Well...we had about 10 inches of snow over the last 16 hours.  It should be tapering off soon.  People were sledding all over the neighborhood.  This should stick around for the next few days...maybe longer.  Roads are still snow and ice covered.  We made a trip into town today to pick up a couple movies.  However, most people, never left their homes.  Would you?  Being snowed in over Thanksgiving isn't so bad.  However, it is suppose to be 5 degrees tonight.  Burrrrrrrrrrr

One of the nice aspects of the Overlook is our focus on your safety and comfort.  For those with physical limitations, we have a ramp to the Overlook.  In the picture on the left, you see a view from where you can drop off a guest and they can use the ramp to reach the front door to the Overlook.  There are hand rails almost the entire way to the front door.  Below you have a different view of the ramp.  You can also see the stairs to the Overlook and in the background is our weekend home right next door.

Here's a picture of our new finished fire pit.  We always provide the first load of firewood.  We also provide lighter fluid and matches.  If you plan to have several fires, you will want to stop and pick some firewood up at one of the many places in Estes.  It is sold at the Rock Mountain Village Shopping Center just 1 mile from the Overlook.  We have lots of chairs to sit around the fire.  We also have lots of fire tools and cooking utensils.  As always, you need to be careful with fire.  In winter we have strong winds that can be ferocious and unexpected.  We do have fire extinguishers and a water hose within a few feet of the fire pit for your safety.

Okay... this isn't a picture of Estes, but I like it!

We have had a couple of snow storms so far this season.  Each has dumped around 5 inches of snow on the ground.  There is still around 6 inches on the grass, but luckily the roads are all clear. Even the hill to the Overlook is clear....for now.  We've finished our custom firepit, added electric blankets to all three bedrooms, a hot and cold water dispenser, a new recycle center, a large garden of horseradish, and extended our ramp to make it easier for those with disabilities.  I am currently working on new parking for the Overlook.   Woo Hoo.  Today I watched two bucks fighting vigorously over some females.  This seems late in the season to me.  I don't think I've ever seen them be so aggressive.  I heard them before I saw them.  They nearly got hit by a car right in front of the Overlook as they clashed antlers. The females basically ignored the whole thing.  In fact, during the sparing, one female walked right up to me begging for corn with her baby. The weather is suppose to get down to the single digits later this week for Thanksgiving.  This will be the coldest we have seen so far this season.  We are now booked for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  However, there are lots of dates available next year.  Hope you will consider the Overlook for your future vacation to Estes.

Meet our resident bear.  He spent the summer opening all the car doors in our neighborhood.  He was very gifted at opening car doors.  One evening he opened Karen's car door to look inside.  He carefully removed two folded lawn chairs and stacked them in the driveway.  He then proceeded to climb into the car where he found two bags of peanuts.  He sat outside the car and ate an entire bag of peanuts. He opened each peanut and left the shells in a neat pile. He then took the second bag with him and walked home.  Luckily we caught his adventures on our video security system.  Lesson learned.  Always lock your car and don't leave any food inside.  

Here is one of our resident pine squirrels. He is about 1/2 the size of normal tree squirrels.  They live in a very narrow range of elevation.  They eat nothing but pine cones.  They eat it down to nothing but what looks like an apple core.  They spend their entire day gathering and eating pine cones or sitting in the tree screaming at you. They are very loud and will sit and chirp for hours in the trees.  You can walk right up to them. They seem to have no fear of humans, yet they aren't interested in anything we might give them. Yesterday I had one jump on my back while I worked on a sprinkler system.  I think he thought I was messing with his water supply.  Scared me silly.  They are very cute with white eye liner and tummies.  

Elk don't really like the snow too much.  Here they are bedding down during the first snow of the season.  It is only 10:45 a.m. There were about 50 females and 1 male.  Can you find him?  This picture was taken in the field in front of the Overlook.

Well it finally happened.  Our first snow of the year.