319 inches of snow this season and still counting...!

Yep. It just continues to snow! Fortunately, last weekend, the clouds lifted and the weather was incredible. We had beautiful blue skies and temperatures around the high 20s/low 30s.
It was wonderful to finally feel the the sun coming back and warming your face (or back since my face is usually completely covered!). Everyone definitely has Spring Fever up here now!
This photo is at the top of the Silver Queen lift just after a storm last week.



But the skiing! Oh boy. It is amazing - especially since you don't have to go indoors every couple of hours to get warm again! I think I am hooked! Now watch winter give us a reminder that it is still around and blast all thoughts of spring out of my mind!



This photo was taken very close to the Ice bar where I am working part time this winter.







And here I am picking my way down one of the Black (advanced) runs - International.

These were taken on the Silver Queen lift last weekend.













Usually at this time of year I get really homesick for spring. Colorado is brown and dead often until May and I so miss the colours of the English springtime: all the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils and trees just starting to put out feelers and unfurl the first of their blossoms...
This year has been different though. The skiing has definitely brightened up the winter. I guess you really can't live somewhere like this and not enjoy being outside doing some kind of winter activity or just being in the crisp air a lot of the time - you would go crazy sitting inside! (Round here they call it Cabin Fever!!!)

Here are some more photos taken from the Silver Queen lift which takes you way up the mountain towards the peak. Crested Butte is tiny down in the Valley but the camera really doesn't do justice to the views from up there. I think part of the problem is that everything is so white it's hard to distinguish distance or changes in the terrain unless you actually see them with the naked eye...












Send me photos of spring in England so I can enjoy the flowers here in frozen Crested Butte!

More ice photos!

The Crested Butte mountain resort just announced that we have officially seen 283" inches of snowfall this season - that's 23.6 feet or 7.2 meters! Unbelievable - and that's not including the snow we got today (it has been dumping all day) or the large amount of snow forecast for tomorrow...it's warming up though - this weekend we are expecting a heatwave at 33F! The majority of the snow fell in January, but here's hoping for more in February and March!


Here are the icicles hanging off the Ice Bar and Restaurant where I work a couple of days a week. The snow is pretty deep too!











Last week there was an ice carving competition - here is my favourite to date - a fish catching a dragonfly.

Early February in the Butte...it's still snowing!

The snow just keeps on coming here in Crested Butte! We received over 224 inches in January, and got at least an additional 19 inches over the last few days...I think we chose a good winter to be ski bums! The snow today was great and I am now knackered and trying to revive myself with a rather tasty North Face (hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps), my new drink of choice for those cold snowy days!



Nick finally had enough time to shovel off the deck here at the condo - we were getting a bit worried about the weight of the snow - as you can see, it was more than least waist high on Nick...I offered support by keeping the living room warm for him...and left him to it! he did a great job - but then we had more snow and now it needs doing again!!!




On Monday I got to work at The Avalanche after the latest round of snow and couldn't resist taking a photo of the kitchen entrance...makes me nervous to walk down there! There is so much snow there isn't anywhere to shovel it to anymore but they have to keep a clear path for the staff and the food deliveries! I just feel sorry for the delivery guys!







Here are some more snowy Crested Butte photos. The first is a house on Elk Avenue - I think they may have a problem seeing onto the street though! The second is a Crested Butte walkway. The mounds are apparently something the Town prides itself on to maintain a "unique" feeling, but this year they are also a nesecity as there is no where else to put all that snow! The third photo is a house on Sopris Avenue. I assume it's a vacation rental property that isn't currently rented - I could see absolutely no way in or out and almost missed seeing the house completely as I walked by!













These are just general Crested Butte scenes. I especially like the first one as it gives an idea of the amount of snow in town where it hasn't all been cleared out (as a lot of it has on Elk avenue) and also the "bank" behind town. The second is a view of one of the churches with the mountains in the background.
















So for today at least the snow stopped and the sky was blue. The forecast does call for more snow tomorrow though and then a heatwave of 33 F for the weekend (right around 0C!) We are looking forward to stripping off a layer and geting some sun! The trusty old farmers Almanac predicts a quiet February but a lot of snow in March so stay posted - we may yet be buried in snow this year up here on the second floor! the "ground" is certainly getting closer with each storm!

I am sure mud season is going to be lovely! They are already stocking up on sandbags in town...