Big Snow A'Coming

What happens when a big snowstorm is coming (1 to 3 feet) in the Crested Butte/Gunnison area?
Nothing - no grocery store bread, milk, and toilet paper panic, no emptying shelves at the hardware store of firewood, snow shovels, etc., no automatic school cancellations  A different land here indeed...
Mark went skiing with a friend up on the mountain and I went snowshoeing in the woods before the stuff starts falling from the sky. We moved some more firewood into the garage for dryness, that's about the extent of the preparedness. I'll let you know just how much it turned out to be.

After our advanced cross country lesson we optimistically zipped out to the trails that had been recommended to tune us up for unlevel ground and hills, since we think we are ace on flat track. Um, a big HA, HA, HA on the tune up. We slopped around the 5k trail is the best I can describe it. Grunting, we herringboned our way up hills and then either fell or, in my case, became completely out of control on the way downhill putting my beloved spouse at risk. The endless trail, and yes, we had a map, was gorgeous but we were sweating bullets, exhausted, and in fact took off our skis and walked down and up a couple of those stupid hills. There were other people of all ages zipping by us, a couple with their very small baby in a carrier with little skis so as to ease the ride up and down, and a group of advanced age happily effortlessly zooming on the trail. A little more practice is needed I think.

elk at leisure

We have seen porcupine, bald eagles, fox, coyote, elk, and big horn sheep of recent days. Only caught photos of a few, and these crazy big horn sheep were practically on the road as we went by. No big males in this group.

Mill Creek

Happy Snow!