It´s been a long day up on the mountains and the Clif bar you had earlier did no justice to your hunger.

The big news for Vail this year is the replacement of the aging Vista Bahn high-speed chairlift with the most technologically advanced lift in North America. Vail’s new gondola is a masterpiece of engineering.

Talk to a skier who learned in the ’60s and they’ll tell stories of coaches imported from Europe to teach Americans how to tackle obstacles like moguls — knees together! — and ski edges sharp enough to shred your ski pants. Our rocker skis, wide leg stance and Gortex pants are a long ways from those experiences.

Colorado’s ski season opened this year on the slopes of A Basin, locally loved for its open bowl skiing, steep runs and the “Beach” base area that’s so friendly to tailgating parties. With some of the highest skiable terrain in the country, topping out at 13,000 feet, it’s not a surprise that A Basin’s season is one of the longest.

There´s a buzz building in the air with each cold nip and chilly breeze. Those long, light blue wispy clouds over the western horizon are surely harbingers of wind, freezing temperatures and snow.

Colorado is known for its summer festivals, with world-class events like the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Boulders own Creek Festival and many more. But fun in the sun doesnt end when the snow hits the ground. The winter may be colder, but that doesnt mean that the action stops.

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is open Tuesdays through Sundays, and for a mere $5 (or $4 for seniors, students and educators), you can check out some of the hottest local and national artists For more information, call 303.443.2122, or visit www.

Society of Boulder Valley. 1-3 p.m. 29th Street Mall, 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, 303-444-0722..

Its cold. Its windy. Your hands are frozen. Youve been snowshoeing for hours. Now the moment comes: the light on the Gore Range is perfect, with the snow reflecting the alpenglow that brushes the peaks. You pull out your camera. Its going to be the perfect shot.

As cold weather approaches, winter clothing emerges at your favorite boutiques and from the depths of your closets. Although its easy to slip on jeans and an oversized jacket to combat the cold temperatures, there are other options. The keys to effective winter fashion are layering and color correlation.