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Sunset on a frozen lake.

Central Minnesota.

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Ice fisherman on Lobster Lake near Alexandria, Minnesota.

Normally, at this time of year, people would have no qualms about driving 3/4 ton pickups out on the ice to their fish houses, but unseasonably warm winter weather in Minnesota has left the ice much thinner than normal.

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Sunset light reflects off a frozen Lake Dillon, Summit County, Colorado. Some of the ski slopes of Keystone are visible in the distance.

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After sunset on a frozen Minnesota lake.

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Sundown on an ice-covered Minnesota lake.

There were dark, low clouds and blustery conditions all day, but right before day’s end a brilliant yellow sun emerged below the cloud deck and above the horizon to briefly illuminate the frozen lake.

On Pelican Lake near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

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Cracks in the lake ice stand out as the the frozen surface becomes honeycombed and waterlogged from the sun and warmer temperatures. Ice-out will be earlier this year ― I’m predicting April 10th.

Pelican Lake, Minnesota.

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With special emphasis on the frozen custard.

On the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver during yesterday’s snowstorm.

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Trumpeter Swans on the Otter Tail River in Minnesota.

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Trumpeter Swans watch as a flock of Canadian Geese land on the frozen surface of Otter Tail Lake in Minnesota.

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The snow-covered, rocky shoreline glows at night by the light of a waning full moon. The lake is frozen now, but the recent waves from a few days ago created icicles that look like the ominous hands of winter clawing at the icy surface.

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The Pelican River as it leaves Detroit Lakes. Winter has come to stay.

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By mid-morning the ice was already strong enough to support my weight. This is looking down through the ice to the pebbles on the bottom below.

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Yesterday, the waves were lapping at the shore, but as you can see in this photo taken in the early morning light, the lake froze overnight. The ice looked like it was about an inch thick and there were countless puffy white ice crystals covering the surface.

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Another photo from last week in Colorado high country. A sundog reflects off the frozen surface of Lake Dillon.

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Sunday night – out amongst the ice fishing houses on Detroit Lakes. There is more action out here then there is in town.