snow

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Winter in Colorado with the Colorado Traveling Ducks

It is winter here in Colorado.   Denver has over 300 sunny days each year, so our winters are usually pleasant.   We do get snow, but often our intense sun melts the snow within a few days.   This winter started with heavy snow in October, a little early for us.   Let’s look at some winter photos from the past.

Snow on frozen lake

A cold, snowy day in Denver.   We ducks are enjoying this weather and we like the almost frozen lake behind us.

Canadian geese

We are not the only birds out today.   These geese stay here all year.   Snow is much heavier in the mountains, and of course, in our world famous ski areas.   Last February we visited Rangely, Colorado in the northwest corner of the state.

Snow pile

Rather high snow piles here.   Ice climbing is popular in Colorado.

Ice column

Here you can practice or learn the basics of ice climbing.  We often go to Winter Park in January.   Winter Park is a popular ski area and only about 90 minutes from Denver.   This resort is also developed for summer fun.  Many of our ski resorts are year round vacation playgrounds.

Cleaning the roof

Here maintenance people shovel the roof of our condo.   A few feet of snow and ice is too dangerous and heavy for many roofs.   And the parking area also needs to be shoveled.  Melting caused by our intense mountain sun lets melting occur daily, but then freezing takes over every night.

Icicles on our deck

The resulting icicles are pretty big–and sharp.   Icicles can be seen all over Winter Park.

Good food inside

Horse drawn sleigh rides are available.

Horse drawn sleigh. Ducks on step ready to get in.

We love these.   Riding through clean snow with beautiful mountain views is fun.

Colorado Rocky Mountains from our sleigh

After the ride, we enjoy roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate.   More fun available here.

This is a big snowmobile. Too big?

Snowmobiles are available in most places.   These are near the tubing hill.   But let’s see Colorado’s main winter sport.

Skiers and Snowboarders

Skiing is very popular in the Colorado mountains.

Skis and snowboards are temporarily placed here

And, of course, a place to leave skies while eating or shopping is necessary.   We hope to be back in Winter Park soon.   In Breckenridge, Colorado, another ski resort, late January brings world champion snow sculpting.

Team Iceland

This is from a past year.   If you are in Colorado in late January, try to visit Breckenridge to see these sculptures.

Team Breckenridge

They are wonderful to see.   Rocky Mountain National Park is close to Denver, an easy and enjoyable day trip.

Rocky Mountain National Park

The snow falling is like living in a Christmas card.

Bull elk in the snow

And a breathtaking sight is a bull elk standing by the road, knowing you will stop for him, and admire him.   If you are in Colorado during the winter, enjoy the mild weather of Denver, but visit our mountains for a true winter wonderland.   We will soon be heading to the mountains for some winter fun.

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Things are Happening at My House

It is exciting.   Suitcases are showing up.   Humans are packing.   Dogs are arriving here.   Human neighbors are coming to meet the dogs.   I think we are going on a family vacation.   I, Zeb the Duck, Soapy Smith Duck, and Bucket Duck, are all going with our humans.   I am not sure if you know Bucket.   His human is the son and grandson of the other humans.   Bucket’s human parents like basketball a lot.   His dad and friends shoot baskets, or buckets.   That is how Bucket Duck got his name.   Bucket’s two dogs and Soapy’s one dog will stay at my house while we are on vacation.   This trip did not have an easy beginning.   Our airport transportation was to get us at 3:00 a.m.   When we got up,there was almost a foot of new snow here.   Then at Denver International Airport, over 300 flights, including ours, were cancelled.   Our rescheduled flight was delayed three times.   The news for Denver was a little chilly.

-14 That is cold!

-14 That is cold!   And lots of snow on the ground also.

Then another airline and another flight scheduled.   Soon we were in Philadelphia.   They have a very nice airport.   What is this?

Dogs in airports

Dogs in airports

Dogs come here?  Well, if dogs are now traveling, this is a necessary area.

For dogs

For dogs

We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks have never seen this before.   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a very important city in the history of the United States.   Among other things, the Liberty Bell is here.   This is a replica of the Liberty Bell, crack included, made of Legos.

Liberty Bell of Legos

Liberty Bell of Legos

This airport has museum type exhibits.   This is Transforming Glass by Justin Tyner.

By Justin Tyner

By Justin Tyner

So many humans are now taking photographs, and many photos of themselves.   This is a suggested location for a “selfie”.

Selfies here?

Selfies here?

While waiting for our next flight, we relax on the armrests of a chair,  by the Christmas tree, and look out at a wet, cold, Philadelphia.

Wet and cold outside

Wet and cold outside

We left Philadelphia, flying south.   Now we are in a warm place and the humans say, “ducks, we are going on a boat.”  Oh good!  Let’s try that sail boat.

Sail Boat or Cruise Ship?

Sail Boat or Cruise Ship?

But humans say “No.  Let’s get on that cruise ship”  Can you believe it??  All the times we talked to Santa, we asked to go on a cruise, and Santa said Yes!  The humans have cruised before, but this is the first cruise for the Colorado Traveling Ducks.   We have so much to show you.   See you soon.

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Denver Received Snow

February is still winter, but not very wintery in Denver this February.   We enjoyed temperatures in 40s, 50s, 60s, and even 70s the past couple weeks.   Tuesday morning we woke to a few inches of new fluffy snow.   Early morning featured snow covered trees and branches.

Snow coated tree

Snow coated tree

The sun appeared and snow disappeared.    The mountains, covered with new snow, from across Denver’s City Park are usually a regular Denver winter sight.

Denver's City Park

Denver’s City Park

And the Canadian Geese still believe they own the town.   The mountains received much more snow than we did in town.   Our snow was almost gone by sunset.

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Winter Snow in the Colorado Mountains near Denver

We had snow for Thanksgiving Day and Friday this year.  There was a possibility of more snow for later Sunday.   In town, we had a few inches, but it is still very cold.   Sunday, Zeb the Duck, Soapy Smith Duck, and JB Duck drove a short distance from Denver to see the new snow in our nearby mountains.   Ten or fifteen minutes from Denver, it was very overcast, but these trees look beautiful.

Very overcast close to Denver

Very overcast close to Denver

Soon we saw sun breaking through on this mountain.

Colorado sun is breaking through

Colorado sun is breaking through

Here is I-70 looking west.

View of Continental Divide from I-70

View of Continental Divide from I-70

This is one of our favorite views heading to the mountains.   The continental divide does not have much snow yet, but it will.   You can see the traffic from the mountain ski areas has not begun yet.   Light traffic on I-70 is rare on weekends.   A little further west, the sun is out and our bright blue Colorado sky is beautiful.  *

Snowy trees and bright blue Colorado sky

Snowy trees and bright blue Colorado sky

These trees appeared to be decorated with snowballs, to celebrate the Christmas season.

Decorated with snowballs for the Christmas season

Decorated with snowballs for the Christmas season

We really like this snowy tree, but we don’t want to sit in the cold snow very long.

Snow decorated tree

Snow decorated tree

Looking down the road, winter is coming to the Colorado mountains.

Continuing down the road

Continuing down the road

Although the sun is bright, the temperature was only 20 degrees, in the sun.   We were no more than 20 minutes from our home in the Denver suburbs.   We hope  you visit Colorado this winter.   Many of our ski areas are now open for winter fun.

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Fairbanks in the Winter with Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, asked my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, to show us a little about winter at his home near Fairbanks, Alaska.   Eider brought us some photographs.   Eider said this was a rather mild winter at his house.

These photos were taken in early January 2015.   At that time, the temperature was about 20 degrees below zero.   Eider, some people do not consider that a mild winter.

Dark and cold

Dark and cold

Winter at Eider's house

Winter at Eider’s house

These photos were taken more recently in March.   The wind blew and the snow really fell.

Blowing snow near Fairbanks

Blowing snow near Fairbanks

Eider could not see the house across the street very well.

Neighbor's house

Neighbor’s house

This snow had fallen during a warmer time.

Snow on trees

Snow on trees

The temperatures were close to 15-20 degrees above zero.   We love the snow clinging to the trees.

Fresh snow

Fresh snow

Eider said there was between 2 and 3 feet of snow on the ground.

Near Fairbanks in March 2015

Near Fairbanks in March 2015

Previous snowfall did not melt the way it does in Denver.   Eider said some evaporates and some just compacts as it waits for the spring thaw.

Waiting for spring

Waiting for spring

Eider said that this winter he did experience temperatures of 40 below zero, but not for extended periods of time.

Perfect day to be inside looking out.

Perfect day to be inside looking out.

Well, Eider, we in Denver, would not consider this a mild winter.   Stay warm and stay inside, Eider.  But we certainly appreciate your photographs.   Thanks for sharing with us!

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Snow at Vail Pass Summit with Zeb and Eider Duck

Leaving Nederland and unseasonably warm temperatures, we west drove on I-70 to Vail Pass.   We stopped at the rest area and look at this snow.   This sign is buried in snow.

Sign is about buried in snow

Sign is about buried in snow

This shows the bright blue Colorado sky that we love.

You can almost see the sign between the snow and bright blue sky

You can almost see the sign between the snow and bright blue sky

Isn’t this beautiful?     Even the stairway and path are closed due to snow.

Stairway closed due to snow

Stairway closed due to snow

In the summer we hike up this hill and the view is spectacular.   We love this sign.

Great sign

Great sign and snow as tall as the building

They need to tell us not to take skis and snowmobiles inside the rest area building.   That is great!   We went inside the building, but we could hardly see out the window.

This is the view from the window

This is the view through the window

The snow is piled almost as high as the building.   Here we are, Zeb and Eider Duck, sitting in a snow bank.

Zeb and Eider back in the snow

Zeb and Eider back in the snow

Hey mom, this snow is cold.

 

 

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Frosty morning in Denver

Snow and cold in Denver today.  We had more snow during the night.  Our morning snow is beautiful.

Snow covered evergreen bushes have white frosting.

Morning snow on evergreen bushes

Morning snow on evergreen bushes

This tree looks magical.

Snow coated tree

Snow coated tree

Mom put us, Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck, on this table.  The snow measures 7 inches.  The 24 ounce Pepsi bottle is almost buried.

Ducks on snowy table

Ducks on snowy table

Here Zeb is almost buried.

Hey mom! I am sinking.

Hey mom! I am sinking.

This is a good time to ski in Colorado.  The ski resorts have feet of new snow.  Have some winter fun.