Skiers and snowboarders ride the snow and chairlift on a January day at Monarch Mountain.A skier dips through the trees on a February powder day at Monarch Mountain.Each April, as the time nears to close Monarch Mountain’s ski operation in central Colorado, workers build a flume of snow that leads to a lined pond at the bottom of the Freeway slope. Competitors in the annual Kayaks on the Snow race down to splash and paddle to the finish. Some bounce. Skiers and riders take part of their next to last day of the season to party and cheer the racers, occasionally dodging huge splashes and flying kayaks.Skiers and a snowboarder ride the Ruby Chief Lift on a chilly December afternoon at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.Skiers and riders take to the hill and chairlift in great conditions at Monarch Mountain.A lift operator reaches out to bump a chair at Monarch Mountain.Fireworks fill the sky, following a torchlight parade on New Year’s Eve at Monarch Mountain.
