MAGNOLIA ROAD — It is fairly common up here in the Peak to Peak region for there to be a cold day in July, but a warm day in February has been unheard of until this very unusual winter. Many of us existing in these mountains have been bracing for our winter season only to find that it simply isn’t coming this year. 

Although I know many skiers and riders are highly disappointed, it’s made for one positive—we have access to a lot of terrain right now that we typically do not for this time of year.

Am I concerned about the lack of moisture? Absolutely. Am I going to take advantage of it while I can? One hundred percent. 

Just south of Nederland on your way out of town runs the ever-so-magnificent Magnolia Road. I’ve lived on this road for about five years now. To watch it morph from season to season over the years has truly been such a privilege. Every year is different, but this winter stands out as the driest by far.

Just a few miles down Magnolia Road, right before the straightaway that opens up to a large vast meadow, there’s a bend in the road where you’ll see a cattle gate with a small human-size opening for visitors hoping to meander on the trails. 

While following my pup along the path, although strange to see the dry grass and dirt-exposed path, it makes me yearn for the lush green beauty that follows a long winter. Is it just a tease? I hope so. It feels strange to be thinking that far ahead.

On this particular trail, you come to a point where you can walk through a very young pine forest, where the trees are just about five to six feet tall. As you navigate through the sea of evergreen perfume, you come to an opening sparsely decorated with lodgepoles, giving you a beautiful view of the Divide. 

It’s so easy to get lost in time staring at that ridge line. It feels absolutely insane that I can drive less than 10 minutes to this location and walk another short 10 minutes to this view. What a divine privilege it is to inhabit these beautiful mountains. 

How ironic it is to soak up such gorgeous views while simultaneously fearing that the landscape will be forever changed by the changing seasons. Since I moved here in 2018, each winter has come later. Here we are in 2026, and it really hasn’t come at all. 

Although jaw-droppingly gorgeous in literally any kind of weather, it hurts my soul to say goodbye to winter without its usual wintery coat. As we’ve witnessed our hopes for a white winter dwindle, we sit and wait for a big spring dump.

It has to come, right? This can’t be the new normal! The unseasonably warm weather brings a creeping fear to us mountain residents. Although I am pleased to be able to access Magnolia’s many trails for an easy walk with my four-footed friend, I can’t help but notice the anxiety setting in about summertime. 

I encourage you trail walkers to take advantage of the current situation and hit those local trails. Get outside and remind yourself why we must fiercely protect this land from climate change.