Cheers to the growing light…

It is already getting better. The light, I mean. Believe it or not, about a week ago, the days started to get longer.
Thank you.
On December 21, 2012, if you are still here after the potential Mayan Apocalypse, the length of the day in Crested Butte was a mere 9 hours, 24 minutes, 31 seconds. The sun came up at 7:23 and set at 4:48. On the last day of 2012, the sun will rise at 7:27 and officially set at 4:55 giving us not quite three-and-a-half additional minutes of sunshine than on the winter’s solstice. It stays cold and dark in January. On January 31, you can look forward to 10 hours, 12 minutes, 34 seconds of direct sunshine. The sun is rising at about 7:15. Things don’t kick into gear until about mid-February when the sun comes up a minute before 7 and stays up until a quarter to 6. Man, those days start to feel good.
Look, I love winter. I think most people who choose to live at 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains can’t hate it. I enjoy the cold wind on my face while riding the Paradise Lift. I still marvel at the miracle of fluffy white flakes falling from the sky for days on end. It brings magic and fun and turns what most people would consider a harsh storm into smiles and joy in this mountain village.
But I really like it when the days start to grow again. Those days and days of darkness may be the hardest part about winter. It just feels so much better when the light is with us longer. The sun on your face lightens the heart and warms the soul. And we have started there.
So here’s to a great 2013. We made it past the end of the world and the Mayan calendar. Whew. Now let’s have a sweet, deep, epic winter with bountiful snow and longer days. Happy New Year, everyone. And you can always look ahead to that day in June when Crested Butte is bathed in sunshine for 14 hours, 55 minutes and 47 seconds.
Cheers.