Deep freeze

As the sun crosses our sky at a softened angle, dipping ever so gently toward the Tropic of Capricorn, autumn will soon be a fleeting memory. While the solstice isn’t until Dec. 21, it sure feels like we couldn’t be any closer to shaking hands with old man winter. Here’s a look at some local frostiness:

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Pristine glass on a pond near Purgatory. 

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An icy skin on a pond below the La Plata Mountains
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Delicate crystals of hoarfrost grow on a willow branch. 
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Making trails in shallow snow above Red Mountain Pass