Shoulder Season Mashup

It's shoulder season. A littl' bit o' this, a littl' bit o' that is how we roll at this time of year. Mixing it up by snatching the last golden moments of fall and at the same time feeling the pull towards winter. Dreams are of deep snows and powder skiing but for now it's all about the moment. Grab the mountain bike for a late afternoon spin through the desert, shorts and t-shirt, sun warm but low, sinks beneath the Monument, chill descends. Every time I wonder "Is this the last ride?"

An ominous sunrise, clouds heavy with moisture. Snow in the mountains perhaps?

 Skinning up Powderhorn we find the coverage surprisingly good, play in recycled powder at the edges and even find joy in early season turns on bumpy rolled snow.

First dawn patrol up Sunlight Mountain. Ripping skins as the sun rises over Mount Sopris, swooping down the empty runs in the muted light of dawn, all before work. It's always a good day that starts like this. 

Back in the valley the local bobcat hunts bunnies for breakfast, no doubt fueling up for the winter ahead.

And in shoulder season we want to leave nothing to chance, so us skiers pay homage to Ullr, the Norse God of skiing.

"Oh Mighty Ullr, to you we all pray,

Send the snow our way,

Make it deep, make it light,

And bring naught but the purest white."