Weekend Snowmass powder shot from SkiCo's J. Swanson.

It's out there somewhere... Someone just asked how the skiing was. "Getting better," seemed like a good response. Followed by "Thank goodness it is snowing." If forced to adhere to our typically high standards, we'd have to confess it was a tad scrapey under the flat light this morning and easy to find pebbles on the carpet. But 1 to 2 today, 2 to 4 tonight and 3 to 5 on Tuesday is what the mid-day forecast was calling for. So we're clearly heading in the right direction. Onward into the storm.

Light snow, falling steadily on top. Cold. Seibert's, BB1 slightly bumped from the weekend. Quiet. Pleasant.

Sunday, snowday

Cold and snow are still in the forecast for Sunday afternoon and Monday. Snowmass was very quiet on Saturday and a gray and windy day is unfolding today, albeit one with some fresh snow. Aspen picked up one inch last night and Snowmass got two inches. And it is heartening to see up to eight inches of snow in the forecast for today and tomorrow. Monday continues to be shaping up as potentially the best day of the season so far. You’re not working are you?

How about that Lindsey Vonn? Two downhills in two days? Come on. Safe to say she’s had a better time in Lake Louise than she did in Aspen. But maybe she needed Aspen to get mad, get frustrated and she how it feels when she doesn’t win. We’ll forgive her.

We’re sorry, too. We wish she hadn’t hit the rock in the GS. We wish the slalom course had been perfect. We think it’s amazing how well she's skied over the last two years and we wish her all the success in the world. And winning the first downhill in Lake Louise with blood streaming from her mouth was an awesome athletic moment. That’s the kind of grit and determination that was not on display in Aspen. But we knew it was there.

We now think the best thing that could happen to the strained relationship between Aspen and Lindsay Vonn is for Aspen to hold a women’s downhill. Enough with the GS and the slalom. Enough with the four or five gates on Summer Road between Spring Pitch and Strawpile. Let’s have a race down Aspen Mountain. And let’s give Lindsay a fair shot at winning it.

Frosty rolls in

The big freeze is on. Friday night’s forecast from the National Weather Service is/was calling for a low of minus seven degrees in Aspen, with wind chill values as low as minus 20. Whoa. That’s cold. Saturday is not expected to be much of a picnic, either.

The forecast is calling for a high near 30 degrees on Saturday, but is also saying that wind chill values could be as low as minus 25 (!) degrees, which seems weird, but believable after the last two days of severe nipperlyness. I could see it feeling like minus 25 degrees around 5 a.m. on Saturday if the wind was really up. And indeed, the winds are expected to be out of the south between 5 and 20 miles per hour on Saturday. So heck, bring the face mask and the full down body suit.

Then there is some snow in the forecast, with one to two inches in the forecast for Saturday night and another two to four inches on Sunday, with a high of 22 degrees. By the sound of the forecast, we could see more snow than that moving into next week, as the weather service is saying that “it appears all the necessary ingredients will be present for substantial and widespread snowfall.” Just love that kind of talk. And at least one local hill rat is thinking Monday morning is going to be good.

This week saw Copper Bowl open up on Aspen Mountain, providing two routes off the top. And the Sam’s Knob lift is expected to open Saturday in Snowmass, although the lift will primariy access Banzai Ridge and not the runs directly below the Knob toward Campground. Sam’s Smokehouse will also open.

The Aspen/Snowmass area was doing pretty well in the “Colorado Terrain Derby” on Friday. Between Aspen Mountain and the Snowmass Ski Area, it had 693 acres open, with 200 on Aspen Mountain and 493 at Snowmass. On Friday, A-Basin had 130 acres open, Beaver Creek had 368 and Breckenridge had 374 acres open. Crested Butte had 118 while Vail had 413 acres and Steamboat had 134 acres open. Hopefully the winter storm will grace all of the Colorado areas with snow and based on the forecast, that may well happen.

Through the electric snow, the morning sun catches a piece of Aspen.

Quite a place, this ski town. Just watched 30 conventioneers from the big hotel climb on the bucket for the first run of their trip. They have little idea about how narrow, steep and slippery the Upper Face of Nell is this morning due to snowmaking operations. It will make last night at the underground private club seem tame.

All hail the snowmakers, groomers, and patrollers for the quality track they put down during the record freeze. Nice work.

Skiing quite good, we think, but we can't be sure, as we're numb as icicles and can't feel anything. But the corduroy is well-tailored to be sure.

Cold. Bright. Empty. Firm. We're in.

Copper Bowl opens for season. Surprisingly good surface. A tad uneven and chunky in places, but otherwise good thick snow. And so it grows.

Frosty-mountain morning. Frigid mist near top. Copper Bowl looks open...

River ice in the Fork means it's bound to be cold on the hill.

Klaus, with his four-bell pin on his ski school jacket. From the gondola plaza display.

At just after 6:00 p.m., the December full moon — the Klaus moon? — is rising over Smuggler Mountain. It was a fine day in Aspen, as two inches of snow graced Ajax and three fell on Snowmass. It was, we can honestly say, the biggest powder day of the season so far. As in, the only day day so far when fresh snow fell during the day. As in, hey, it’s a start. The biggest change we saw today was in the weather, as the cold front came sweeping in hard. Tonight in Aspen, the forecast is for minus two degrees with wind chill values down to minus ten degrees, which could make this moon “the frozen moon.” It was clear out during the moonrise, but there is a 40 percent chance of snow Thursday, when the high is expected to be just 21 degrees. The skiing and riding should be considerably better tomorrow than it has been throughout the week, although the conditions have been quite good, for how much snow we have. The nozzle towers on Aspen Mountain have producing some very high-quality surfaces for our sliding pleasure and this two-to-three inches should add a touch of softness to the proceedings. We like that. Yes, it was a good day in Aspen, as Klaus Obermeyer turned 90, it snowed, and a bright full moon came over the hill. We’re good. And hey, Klaus, Happy 90th Birthday!

Sudden biting cold front has dropped a short inch on familiar terrain. Mid-winter attire now appropriate.

In the "Klaus" car by chance on his 90th! First snowy day of the season...

Light baby powder snow falling.

Machine-made freshies over surprisingly nice groomage, in the crisp sun...

There could be worse Tuesday mornings. And coming cold temps should help keep the nozzle flakes streaming. Fine track laid down. Hardly any pond ice...

Falling for sunshine

With the World Cup in the rear-view mirror, it is back to focusing on local ski conditions. Today is another bluebird day, with sunshine and a high of 46 expected. Tuesday should bring more of the same, although Tuesday night has a 20 percent chance of snow in it. Temps at night should be good for snowmaking. Aspen Mountain now has a 12-inch base on top with 185 acres open across 16 trails. A light foot on a well-used pair skis is probably a good idea. Snowmass has a 26-inch base up on the Burn, which remains open, giving Snowmass 410 acres of terrain across 20 trails. We’re looking for snow while enjoying the sunshine...

Zahrobska (CZE), Schild (AUS), and Zettel (AUS) take Aspen slalom podium.

European women dominated the podium in Aspen again this year, sweeping the podium in both the GS and the slalom races. Zettel was 2nd in Saturday's GS and Zahrobska won the slalom in Aspen last year.The course was tough for many skiers, but as is frequently the case, seemingly a non-issue for the winners who make it look smooth and easy. The rock that Vonn hit in the GS will now enter Aspen racing lore. The tough day she had Saturday seemed to also affect her run on Sunday. The Universal Sports video feed online was an excellent way to study the racers throwing themselves down what might be called "Icepile," not Strawpile. The course will stay closed for the Nor Am race series, which are one level below the World Cup level. The Nor Am races will be held through Wednesday, December 3.

No US racers in top 30, all done for day, according to FIS unofficial results after one slalom run in Aspen.

Vonn DNF, Duke 31, Mancuso 33, Schleper 34, Grant 35, Ford 38.

Vonn skis off course in first run, done for day

Vonn popped off the course about midway. Had a slight bobble above and then a few gates later ran out of the line. Tough weekend for the champ. Tightly-set course starting at the top of Strawpile proving challenging for many skiers.

Nice day for ski race

Sunny, highs in the upper 30s today. Much better racing conditions today than yesterday’s gray light. Not much, if any, snow in the forecast for the coming week. Maybe a few flakes Wednesday or Thursday. Without snowmaking, we would not be skiing this week. For the U.S. Ski Team in this morning's slalom run, Vonn is running 7th, Hailey Duke 27th, Sterling Grant 35th, Julia Mancuso 52nd, Sarah Schleper 53rd, Julia Ford 55th, and Kaylin Richardson 63rd. The start positions were chosen at random. An American woman has not won a slalom race in Aspen since 1981. Water-injected race course this morning is radically hard and icy. Universal Sports carrying the race live online and providing great images.

Hoelzl of Germany, Zettel of Austria, and Brignone of Italy take Aspen podium. Mancuso 13th, Schleper 23rd.

Vonn, who didn't make the top-30 cut into the second race, says it was because she hit a rock. Mancuso also said there were "a few rocks in the ice." Thanks to Universal Sports for its live online coverage of the race. Great video, audio and commentary. NBC TV will also air the GS on Sunday afternoon. There is a chance of rain and snow tonight and Sunday. No accumulations in current forecast, but looks a bit blustery. Today's race was held under mostly gray skies and flat light. Missed Friday's bluebird conditions...

Aspen World Cup: Mancuso (9th), McJames (20th) and Schleper (21st) get 2nd GS run. Vonn out (36th).

Mancuso looked confident and loose. Vonn had trouble in the tight series of turns on the road between Spring Pitch and Strawpile. The Associated Press is reporting that Vonn said she hit a rock on the course. McJames' prior best World Cup GS finish was 43rd. Hoelzl (Germany), Zettel (Austria) and Pietilae-Holmner (Sweden) in top three spots after first run. Here are the unofficial FIS results for the first run, which vary from those shown on Universal Sports webcast at end of first run. They also differ from a recently posted AP story and a story by Ski Racing magazine. Going with the results, for now, as posted by the FIS...

Women's world cup course on Friday is ready, waiting

Below is a quick shot of the women's World Cup on Aspen Mountain Friday afternoon as temperatures climbed to 48 degrees by 2:30 p.m. The forecast is for clear skies tonight. On race day, there is a 30 percent chance of rain and after 11 a.m. and it should be mostly cloudy with a high near 44. Not a bluebird, like today, but not a blizzard either. But...it is World Cup. There is now a 50 percent chance of snow on Saturday night, including one to three inches of snow, just for World Cup. There are 76 competitors listed for the women's giant slalom on Saturday at 10 a.m., including ten French women, nine Austrian women, eight Italian women and six American women. The skiing today on Aspen Mountain was certainly nice from the standpoint of the weather, which was hot and sunny. The thin reality of our current natural base was in evidence, however. It was a good opening day, but yes, we will need more snow to keep the quality heading in the right direction. The snowmaking and grooming crews have done a very good job of making much of the terrain quite skiable, but going slow, watching for obstacles, and praying for snow all seem like good ideas now.

There are certain sights one never tires of, including this view.

Conditions pretty solid for T-Day. No ice. Few thin spots. Upper Copper to the Couch fairly soft under hot sun.

Ìt's the simple things. This is my new favorite thing about Aspen Mtn.

Ahhh. Another lap. Quiet still. Just a few turkeys.

Warm, sunny, Thanks! Snow pack foundation highly visible on Last Buck.

Bell looks good. Thin, but good...in a very early season kind of way.

Small local crowd up today. School is out Thanksgiving break. AVSC kids, coaches and legends out.

Spar just opened. Pretty nice. Worth the $35. Top of Nell a little gnar. Sunny and nice out. What a cool hill...

Liftline comments positive on snow conditions. The skiing is good. Firm, but not hard or icy.

Early season tracks on Pumphouse bring familiar smiles.

Bluebird day for Ajax season debut. Ski Club day gondy line-dogs in front per usual. Order returns to local universe.

SM Village Express up and running in shakedown pre-season mode. Turns are being made...

Ute City, Walt's new bar and dining room, has first paying customers tonight. A new Syzygy opens Dec. 7.

Aspen World Cup schedule FYI

Aspen Winternational/Audi FIS Alpine World Cup

Saturday, November 28

9:30 am Venue Open

10 am – 4 pm Sponsor Village Open – Gondola Plaza

10 am RACE START: Women’s Giant Slalom Run 1 - Strawpile

11 am Taste of Winternational w/ comp food tastings – Finish Area

11:30 am Live Music & Prize Giveaways – Finish Area

1:00 pm RACE START: Women’s Giant Slalom Final – Strawpile

(awards ceremony immediately following)

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm U.S. Ski Team Autograph Signing - Gondola Plaza

6 pm – 9 pm Dine Around

6:30 pm – 6:45 pm Awards Ceremony – Concert Stage

7 pm – 8:30 pm Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series featuring
John Popper Project w/DJ Logic – Upper Gondola Plaza

8:30 pm Fireworks Extravaganza - Little Nell

Sunday, November 29

9:30 am Venue Open

10 am – 4 pm Sponsor Village Open – Gondola Plaza

10:00 am RACE START: Women’s Slalom Run 1 - Strawpile

11 am Taste of Winternational - Finish Area

11:30 am Live Music & Prize Giveaways – Finish Area

1:00 pm RACE START: Women’s Slalom Final – Strawpile
(awards ceremony immediately following)

6 pm – 9 pm Dine Around

We are a ski town again!

The fair city of Aspen, Colorado was graced with four inches of snow overnight and all the mountains look great this morning. The above courtesy photo by SkiCo's Jeremy Swanson shows the snow fell on Snowmass, too, and Fanny Hill is looking smooth as a baby's backside. The race course on Aspen Mountain looks ready for some serious GS turns by Vonn and Company. And Wednesday marks the start of the season on Ajax with the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club's $35 day benefit day. At noon today, the guns of Nell were still roaring, laying down the base we'll be working with for the season. Oh, man, is this cool or what? (Please excuse the unbridled enthusiasm, but it is like being a surfer stranded on a desert island that only gets surf for one season, and suddenly you look up from the beach and small clean sets are starting to roll across the reef, which has looked like a lake for months and months. Stoked!).

Snow makes people smile.

Even patrollers! (Kidding). SkiCo photo by Jeremy Swanson.

Evening in a ski town

There are snowcats working the World Cup course tonight. It's a beautiful sight to see. There are plumes of snow coming out of snowguns, lit up by lights, on the slope of Little Nell. Again, a beautiful sight. It's been a long time since the mountain last came alive with the sights and sounds of crews preparing the slopes for our skiing pleasure. When it happens, town feels more proper, more right, more apt. Aspen is, thank goodness, still a ski town. But until the work starts happening at night on the slopes, some key ingredient is missing. But now it is back. It is happening. So getting that ski pass in your pocket is a good feeling. What? You've been waiting? Come on now, step into the groove. And there is even a 30 percent chance of snow in the forecast for the weekend. So on we go. Into the good cold night.

Opening Day and AVSC Day details released

Aspen Skiing Co. VP of Mountain Ops Rich Burkley has confirmed that Aspen Mountain will open for top-to-bottom skiing on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for the Aspen Valley Ski Club benefit day. The top-to-bottom skiing will also be open on Ajax for Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 26. Hooray!

The upper mountain terrain that will open includes 1 & 2 Leaf, Copper, Bellissimo, Silver Dip, Lazy Boy, Dipsy Doodle, North American, Tourtelotte Park and Deer Park. That's about 150 acres of intermediate skiing, or 23 percent of Aspen Mountain's terrain. There will also be a ribbon of snow down Spar and onto Little Nell. Lifts open will include the Gondy, Ajax Express and the Couch. The Sundeck and Ajax Tavern will be open, along with Il Mulino at the base. Ski school open, too. The base depth is about 10 to 14 inches of packed snow. The photo above by Heather Rousseau shows conditions on Little Nell on Thursday afternoon.

For the AVSC Day, tickets will be $35 for adults and $15 for children 18 and under. The mountain will be open Wednesday at 9 a.m. and close at 3:30 p.m. for the special event. Ticket windows will open at 8:30 a.m. with volunteers on hand. Ski passes are not good on AVSC Day. Pay the money, support young local racers! Still waiting on SkiCo pricing for T-Day. Should be out tomorrow.

At Snowmass, Burkley said portions of the Big Burn will open on Thanksgiving Day, including Sneaky's and Mick's Gully. There is a 35-inch base at the top of SM, which is a pretty big number for this time of year. Terrain off the Burn will include Max Park and Lunchline and below that, Upper Scooper, Lower Hal's and Fanny Hill. That's about 300 acres at SM, which is 9 percent of the terrain. Lifts running will include Village Express, Elk Camp Gondy, Sky Cab (Skittles lift), Big Burn and the Meadows lifts. There will be a mini-terrain park set up in Dawdler Park. The Meadows beginner area will be open and all Treehouse and ski school programs will be open. Restaurants at Snowmass include Sneaky's Tavern in the base village, Sam's Smokehouse, Ullrhoff and Up 4 Pizza will be open.

Back on Aspen Mountain, Burkley reports the World Cup course is "very close to complete for snowmaking" and that the guns will soon be shifted to focus on building a base on Nell, Spar, Deer Park and the flats near Ajax Express. In his mountain report, Burkley said "I'd like to thank one of our official partners, Mother Nature, for coming through in a big way this past week. In the pantheon of openings, this one will will be on the good end of the spectrum."

Congrats to SkiCo and to all the hard-working mountain ops crews who are up there prepping the playground, including the folks at Highlands and Buttermilk, which open on Saturday, Dec. 12.

One week to T-Day

We’re are a week away today from opening day at Aspen/Snowmass. According to the National Weather Service, we are not likely to get much natural snow between now and then. But the snowmaking conditions look pretty good until T-Day with overnight lows outside the J-Bar in the mid-teens and highs during the day either in the mid-40s over the next few days or in the mid-30s through next week. At this point, it seems possible that we’ll get the top of Ajax with a download situation and possibly, depending on snowmaking on Fanny Hill, we’ll get the Big Burn at Snowmass. And it seems the World Cup course should be in fine shape. We’re looking for confirmation on those hunches from SkiCo today.

View up Little Nell from new outside bar at Il Mulino.

The inside restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and there were a fair number of people at lunch today, which may be proof positive that the recession has bottomed out and we're on the upswing. No, it is not news if a group of people are having lunch at a nice restaurant at the base of Aspen Mountain, but it does show that there is still a market for high-end lunches in a high-end town. That's something, no? By the way, Nell is not skiable yet, but it is getting there. And nice to see the guns blowing even at 2 p.m.

Productively churning the Buttermilk

It was a good day for snowmaking in Aspen, with the high temp reaching 27
degrees under clear skies. Guns were running on lower Buttermilk as well as
on Aspen Mountain. Churn, baby, churn.

Building a ski season

The week should be mostly snow-free, but there is powder on top of the peaks and temps will be good for snowmaking. Looks like we’ve got a ski season coming. Sun out today with a high of 41 in downtown Aspen. Overnight lows under mainly squeaky clear skies of 15, 20, 19, 18, 19 and 17 degrees are in today’s forecast for the week. Clear and cold are near ideal conditions for making snow. SkiCo reported Saturday it got 16 inches at the top of Snowmass. The SkiCo’s live cams this morning reveal snowfilled scenes on the slopes. That really was a nice little three-day storm. All bow to the planet's natural forces for blessing our fair ski resort... Yes, it's all that good living we've been doing. Bowl Patrollers are out and about, one would surmise, tacking down the white carpet to the side of the hellacious bowl. One can hear the stomping from town...

Freezing Fanny Hill

Yes, Fanny Hill looked a little bit different Saturday morning than it did Thursday morning. Hot damn, it is cold, snowing and freezing out there, with 16 new inches having piled up at the top of Snowmass by mid-day Saturday. Four to eight inches is in the forecast for Saturday night. Very nice, weather gods, very nice. Looks like we'll be in the clear, or at least, a whole lot closer, to the World Cup course on Ajax being nice and firm for the fastest women in the world. Lindsey Vonn took second in Levi, Finland today so the reigning queen of the sport appears to be in fine form and will soon be racing in Aspen. Opening Day is now 12 days out...and it appears to be suddenly on schedule. SkiCo courtesy photo from Jeremy Swanson.

Winter storm warning. Second wave hitting tonight. Tis wintry

From Pitkin County Saturday mid-morning:

AFTER A LULL IN THE PRECIPITATION THIS MORNING..THE SECOND OF TWO STORMS WILL AFFECT THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY.

THIS STORM WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS.AND RAIN & SNOW TO THE VALLEYS.THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVER THE AREA TONIGHT & SUN MORNING.AND SHOULD BE EAST OF THE REGION BY LATE SUN NIGHT. HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON THE MTNS SO. OF INTERSTATE 70. INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ASPEN VAIL & SNOWMASS.

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY.

THE SECOND IN A PAIR OF WINTER STORMS WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW TODAY. AFTER A BIT OF A LULL THIS MORNING.SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH SNOW.HEAVY AT TIMES.CONTINUING TONIGHT. SNOW WILL THEN TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST ON SUNDAY. EXPECT ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM THIS SECOND STORM TO RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES TODAY THROUGH SUN WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS & BLOWING SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

Sweet!

Over a foot in the forecast...

Oh, happy day, the forecast looks bad. Yes, "snow" is in the forecast for Aspen Thursday night with a “new snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.” Well, bring on the "snow accumulation." That is such a magic phrase to read, it makes the pulse beat faster. “Snow likely” in Aspen again on Friday with “new snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.” Wow. It can’t be true, can it? Friday night? Another 1 to 2 inches possible. That looks like 7 to 14 inches in the forecast in about two days. Well, if it is true, we’re saved! And having a World Cup race. If there is ten inches of snow in downtown Aspen Saturday morning, that deserves a street dance. Snow is also “likely” on Saturday as well. Time go to sit down and relax. Or do some apres-ski conditioning. Or spin around in tight circles trying to remember where those boards are. And you doubted the weather gods?

Veterans Day Memorial in Aspen: "What a cruel thing is war..."

"The excitement begins Thursday..."

Snow is back in the forecast. The National Weather Service notes that “the excitement begins Thursday night as both (weather, not fashion) models project a cold front moving through NW CO and NE UT in the evening…then continuing through most of Western CO by Friday morning.” Cool. Then it notes that the front includes “increased clouds…precip…winds…and snowfall.” Man, is that good to hear. The semi-serious rain and snow is likely to happen on Friday afternoon. Friday night will bring a low of 25 while on Saturday night, temps should drop to 18 degrees and on Sunday, they should fall to 16 degrees in Aspen. That’s cold enough to make some serious snow. It’s good to see all that in the forecast because both today and tomorrow in Aspen, the high temp is supposed to be a balmy 57 degrees, warm enough for ice tea.

World Cup finish line Monday, Nov 9

Snowmaking crews have gotten some production going at the bottom of the
World Cup course on Aspen Mountain. Pray for cold weather and snow.

We're above normal

“Daytime temps to remain above normal today,” says NWS. But “a fairly enrergetic frontal precip band” may move across Aspen/Snowmass on Friday. We’ll check in later today to see how the snowmakers have been faring up on the hill, but they likely haven’t had the type of cold temperatures that they would like to see. Today is Nov. 11, 17 days from Thanksgiving Day and 19 days from the women’s U.S. World Cup GS on the lower slopes of Aspen Mountain. That’s a tight deadline given the weather and warm temps so far this month and the relatively mild forecast. But there are words like “cold front” in the weather write-up, so that is encouraging. Still pleasant and mild in the valley today, however. Which is nice, but…

Blue and breezy

There is a little moisture in the Aspen forecast starting Wednesday night and some mention of a cold front. Until then, optimism, hope and some breezy conditions are all we’re gonna see. Meanwhile, Keystone, Copper, A-Basin, Loveland and Wolf Creek all are producing skiing today. Bless them. Here, it’s another nice day for a bike ride. SkiCo’s Classic Pass sale this weekend at Buttermilk. It’s $249 for five days of skiing this winter. That will likely seem like a bargain on a February powder day.

Still waiting. Snowgun on Fanny Hill poised for action.

Nice day on Fanny Hill at Snowmass. Maybe too nice?

Prelude to opening day drama

Ski season in Aspen and Snowmass is slated to start in 21 days. We’ll see. It is going to be another nice day in town today, with highs around 50. Low temps through Saturday are right at the freezing point, and begin to drop a bit after that. Friday is expected to bring clouds, says the National Weather Service, but not snow. Additionally, temps are expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal through Wednesday. So dry and mild are the current watchwords and it looks like we might be in for a little snow-coverage drama leading up to opening day, which is more typical than not. Certainly the World Cup races on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28 and 29 will add some real tension, as all Olympic ski racing fans around the world will be interested in the race. The PR value of a Thanksgiving weekend ski race is larger than normal this year, which means so is the potential downside for a cancelled race. Yet it is still very early in the drama. Three weeks out is a world away. But it looks like the first week is going to not going to produce much snow, either manmade or natural, and so the dramatic tension rises under sunny skies. If all goes well, the snow will come and the race will happen. And the event will align with the current national buzz that Colorado has snow. Keystone opened today with 4 runs and three lifts, joining A-Basin, Wolf Creek and Loveland on the list of those areas with spinning bullwheels. Tis a beautiful day to go skiing in Colorado…

Aerial view of Copper Mtn shows plenty of snow the trails.

With the off-season surf trip behind us, the snow is a welcome site, even on a day that is sunny and warm.

There's this place...

It's off-season. It's a good time to go. And so, we have. To the ocean to the west. Until Election Day, when we hope to fight our way back into town through waist-deep snow piled up against the door. Pardon the interruption in our humble service of providing a glimpse into the daily local conditions here. And please look for further glimpses through the coming ski season. We expect great things.

Capital and Daly standing bright and tall

It's almost a cliché view. But it can still stop you in your tracks on any
given morning. Like a magnet, the peaks beckon one to abandon rational plans
tied to town and toss on the pack and start walking.

Elements in place for postcard weekend

It's a sunshine blue-sky day with a high of 59. Crisp and clean and bright. Should be an even nicer day on Saturday, with sunshine and a high of 67 per the National Weather Service forecast. And just as nice on Sunday. A perfect weekend in the Colorado high country?

Aspen Mountain's misty shawl

It is the kind of day that calls for a wood stove, a book-lined study, a big fleece blanket, a cup of tea, and nowhere to go. It's the kind of day when fabulous ASPEN! is really just a little town tucked up a narrow valley, in a place it probably never should have been built in the first place (right in the meadow next to the river). It's the kind of day where you hope it's snowing up high, cause it is sure raining in town.

Ethereal Tuesday morning on the Burn

The fall weather continues to be generous with snow. Just when it appeared as if “hot and dry” was back home for the off-season, another snow shower snuck in this morning. Clouds were ethereal (def: resembling spirit, impalable; of unearthly delicacy and refinement) over Snowmass at mid-morning, revealing the results of a consistent pattern of little snow storms. Such a pretty morning it was, the sky washed clean and a warm breeze wafting through the valley. Bits of sun and shade dancing through the day. Sorry to get Colorado lyrical on you, but it’s all true. Let’s hope the moisture continues right up to Turkey Day. At least the next few days look wet, as there is a “slight chance” of rain and snow showers in town after midnight Tuesday, again on Wednesday night, and then again on Thursday. More autumn base building underway.

Regular off-season day

Yes, this is a bit more like it. Sure, we've gotten some snow up high, but no one should be deluded into thinking that we're really all that close to ski season. It is just another normal, pleasant off-season day here in the valley, with work being done to get the hill in shape. Nothing wrong with that, especially as it is rare to see a snowflake in town much before Nov. 1, when snowmaking on Aspen Mountain is scheduled to begin. In addition to today's little bulldozing session down the middle of Nell, there is lots of work going on at the base of the mountain, just off the slopes. Roofers are scrambling over the top of the Little Nell, where the snowmelting system is being replaced. And the facade of the North of Nell building is also getting an upgrade. The base area should be looking sharp by ski season, which is still over seven weeks away. Patience, grasshopper, patience...

Sumptuous fall day in the iconic West End, where we're deep into off-season.

It may be freezing at Coors Field, but it is nothing but nice here on the Western Slope.

Somewhere in the middle distance - covered slopes

Seems to be a pattern developing here, something to do with snow on the ground. Seems like a bit more snow fell yesterday, leaving at least one peak looking attractive in the distance. But even though Loveland and A-Basin are both now "open," Aspen/SM remains a ways off. Still, for Oct. 9, it’s impressive. Weekend weather looks okay, with temps at 50 degrees in town and a “slight chance” of rain and snow on Sunday morning. Eastern Utah looks fairly attractive, weather-wise, with a high of 72 and clear skies.

Wet snow falling steadily in Aspen Thursday afternoon.

At a certain point, even this guy is going to want to get out of the weather. Heavy flakes were falling at 2:45 p.m. with snow beginning to stick on Nell, although not on the sidewalks. This was an aggressive little snowshower, though, especially for Oct. 8. "It's dumping" is not something you normally hear this time of year. Weather forecast calling for scattered snowshowers through tonight, but not calling for much accumulation. Supposed to be sunny and 50 degrees on Friday.

Skiing Loveland Wed. am

"The Colorado ski season bounded to one of its earliest starts ever this morning with Loveland Ski Area opening its chair lifts to skiers and riders," according to Colorado Ski Country USA. "At 9:00 am this morning, with its lifts in motion and an 18-inch base, Loveland became the first ski resort in North America to open for the 2009-10 season. Snowmaking teams at Loveland have taken advantage of cold temperatures and ideal humidity conditions over the past several weeks. They started making snow on September 21 and have made snow or received natural snow most days since then. The accumulation has led to their current packed powder conditions, with more snow expected in the coming days." Photo courtesy CSCUSA.

Still fall

Meanwhile, back in Fat City, it's a warm and pleasant day, this mellow Wednesday. Warm enough for shorts and t-shirts at least around noon. The sun was out and the best options for the day were hiking and biking. The fall colors are still eye-catching east of Aspen as the Roaring Fork whispers through the landscape.

Bowl, with snow.

Fascinating, isn't it, that white paint job? Nothing like a new coat in early October to get the blood moving a tad quicker. It started out cold and crisp on Tuesday but by mid-afternoon, it was quite pleasant sitting in the sun. Town is quiet, but not dead. Still a pleasant time to be in the Rockies.

Tuesday morning Wall coating

Shots taken of the ski areas with empty land in front of them have a unique appeal. It's as if the ski area was just floating out there. On Tuesday morning, Roberto's looked darn near skiable, although it almost certainly was not. Still, there was enough snow laid in there to add definition to lines that have been blurred all summer. Gets those wheels turning...

Snow up on Independence Monday

SkiCo courtesy photo by Jeremy Swanson, who evidently went up the pass today to find out how much snow had fallen. Looks like winter up there. Still snowing at 1:15 p.m. in town on Monday. The Pass picture should be good information for anyone wondering if they should still drive over the pass today. Sure, but take the snow tires.

Monday mid-day snowflakes falling at the base of 1A.

No, really. It is snowing. Cold. Gray. The works... While the flakes are hard to see in the photo, as of 12:15 it was snowing steadily in downtown Aspen. Sun Valley got 17 inches over the weekend and Utah got a pretty good coating as well. Pretty early snowfalls for ski country. But, okay, we're in! Tuesday should end the little snow party, though. It is supposed to be sunny with a high of 50.

Winter in the forecast?

We don't want to make too big a deal over the use of the word "snow" in the National Weather forecast, but there it is again. For Monday, "a chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 50." Okay, that's not going to bring much: "new snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible, " says the weather service. But still, we're talking about "snow." Monday night will be "blustery," with a 30 percent chance of snow showers and low in town of 26! It warms up, a little, through the week, but just keep focusing on those four letters s-n-o-w.

Crisp and clear here

Saturday comes as a beautiful fall Colorado day, full of promise and optimism. Out you go now to put one foot in the front of the other. The sunshine is a respite after winter’s first two feints, which put enough snow on the ground to move the elk herds. More gray and cold weather is apparantly on the horizon. Make hay today.