It was just one of those days this past Sunday. After waking up early to head into the foothills for a fresh dusting of snow I just couldn’t find a location which would work. While it was dark heading up the Boulder Turnpike and onward into Boulder Canyon towards Nederland my mind was concentrating on the snow covered canyon road more so than a good spot. Just prior to sunrise I found a location which I thought would work as the moon was starting to set over the Continental Divide but the location did not develop as I had hoped. With some nice light on a cold and clear morning I traveled along the Peak to Peak Highway and eventually made my way from Rollinsville towards the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. For those not familiar with the Moffat Tunnel it is a 6.2 mile (10 km) train tunnel underneath the Continental Divide providing a more direct route for train travel from Denver to Salt Lake City. Open now for 80 years it is still an important link through the mountains.

Once at the east portal area the wind was howling, not making it easy to really get any images of the snow and rich blue skies. With the wind and a disappointing morning, the following image is one of the better ones taken while battling the wind at the foot of the divide and Rollins Pass. The wind was blowing left to right, with the east portal to the left of me.