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Sunset on a frozen lake.

Central Minnesota.

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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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Lake Dillon in Colorado High Country is still covered in ice. Enough of winter! You can see some of the slopes from Keystone (now closed for the season) off to the left.

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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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We had some colder nights last week and part of Sloan Lake in the city developed a thin layer of ice. These geese seemed confused as they were patiently marching their way to some open water.

Denver, Colorado.

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The ice is starting to move out on Lake Dillon in Colorado High Country. The cold, calm waters reflect a late-season dusting of snow.

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Here on Pelican Lake in Minnesota the ice went out on April 2nd ― one of the earliest ice-outs ever. A brilliant sunset last night painted its now liquid surface fiery red.

Compare this photo to the Lake Dillon images below where winter-like weather still keeps the lake locked under a mantle of ice. Lake Dillon is 7° of latitude farther south, but it is also 8000’ higher in elevation.

Pelican Lake (1312’ AMSL), Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

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Winter continued this weekend in High Country. In the photo above, snow-laden clouds march across Lake Dillon while a thin sliver of sunrise light temporarily breaks through the clouds and streaks across the frozen surface.

Area ski resorts have recorded about 18” of fresh powder in the last week.

Lake Dillon (9,017’ AMSL), Summit County, Colorado.

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The ice continues to retreat on Pelican Lake. A cold front has moved in that will slow things down a bit, but one day soon some big winds will clear the remaining ice.

The lake froze up for the winter back on December 5th. This will be a relatively short ice-cover season, and that is good news for Minnesota lake people.

There’s a short video here.

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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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This far north, spring comes slow to Minnesota Lake Country, but a crack finally appears in winter’s façade. It is also the first time we have seen the sun in 14 days, so I think it made up for its absence by providing a spectacular show.

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Winter ice loosens its grip on the Pelican River, and a Trumpeter Swan explores a new expanse of water.

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Trees reflect in a melting pond. The dark shadows cast on the water by the tree trunks cut through the surface glare and reveal cracks in the submerged and retreating ice. Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

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A muskrat on the Pelican River takes advantage of the melting ice to enjoy a snack on shore.

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Last month’s snowmobile tracks across a Minnesota pond now disappear into the dark waters of the spring melt.