet exhaust swirling up from the runway. That will likely be the case
again today as the holiday heavy metal makes it way back to LA, Miami,
Chicago, New York and other dense points.

Now cold, windy, snowy, foggy...hooray

Just a trace so far in town with a mix of sun and clouds. Still quiet and calm out

A solo bucket at 9:45 is a strong sign that town may be emptying out after the holidays. It was flurrying hard this morning DV and Ajax is still ringed with clouds so maybe more snow will come today....

Here's wishing you blue skies, sunshine, fresh snow and an aspen grove in 2010

The first year of the new decade has dawned with partly-cloudy skies. It's a
perfectly fine day for carpet cruising and maybe a little fluff clean up in
the hidden stashes. The ski town has nearly made it through its critical
Christmas/New Year's holiday period with just enough snow to make the
carnival rides worthwhile. We've been lucky. And there is one to three
inches of snow in the forecast for Saturday. So our luck appears to be
holding.