Singin’ in the Rocks

Most mornings, as first light hits the lichen-covered rock outside our living room window, a small, white-chested bird appears and belts out a song. And I mean belts!

George Mallory: Ridgwalking 101

As I shouldered my skis and started up the hike to Highland Bowl last weekend (on Aspen’s closing day), the clouds parted briefly revealing a line of skiers, tiny in the distance, working imperceptibly up the ridge.

Flight of the Ski Season

Closing weekend at the ski area was all about flight.

Not flight from Telluride, though that too was about to happen, as locals who have been working since before Thanksgiving flee the sudden quiet and the retreating snows.

No, this was about the little girl standing rock still near the picnic tables at the top of the mountain hoping to lure a camp robber with a cracker in her outstretched hand.

To Serve and Protect

Here is the police blotter for the Colona Marshal’s Office for the week of April 1.

Officer Assist: Officer contacted rancher about a newborn calf outside the fence.

Welfare Check: Officer performed welfare check on cottonwood tree down by the river that is budding out too soon.

Dog Violation: Officer visited home that was reported to have no dogs, in possible violation of local code.

Officer Assist: Officer attempted to assist rancher in catching and returning calf to the correct side of the fence.