Finally Winter

Zero degrees.  That was the temperature when I got to the parking lot at Chautauqua at 8:20.  Even though at the last minute I decided to throw chili goodness in the crockpot before I left, I was still one of only a handful of cars in a lot that is usually packed full by now.  Bone chilling temps do have their benefits.

I had so many layers on when I hit the trail, I felt a little like Randy who couldn’t put his arms down in The Christmas Story.  But with the exception of my face, I was warm.  I didn’t really have a plan.  The clouds were hanging low in the trees, so maybe some fun cloudy trees.  And, snowy Flatirons, of course.

First, I headed out on the usual trail to check out the Flatiron views.  No dice as they were just barely visible through the clouds.  I did spot a lone solitary tree that I decided to play with.  I didn’t have high hopes for it, but after getting it on the computer, I really like it.

I decided to make my way up the main Chautauqua trail and go up between the first and second Flatiron.  Maybe get some shots of the rocks in the clouds.  Today I was just going with the flow and enjoying it.  I love the quiet and stillness a cold snowy morning offers.  The birds weren’t even chirping.  I can’t seem to get enough of this these days.  

 Of course, as soon as I started on the 1st and 2nd Flatiron trail a group of chatty people came up behind me.  Time for plan B.  I got to the junction for the 1st Flatironette and took that trail hoping they wouldn’t follow.  Phew, they didn’t.  According to the trackless snow, I was the first on this trail for the day and ended up having all to myself up and back down.  The clouds parted for a view of frozen Boulder below.

I haven’t been on this trail in a while, but I felt like there used to be great views looking out over rock outcroppings into Gregory Canyon and back towards town.  Maybe the trees have grown.  I wanted to get a photo of some snowy rocks, but couldn’t get the composition right.  Here they are front and back, just because I like snow cover rocks.

On the way back down the blue sky started showing through the clouds.

I decided to do a loop and swing below the 2nd flatiron.  Not so much for views of the 2nd flatiron, but the 3rd.  I love the way it juts out into the sky.

I was able to get ridiculously close to a downy woodpecker that was looking for bugs on a tree right on the trail.  I literally could have reached out and touched it.  I kinda wanted to, it looked so fluffy and soft.  I guess I know how it got its name.  I was so close, I took this photo with my wide angle lense. 

Once I got out of the trees and on open trails, I got the view I was hoping for.  The 3rd, 4th, 5th and various little Flatirons blanketed in snow.  I love that the yellow grass is sticking out of the snow also just to add a little opposing color.

I was freezing at this point.  I was nice and toasty on all of the uphill on the first half of the loop.  All of the downhill on the second part left me frozen.  I was so cold I didn’t want to stop to put on my extra layer…I know.  It didn’t stop me from getting one last parting shot, though.  Cause you can never have enough snowy Flatiron photos!