Colorado Mesa University’s Mike Melillo, upper left in white, tries to take a shot over Dixie State defenders, clockwise from upper right, Steven Larson, De’Quan Thompson and Zach Robbins during the first half of Saturday’s game at Brownson Arena.

Colorado Mesa University’s Paul Walter, #21, is fouled on the first play of the game by Dixie State’s Kimball Payne Saturday during the Clarion Inn Thanksgiving Classic at Brownson Arena.

Colorado Mesa University’s Sharaya Selsor, right, drives around Mid-America Christian University’s Emilie Schirmer on her way to the basket during the second half of Saturday’s game during the Clarion Inn Thanksgiving Classic at Brownson Arena.

Rifle’s Ryan Moeller runs for some of his 207 yards Saturday in the Bears’ 56-6 victory over Pueblo East in the Class 3A state semifinals. Moeller had three rushing TDs and fellow RB Kellin Leigh also had 3 TDs in the win. Photo Special to the Sentinel/Bryan Kelsen

Aaron Wagler, left, and Coy Zang, right, wrap up Pueblo East QB Kurt Rode on Saturday during the Bears’ 56-6 victory over the Eagles. Rifle never let Pueblo East’s offense get untracked in the rout. Photo Special to the Sentinel/Bryan Kelsen

Cedaredge football wins the Class 1A Colorado State Football Championship.

#5, Cedaredge QB Dante Markley.

#22, Cedaredge, RB Reid Gates just short of a Touch Down.

#22, Reid Gates from Cedaredge just missing a INT.

Cedaredge RB #44, Carter Wasser.

#44, Cedaredge RB Carter Wasser.

Cedaredge wins the Colorado Class 1A Football Championship.

#22, Colton Burgon from CMU hits the jumper for two points over #50, Orlando Echave and #23, Brandon Holland from Northern New Mexico College.

#4, Katrina Selsor hits a jump shot over the defense from Hillsdale Free Will Baptist.

#21, Kelsey Sigl from CMU hits a three pointer against Hillsdale Free Will Baptist.

#4, Katrina Selsor from CMU is folded by #10, Monica Paris from Hillsdale Free Will Baptist. The Mavs were winning 61-15 at the start of the second half.

#44, Carter Wasser from Cedarege HS.

#44, Cedaredge HS RB Carter Wasser.

#10 Cedaredge football Cade Wasser.

Brian Tabb, #914, of Round Rock, Tex., starts out with the pack during the sixth annual Turkey Trot on Thursday but eventually leaves them behind to finish in first place out of 1,034 competitors with a time of 16:33.

With drumsticks bouncing with each step, Tim Stewart of Grand Junction wears a turkey hat as he competes in the Turkey Trot 5k race Thursday morning along Power Road. Stewart joined 1,033 other runners and walkers who started Thanksgiving Day by participating in the race.

Hikers in Rough Canyon in the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area.

Rifle quarterback Adam Rice looks to hand the ball off to a teammate during the second half of Saturday’s playoff game against Roosevelt High School in Rifle.

A swarm of Rifle defenders take down the Roosevelt ball carrier during Saturday’s playoff game at Rifle.

A swarm of Rifle defenders take down the Roosevelt ball carrier during Saturday’s playoff game at Rifle.

Rifle coach Damon Wells shouts directions to his players during Saturday’s playoff game against Roosevelt in Rifle.

#16 Cedaredge football QB Trent Walker.

Cedaredge football coach Brandon Milholland.

Three-year-old Wyatt Mollack of Grand Junction catches a tiny bit of air as he rides his two-wheeled bicycle over a jump at the Lunch Loop Bike Park. Wyatt, who just turned three earlier this month, was at the park with two friends and their dad.

Will Gillette a Sales Asso. for Brown Cycles with bike stocking stuffers.

Paul Walter, right, is having to learn a new offense as the only new man in the Colorado Mesa University’s starting lineup.

Colorado Mesa University’s Kelsey Sigl, left, defends during a drill at practice.

A brooding storm over Grand Mesa finds a solitary angler mid-stream on the Gunnison River. With so much trout habitat,finding the right place to fish can be difficult.

Catching a big fish, and having someone to record the moment, is just one of the many things for which outdoors lovers have to be thankful. Here, guide John Wix of Smoking River Guides captures the moment for Todd Tanner, editor of Sporting Classics magazine.

Big fish have big teeth, and big brown trout eat smaller fish, which often hang around the river bank seeking shelter from predators. The Gunnison River predominately holds brown trout, which also prefer undisturbed habitat along the shore. Special to the Sentinel

12-year-old Dylan Meeder of Grand Junction hits one of the jumps at the skate Park at Long Family Memorial Park Monday afternoon. 11-year-old Creighton Carey looks on. They and fellow students in School District 51 are out of school this week for Thanksgiving.

Colorado Mesa University’s Brett Lowe powers through the water in finals of the mens 200-yard breaststroke to take first place with a time of 2:12:93 during the Colorado Mesa Invitational swim meet at El Pomar Natatorium on Sunday.

Juanita Arch, south of Gateway is a respectable “adult” arch with a span exceeding 100 feet.

Dinosaur tracks can be seen across the top of a hot rock. These tracks are easily visible from the trail into Maverick Canyon and Juanita Arch.

Grand Valley skiers and riders this winter can get three days each at Telluride (seen here during the 2011-12 season) and Crested Butte ski resorts with the $399 T–CB pass.

Sweitzer Lake near Delta was built for public recreation, and during the summer, water sports, including fishing, are the order of the day.