To say this winter is starting off slowly would be a huge understatement.  Denver has yet to experience their first snow, breaking the record for the latest first snow set back in 1934.  And since it stopped snowing last spring a little earlier than average, Denver is closing in on its longest streak of no snow set back in 1887.  

Here in Salida we did get a dusting on Thanksgiving but that is long gone.  And the high peaks, which are usually frosted white by now are standing there sporting bare rock summits due to weeks of cloudless skies and high winds.  

Monarch has yet to open. And since they don’t make snow, relying solely on what falls naturally from the sky, they don’t really know when they will.  On the flip side, I’ve been able to ride my bike way later in the season than last year, which is great, but it’s not right.  There’s supposed to be a natural order of things, dangit, and that order says we should be skiing by now.  So, in the interim, I’m spending my time watching ski videos for inspiration and doing my snow dance, hopeful for winter to arrive.

This is particularly good one (ski video, not snow dance). Shot in Chamonix last winter when the resort was closed during the first wave of COVID.  Remember the first wave?  Seems so long ago.