the day after the storm. Cold. Bright. Silent. Absolutely magnificent.
Here are several expansive views. Click on images to enlarginate.
Winter finally arrives...
in Castle Valley with nearly five inches (~12 cm) of snow falling overnight. What a difference a day, and night, makes.
Given the shock and hardship this is presenting the local birds, the daily grain allotment has been doubled at the feeding stations.
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).
AFTERNOON UPDATE: The sun comes out after an additional several inches of snowfall. It’s very nice to have a helpful neighbor with the proper tools. I’m certain he’s having fun.
This dry and mild winter...
has allowed me to ride nearly every day, steadily racking up the miles, now at 77% of the distance around the Earth at the equator since September 2020. That’s 19,174 miles or 30,860 kilometers!
Taking a break at Middle Earth on the singletrack today.
Areas of considerable danger...
exist on slopes above treeline that face north and east according to the Utah Avalanche Center. Strong winds can be seen blowing across the high summits in the La Sal Mountains creating dangerous cornices and wind slab conditions in the snowpack.
The first valley floor snow...
this winter is occurring right now in Castle Valley, following nearly a half-inch (~13 mm) of rain earlier in the day.
A pair of Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) bickering in the snow.
The day after: Snowpack in the La Sal Mountains has risen to 79% of the historical median with 83 days to go to the median peak.
A winter storm is brewing...
that may bring snow and rain to the valley tomorrow. Here’s sunset this evening.
A dreary but welcome beginning...
to the new year sees the arrival of some moisture to the valley. About 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) of rain has fallen by midday.
Atmospherics against Porcupine Rim.
The year ends...
under very dry and mild conditions with an unimpressive snowpack in the high country. Look closely, the rising waxing gibbous Moon can be seen in the center of this image.
Snowpack in the La Sal Mountains is about half normal at the end of the calendar year 2025.
The Tower briefly emerges...
and then becomes obscured by low clouds as the latest early winter storm slowly passes, the first of which that dropped snow flurries on the valley this season. Meanwhile, the high country is off to a good start, sitting at 100% median snow water equivalent for this point in the water year.
Time series plot of snow water equivalent for the Lasal Mountain SNOTEL site.
Snow line sits at about 8,000 feet...
in the La Sal Mountains following several days of unsettled weather. About a half-inch (13 mm) of rain fell mid-valley at lower elevation.
Late afternoon atmospherics at Round Mountain.
A high elevation skift of snow...
still allows for zooming the trails lower in the valley the day after the storm. Winter approaches.
A sky full of cotton balls...
signals an incoming change in the weather with some moisture arriving late in the weekend.
Click on image to enlarginate.
Normally dry stream crossings...
turned into rapidly flowing muddy torrents within minutes in response to the passing of an intense thunderstorm cell. My neighbor and I were enrolled in the Bronco Off-Roadeo driving clinic and were out on the Dome Plateau trail undergoing guided training. It was absolutely perfect conditions to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities and the Bronco powered right through the mud and easily ascended wet and slippery slickrock.
Owl Draw on the Dome Plateau, north of Dewey Bridge.
Why the off road training? I am about to take possession of the 2025 Bronco Badlands/Sasquatch next week in Moab that I had ordered in late June this year. I’m somewhat excited!
3 November 2025 UPDATE: The Bronco has landed in Moab and is being prepped by the dealer.
Autumn colors on the Dome Plateau...
in Tub Canyon appear brilliantly luminous under foreboding skies of an approaching storm.
Porcupine Rim appears on fire...
at sunset this evening, while Adobe Mesa glows warmly in the east.
The Priest peeks out of the mist...
on a dreary and drippy day in Castle Valley where nearly 1.5 inches (38 mm) of welcome rain has fallen during the last several days.
A calm and smoke free sky...
allows for the lovely reflection of cirrus clouds on the mirrored surface of Fish Lake early this morning. It feels like I’ve left Mars and returned to Earth.
A menacing-looking storm cell...
blossomed over the La Sal Mountains yesterday afternoon bringing lightning to the high country but, alas, no moisture whatsoever to the lower canyons.
Quite a difference overnight...
in air quality as a persistent smoky airmass clears the canyons, seen here in comparative images into Professor Valley from a high vantage point on my daily ride.
THE DAY BEFORE around 7:45 am MDT.
TODAY around 8:00 am MDT where one can easily spy Fisher Towers six miles (9.6 km) away.
A highly hazy horizon...
nearly obscures Castle Valley in the distance, likely due to wildfires burning near Bryce Canyon and in northern Arizona. Here’s the view across the sandstone expanse of Arches National Park caught early this morning from the Moab Brands mountain bike trail system.
Parriott Mesa, the Priest & Nuns, Castleton Tower and Adobe Mesa are all visible 15.5 miles (~25 km) away from this vantage point on the Moab Brands mountain bike trail system.