A visit to the high country of Colorado, just north of New Mexico, April 27, 2009

High in the mountains of southern Colorado, snow still can be found. As the eagle flies, this alpine scenery is only twenty miles from our cabin, less than thirty by road.


Just a wee bit of snow here and there -- should be enough for a snowball fight.



Kiosk and section house (from the former Denver and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge line, now the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, advertised as the nation's "longest and highest").

Section house behind snow

Snow gauge at Cumbres Pass, showing 3.5 feet of snow remaining. Average snow levels may have been slightly lower since the area near the gauge had a bit of wind drift. However, this is deeply compacted snow that I could walk on top of without sinking down much, so it had a whole lot of water content.

Snow in the high country, April 27, 2009

View across the valley, from a little north of the New Mexico border with Colorado.

Rock knob below Windy Point and view beyond.

Dramatic high country along the Colorado - New Mexico border.

View down to the southwest from Cumbres Pass, toward New Mexico


Buried shed at Cumbres Pass