Sentinel Mountain

We celebrated the Ides of March by walking over, through, and sometimes under a thick mantel of snow on lower Sentinel Mountain.  Even after going up quite a ways, "the ridge" was still above us and the peak out of reach for today.

We enjoyed having John and Linda Treibly with us and welcomed new neighbor Scott Sobel. Scott's avant-garde Everest snowshoes allowed him to explore beneath the surface of our wet and soft stuff.

How many colors can you see in the snow?  We found at least 10: yellow, gold, orange, pink, red, turquoise, blue, teal, green and purple highlights. Then try icicles forming on the trees as the temperatures rose.

Next Monday, join us before 10 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center parking lot.  After the coming melt-off, we'll do something creative--on snowshoes or hiking boots.

--Doug Knudson

Looks like fun!

fr: Scott, Wayne, Maybelle b. Linda, Pat, Marylin, John, Dick

Baxter Mtn fr. Sentinel base

artsy lunch bench

Scott Sobel

All accounted for

Still dancing!

Beaver Cr Dam and North

Six of us enjoyed the snowy morning by climbing above the Beaver Creek Dam and northward into an aspen woodland in the new March snow. There's something peaceful (and chilly) about snow driven by a wind from the South. Soon, the forest protected us from the wind and allowed sitting on rocks and a log. We soaked up the calm beauty of simple color contrasts and a fresh snow cover.
We'll take you back to this area next fall, when the white aspen hold brilliant golden leaves.
Snow shoes enable us to make a simple trail through the forest.
Bring yours or let me loan you an extra pair (719-873-5239) for next Monday at 10 a.m. We depart then from the Visitor Center in South Fork. Most bring a candy bar or other snack. Warm layers of clothing help, but you could get pretty warm trudging through soft snow.
--Doug Knudson