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The days last runs on the halfpipe.

Copper Mountain, Colorado.

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Freshly groomed snow awaits skiers and snowboarders for the first run of the day atop Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado.

Off in the distance is the Gore Range.

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In our household, the day after Thanksgiving is always White Friday.

Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado.

[iPhone photo]

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This is the last weekend of skiing at many of the Colorado resorts, and I hit the slopes at Copper Mountain for a few final runs. There was plenty of snow, but with temperatures in the the mid 40s, it was a bit slushy. A storm rolled over the mountain while I was there. At this time of year, the storms are more like thunderstorms than snowstorms, but this high up, the precipitation is usually in the form of snow.

It was a bit eerie because on the way up the lift and while I was at the top of the mountain, it was gusty, snowing heavy, and there were loud cracks of thunder. Needless to say, I didn’t linger long at the top.

This photo was taken part of the way down on a slope called Andy’s Encore. I almost had the mountain to myself. Judging from the ominous thunderclouds overhead, I think I know why :D

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A jagged cirque ridge in the Ten Mile Range. Photo taken this weekend near Leadville, Colorado.

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Alpine eventide. Photo taken this weekend in high country near Copper Mountain, Colorado.

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The last sunset on the last day of 2008 ended with a bright yellow streak. The photo above was shot from Copper Mountain’s East Village just after the sun went down.

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I headed over to Copper Mountain early this morning for some New-Year’s-Eve-Day skiing. It was a beautiful. The photo above is a panorama of five photos that were stiched together in Photoshop. They were shot handheld with my small Canon SD800 IS camera. The photo was taken near the top of the Super Bee Lift. Meanwhile, at the base there was hardly a soul around. Copper’s Center Village looked warm and inviting in the golden morning sun. As you can see, I had the slopes almost to myself. I did four runs from top to bottom (over 2000’ vertical drop) in only 80 minutes. It was a glorious way to start the last day of 2008.

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There’s no better après-ski than being warm and cozy slopeside watching Moe Dixon play at JJ’s Tavern, Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado. Copper has now had almost 6’ of snow in December alone.