shadows preserved in snow

Winter has a way of driving me a little crazy, as the shortened daylight and biting cold, force me to spend more and more time indoors.  The unseasonably warm weather we were experiencing here in the Grand Valley, came to a screeching halt, back around the beginning of the new year.  Replaced by sub-freezing temperatures, the warm air found its way up to the top of the Grand Mesa where it has been lingering for over a month now.  This phenomenon known as an “inversion” occurs when warm air hovers over cold, in violation of the typical atmospheric thermal gradient, where air temperature decreases with altitude.  Local wisdom states that this inversion can sometimes last the entire winter, until Chinook winds break the inversion layer and restore normal convective activity.  The persistent cold is ensuring that the few inches of snow that we received from a moderate storm back in December linger for the entire winter.

Yet, in spite of the wintry temperatures, the sun still shines, bating me to venture outside.  Expecting its bright rays to warm the blister of cold air to a tolerable chill, I ventured out for a midwinter’s bike ride along the eastern end of the Kokopelli trail.  Here are a few pictures from my ride.