Walking to Deer Hill in the winter can be somewhat of an endurance test, especially with the winter we have had so far. Imagine yourself walking across an icerink with a snow gun directed into your face. But, every now and then your efforts are rewarded with a view like this: the beautiful Mancos Valley with Mesa Verde behind, bathed in morning light, with a few wisps of cloud yet to dissipate. With temperatures in the low teens, my hands went numb in the time it took to snap this shot, so that cow must be feeling pretty sorry for itself.