Well, another water year has come and gone (Oct. 1) with a weird winter of early drought, three mid-season rain events up to 10,000 feet and two premature snowmelt runoff cycles, but in the end it turned out to be an average ski year.

This was followed by a desperate spring, a desiccated summer, and a dehydrated fall that were as dry as a popcorn fart. (Although October already is the wettest on record since 1874.)

The understory groundcover vegetation gave up the ghost early as a mere beige/orange/red tapestry and the oaks look to be brownish for the finish. But the maple/aspen colors peaked outrageously, considering the drought, with the orange blob in Bonanza Flats standing out again. Autumn was at least above average.

We, unfortunately, received only 13.81 inches of precipitation, o

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