Bruna Deichmann of CMU drives to the hoop through Kaitie Vader of Regis.

Kyler Rose of GJ takes a shot in the paint over Brack Whiteskunk of Cortez.

No.32, Mike Melillo with CMU hits for two points against Metro State.

No.22, Colton Burgon wtih CMU bolcks a shot by No.10, Mitch McCarron of Metro State.

No.2, Bruna Deichmann with CMU drives to the hoop past the defense of Metro State.

No.21, Kelsey Sigl from CMU is covered by two Metro State defenders.

A packed house for the CMU Metro Statre Mens basketball game Friday night.

Grand Junction center Sarah Wilkinson drives past Durango’s Shanelle Bogus of Durango.

Tori Catlett of GJ fights off a challenge for a rebound from Jessi Sigillito of Durango in the paint.

Fruita’s Chase Clayton works to pin MHS’s Davis Power in the 195-pound match Thursday evening at MHS.

FMHS VS MHS wrestling from Thursday.

Nick Peterson, in white, with CMU, wrestles Keith Johnson with Northern Colorado in the 184lb. match.Peterson won 9-3.

A skier in the middle of Powderhorn’s Mad Dog Glade. Photo by Julie Norman

A skier starts down the top of Diversion, a gladed run at Powderhorn.

The rebuilt Stocker Stadium is capable of seating large crowds such as the several thousand people in this May, 2012 file photo, who attended the first spring Colorado Mesa University commencement exercises Stocker Stadium is being considered as a future site of a 3A state championship.

Jacob Seely, 171lb, takes down Caleb Hendricks of Central in his 7-4 decision.

Grand Junction’s Jessica Deters, top, trails Fruita’s Kiaja Thomas by a few inches during an early lap of the girls 200-year freestyle championship race of the 2013 District 51 Championships held Wednesday at El Pomar Natatorium. Deters outswam the higher-seeded Thomas to win with a time of 2:18:50.

Grand Junction’s Taylor Kidd comes up for air during the breaststroke portion of the 200-yard individual medley championship race Wednesday during the 2013 District 51 Championships held at the El Pomar Natatorium. Kidd finished in first place with a time of 2.20.39.

Bruce McKay, bottom and Bill Roberts ski in the Home Loan Business League Ski & Snowboard Race Series at Powerhorn Mountain Resort Wednesday afternoon.

Action from the CMU men’s basketball game against Metro last season.

Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball head coach Taylor Wagner gives player Sharaya Selsor direction on the sidelines during a recent game.

Douglas Hawkins of Delta comes down with a rebound surrounded by Palisade players in Delta’s 59-56 win at home.

Kenny Wood of Delta shoots over Levi Hoaglund, left, and Zach Marengo of Palisade.

Callie Gafford of Delta goes up against Ashlyn Brown of Palisade.

Brittanny Brasfield of Delta pulls up and shoots against Jenna Brown of Palisade.

Low snow depths allow mule deer and elk herds to utlize more habitat in the winter, preventing the damage that happens when deep snows prevent animals from moving into ungrazed areas. Special to the Sentinel/Ron Stewart, Utah Division of Wildlife

Good winter habitat is critical for deer survival. In years when summer moisture allows good plant growth, healthy brush communities stick out of the snow and provide essential food for wintering big game. Special to the Sentinel/ Phil Douglass

This photo shows the results after two years of having a fence keep elk out of sensitive riparian habitat in Rocky Mountain National Park. Park officials estimate 600-800 elk winter in the park. Photo Special to the Sentinel

Steven Norris with the Maverick Aquatics Swim Club on his way to winning the Boys 11-12 50 yard Freestyle final with a time of 27.65. Today(Monday 1/21) was also Steven’s 13th birthday. The MAValanche Invitational Swim Meet was held at the El Pomar Natatorium.

Chad Morris from Grand Junction drives the second hole on the Golf Disc Course in the West Lake Park Monday afternoon. Morris was out playing the course with friend, Jay Bair. Triple Play’s 3 on 3 Disc Golf Tournament is this Saturday, Jan. 26th at 10:30a.m. in Riverbend Park, Palisade.This tournament will support the Ice Bowl which benefits hungry people with food and cash donations.

Colorado Mesa University’s new head softball coach Candace Abrams, right, watches a player’s throwing form as the team practices in the Maverick Pavillion.

The speed limit is reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph on Colorado Highway 65 near County Line trail head after two cross-country skiiers died there after being hit by a vehicle.

Doug and Suzanne Goforth and their dog, Ruger, prepare to go cross-country skiing Sunday at the County Line trail head on Grand Mesa. The couple sometimes tailgate after skiing, but the recent deaths in that parking lot made it a sobering proposition. “It had us thinking it could have been us,” Doug Goforth said.

Ann Wright, left, and Melinda Mawdsley begin hiking Serpents Trail, one of Colorado National Monument’s most well-known hikes.

Melinda Mawdsley, right, stretches before the hike down.

A grand view of the valley awaits hikers at the top of Serpents Trail.

Winter is a time of slow starvation for mule deer and elk, with food sources at the lowest and energy at the highest. Access closures during the winter prevent unwanted disturbances and enable wildlife to better survive the cold. Special to the Sentinel/Ron Stewert/Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

A bear rummages through a dumpster in this file photo. In drought years and those when a late frost knocks down the natural food sources, the number of bears conflicts and the number of nonhunter bear kills also have risen. Photo Special to the Sentinel/Colorado Division of Wildlife.