Icy Peak District

Today I was in the Gallery in Buxton Pavilion Gardens. It was a cold clear day, about -6C, and I walked there and back (about 12 miles). It started with good views of the lunar eclipse which covered 3/4 of the moon as I left at 7.15am. Just a dusting of snow across the hills but at the green lane that runs around Ladder Hill (opposite our house) there was so much ice, 2 or 3 inches thick across the entire track making it difficult to walk down the lane. Looked like it had been rain water running off the hill which then froze. I came across more ice on the route to Buxton than I have ever seen before. Slowed me down a bit picking my way around it. Came back the same way this evening so that I could remember where the ice was rather than try a different route. It was dark all the way so it was good to have a bright headlamp picking out the track and the ice ahead. It took about 20 minutes longer than normal, including a detour over a snowy hill rather than along part of the track where I know it would be seriously icy. Had to tread carefully on the way home as I had bought a couple of bottles of Buxton Brewery Kinder Stout - didn't want to break them!

3rd Time Lucky at Red Rocks Lake

Another snowshoe day today. This time in the Indian Peaks Wilderness around Brainard Lake.
I wanted to get a shot of the mountains from Red Rocks Lake. I saw the shot 4 and a half years ago but knew it would be better in winter.
After 2 failed attempts last January we returned and today was the day!
The forecast was a bit iffy but we went anyway and what a good jjob we did; it was fantastic.
Red Rocks Lake was frozen and wearing snowshoes I could wander anywhere to frame the shot.
The mountains were snowy with blue sky and clouds swirling around the tops. A few snowy rocks made for a good foreground and I was excitedly taking pictures.
Third time lucky it was!

The day had just started and we carried on to Brainard Lake along the snowshoe trail, mostly through untracked snow.
From Brainard we headed to Long Lake. There was deep drifted snow here so we decided we would make better time on the frozen lake surface.
It was 2pm at the far (west) end so we decided to make our way back. The time and the fact that it was snowing steadily made up our minds!
A few tree shots on the return in rather dull conditions. The mountains had long since disappeared.
Just 4 rolls of 120 Ilford FP4 (10 shots per roll) but some crackers in there!
It's always rather special when a shot that's been years in the planning comes good.

Tomorrow we ski Winter Park and Friday Copper Mountain.
Not much left of this trip. We leave Colorado on Sunday and get home on Wednesday.
Dave Butcher