Winter is here.
That’s the view to the west from the second floor of my house. The foothills are still bare, but the "fourteeners" (mountains over 14,000 feet) are dusted. It’s gorgeous, and just a taste of what’s to come, I would think.
Last week we got hail. Lots of hail. Lots and lots. It woke me up three times in the night, plinking against the gutters. When I got up in the morning, our back yard was filled with little jujubee-sized frozen water pellets. It was actually pretty cool, and I wasn’t the only one to enjoy it. Canis Minor did too.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Time to start preparing the yard for winter, and don’t forget to rake all your leaves right up until the first snowfall…you don’t want to deal with all those dead, mushy leaves after the thaw next spring!!
BTW, about 3 days ago it got down to 35 degrees here in North Dakota, it might just be a rough winter this year…the last to were quite mild.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:21 am
If you haven’t already, it’s time to lay in a cord of firewood. It’s gonna get cold, man…
September 30th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Yay! Winter!
I wish there was great mountains like that around here. We only have ancient rounded up mountains…
September 30th, 2007 at 11:31 am
You call that winter?
I’ve been to Colorado in July, and there was still snow!
When that place likes like Hoth, THEN you’re in winter!
September 30th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Fourteeners, or 14ers. I believe the next step in going native is to curse those pesky* Californians. Or maybe it’s referring to the Mousetrap without looking confused. I’ve forgotten now that I’m a pesky* Californian.
About a month after first moving to the Denver area we got 22 inches of snow one night. By the calendar, it was still summer. That was a rude awakening!
*pesky is used as a substitute for the word actually used, of course
September 30th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Let’s see if you’re still so cocky by the end of February!
September 30th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Wow Canis Minor looks just like my childhood dog “Yankee”. My stepfather (from the south) named her that since my mom (and my sister and I) were from the north and we liked her so much.
September 30th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I guess as a full fledged Bouderite you’ll now be taking part in all of the native traditions. Such as this one: http://nakedpumpkinrun.org/
September 30th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I was in Boulder at University of Colorado for a conference back in July of 2000. Loved it compared to Pittsburgh. REAL mountains, neat different insect life, a model of the Solar System - they’ve got everything!
My favorite part? I saw five rainbows in the space of 20 minutes. THAT was an experience not to be forgotten.
September 30th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I’m a bit of a stickler for accuracy, and I just wanted to point out that the only 14er you can see from your house is Long’s Peak, which is not the mountain you have pictured. Those mountains are in the Indian Peaks wilderness, and are mostly 12000-13000 feet. You should go up there sometime, there are some amazing hikes you can do from the Fourth of July and Brainard Lake trail heads.
September 30th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I wish I lived out there. There aren’t any mountains around here, just trees. The trees aren’t quite tall enough to be dusted by snow, though.
September 30th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I was in Colorado in the last week in August.
It was hot. In the 90’s most days.
Went to Pikes Peak and needed a jacket.
Very confusin’.
September 30th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
You’ll love winter here. Tons of sun and fun. Most times the snow falls one day and melts the next before it can stick. I’ve seen 60-70 degree days in January and February (last year being the sucky exception.) Boulder may be a little snowier than Denver, but you’re closer to Rocky Mountain National Park and the mountains in general. You can’t get as far into RMNP as you can in summer without some serious winter gear, but who cares? You can drive up to Bear Lake easy enough and be surrounded. I also recommend a Grand Lake approach below the Never Summer Range for an unbelievably beautiful and painfully quiet snow capped 14er view.
John
September 30th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Canis minor bellus et iucundus est.
September 30th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I’ve heard that snow loses a lot of appeal after you shovel your way out for an hour on a cold morning…
But I guess warmer climate also loses some appeal after you boil in your sweat in a hot humid day… ;D
September 30th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Where is the larger photo of the mountains?
September 30th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
I like visiting the high country in spring and summer, but winter there is not my idea of entertainment. Still, glad you and yours are enjoying it.
September 30th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Winter?
Bleah. I’ll stick with Southern Cal, thank you. If I need a snow fix (perhaps due to some violent head injury), I know where to get it within a couple hours drive.
September 30th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Although Winter is when some of the better constellations are visible *before* midnight. I really need to get back into AA (amateur astronomy, not the other one with the 12 steps). There’s so much cool equipment these days, and I can actually afford it.
September 30th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Ha! I recognize that view. Gunbarrel is a nice part of Boulder, eh? Just a short drive on Foothills Parkway to downtown and somewhat reasonable living costs. And the fantastic view if Long’s Peak, of course.
September 30th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
And I thought New England had some pretty bad winters - no snow here yet!!!
And thank goodness for that. After your first huge snowstorm it sadly gets old. Unless school is cancelled, which doesn’t happen because we’re too used to the snow.
Canus Minor is so cute!
September 30th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
So that’s what your secret hideout looks like. I’m going to have to put those mountains in the next BA superhero comic I draw.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Mountains make me feel claustrophobic and my ears pop, glad I’m in Michigan. Cute Canis.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:15 am
Damn you Bad Astronomer. If there’s one thing I miss about Colorado it’s seeing the Indian Peaks glinting under their early-autumn snow.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:40 am
The hail stops being entertaining after fifteen years here (Colorado Springs, not Boulder.) Just saying…
October 1st, 2007 at 6:58 am
If that’s your shake roof, do youself a favor and buy the scaffolding instead of renting it. Your ROI will probably be less than a year.
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 am
I lived in Jackson, WY for about 10 years and Telluride, CO for another year and I can not tell you how jealous I am of you. There is no skiing or ice climbing on the east coast that even comes close to CO and Jackson. Especially not here in Charleston, SC. This time of year was always good. The touristas are leaving, the weather is changing, the air is crisp, the Aspens are turning and the first snow was on the peaks.
damn you BA
*fist shake at BA