Rico is experiencing its January thaw two or three weeks too early. Beautiful warm days for the last 20 days except for that inch or so that we received just before Christmas Day. We realize that January is not a particularly heavy snow month, therefore, we may not have much of a fun, warm thaw because there will be nothing much for Mr. Winter to work with, at least here in Town.
I met a man the other day who said that he was on his way up toward the mill and was planning to continue on up above the mill in the area where our water gallery is located. He knows that there are a few moose coming into our area and he thinks he might be lucky enough to see something up in that part of the mountains. Maybe. He mentioned that the snow is up above his knees at that point and as you climb higher, the deeper the snow pack. Good.
It is my opinion that if the moose has good sense, he is down grazing near McPhee reservoir.
Our students are taking advantage of Christmas break and getting in some good skiing days over on Tellurides mountain. They love it. Parents are very happy with the whole situation because the ski company does give our youth discounted season passes our Addie, 10 years old, paid $175 for her age group Wyatt and Kelby paid $225 for the high school age group. Several resorts are now asking over $100 for an all-day pass. Better take your lunch to compensate. Somehow, families manage one way or another to see that their children enjoy the winter sports because it is something that they can do for years until you get as old as I am and then it is a problem! But not if one can manage to keep those legs in decent shape and that will help the situation.
We were told that the elk migration is not over. Someone watched 26 head move from the southern edge of the hourglass over to the north side of the area for better grazing. There are migratory trails down below Rico two or three miles south, and when you drive up here take notice that there are hundreds of deer and elk tracks that cross the highway. Which means, remember the migratory route summer and winter.