Vail Valley Daily Photo - Waiting for Spring     The permanent snow is gone from the lower valley now and only an occasional dusting from time to time covers the countryside.  The valley floor is still brown with only a hint of the coming summer.  There's lots of winter left here - probably a couple of months.  The lifts close next week.  Time to think about a road trip!                                                                                                                            Photo:  Nilsson Images                                                                                                            04/06/2013

  VAIL VALLEY DAILY PHOTO:  HAPPY HOLLOWEEN! The Vail Valley get's into the mood just about as much as anywhere else and Holloween is a big time for all ages.  I found this example adorning my favorite settler's cabin located just a few blocks from my house.  This old place, obviously built in a fledgling Cottonwood forest - even before there was a forest - and abondoned many years ago easily plays the stage. It's no problem imagining this place covered with spiders!  The trees are obviously the only reason this place is still standing.                                                                                                                    PHOTO:  NILSSON IMAGES                                                                                                                     ... 10/31/2012

VAIL VALLEY DAILY PHOTO: END OF A NICE DAY - The Eagle Valley is nothing but big skies and clear air (although not much air at 8,000 feet!)  Cloud shots like this are the rule rather than the exception.  Last night I was out in the back yard and was treated to this especially glorious display.  These guys have just drifted in from Seattle.  While far from the snow carriers we are waiting patiently for, they certainly make the wait worthwhile!                                                                                                                      PHOTO:  NILSSON IMAGES   10/22/2012

VAIL VALLEY DAILY PHOTO:  VERY EARLY MORNING IN EAGLE RANCH Several mornings ago - around 6:00 AM - I found myself out on the Eagle Ranch Golf Course, trusty Nikon in hand, in search of the large flocks of Canadian Geese that have been frequenting our area the last few weeks.  The Vail Valley is smack in the middle of the north/south flyway for these birds who come in to spend the night on the golf course in their journey north or south. I had to be out there early.  You can hear the departure of each daily flight in the wee hours - somethimes well before the sun comes up.  This morning yielded no geese.  I did run across a big, bushy tailed fox however, which is the most likely answer to the no geese issue. This view made it all worthwhile.                                             ... 10/07/2012

VAIL VALLEY DAILY PHOTO: "IS THIS A GREAT JOB, OR WHAT?" This is Izzy.  Izzy is the Assistant Greens Keeper at the Eagle Ranch Golf Club.   Izzy's job is to ride around on this cool cart with his boss and best friend Derrik and figure out the most diabolical pin placements imaginable.  In addition, Izzy must chase Prairie Dogs and Geese (messy critters) off the fairways and do other such stuff.  It's a lot better job than working in a junk yard - a lot more refined.  The hours are great too.  While you have to get up before the sun, you are done by noon.....and then it's nap time.  This dog is always smiling!                                                                                                                         PHOTO:  NILSSON IMAGES 09/25/2012

  Vail Valley Daily Photo:  Gooood Morning! Exceptional mornings like this are the Rule rather than the Exception in Summer Vail.  Crisp and crystal clear is the statistical norm around here.  We were suprised this Memorial Day weekend to be greated by the expected sunshine filtered by a heavy overcast of smoke from several fires in south western Colorado and Northern Arizona. Fire season has come early to the western US due to our abnormally dry winter.  It may be an interesting summer season! PHOTO:  Nilsson Images   05/27/2012

      Vail, CO Daily Photo - Do You See the Cat? I took this photo just because I have a wierd attraction to windows in barns.  When I took this out of the camera for processing I noticed something I didn't see when I snaped the shot.  Do you see the cat? The ski season is drawing to an early close this year.  While we were kept alive throughout most of the season by "just in time" snow storms and a valiant performance by the snow making crews, we are starting to admit defeat and closing some south facing slopes and the lifts that service them due to major muddage.  There is still some very nice skiing on Vail and Beaver Creek Mountains and the mountains will stay open through April 15 but......   The Eagle Ranch Golf course opens tomorrow!! Photo: NilssonImages.com   03/22/2012