January 30, 2012
I have lived in Colorado for nearly twelve years. But despite all of the time I've spent exploring my great state, I have barely had time to scratch the surface on all of the amazing things to see and do. I took care of knocking two items off my to-do list this weekend with my first-ever trip to Breckenridge to see the 22nd annual International Snow Sculpture Championships. It was early, but traffic was already plugging up Interstate 70 into the mountains. Chugging along at 15 miles per hour was so frustrating that I almost turned around to look for another way to spend the day. I mentally made a deal with myself, though, and decided to give it a few more miles.
Thankfully that was enough for traffic to clear and free me to respectable speeds on into the mountains.
After more than three hours - twice the time it would take with the road clear - I pulled into Breckenridge. I was in town with a friend specifically to see the snow sculptures t  hat international teams had spent all week working on. I had heard from friends and coworkers that it was a great must-see event for any Coloradoan in the winter. We quickly arrived at the small event plaza after a free shuttle bus ride from the parking lot on the edge of town. It was a beautiful, albeit frigid, day and I was excited to see the sculptures. We were there on the first day after they were completed and on display; the sculptures will remain on display through Sunday, February 5th.
Fifteen teams from nine countries around the world - from Finland to China - converged on Breckenridge, Colorado. From a large 10 x 10 x 12 foot block of snow weighing more than twenty tons, they would create their massive sculptures in approximately 65 hours. As we strolled amongst the sculptures, it seemed as though some ran out of time when it came to completing their works.
Some snow sculptures were quite intricate while others were very basic and abstract. But it appeared as though some were missing quite a few details that were shown in their small models. Since we did not see any of the sculptors standing around their work, we assumed it was simply due to a time issue - these teams were obviously too skilled not to be able to carve in the small  details which were missing. My friend and I commented on each of the snow sculptures as we walked amongst them. We took two spins through the plaza and found that our tastes were generally the same - we both preferred those with better details over the abstract sculptures. All of the sculptures were quite impressive, but those that appeared to have taken so much more thought and effort won us over.
We also agreed on our favorite sculptures. In third place was The Deadliest Catch: Calamari's Revenge, the Kraken (Team USA / Alaska), left. Our second place winner was Great Expectations (Team Canada / Quebec), below. What was our choice for first place? That I'll save for my Picture of the Week selection this Friday.
Posted by Jason Hussong.
December 12, 2011
I love touring all of the historic buildings and sites of Colorado. But why, after living in Denver for over eleven years, I have not yet been to the Colorado Governor's Mansion, I cannot tell you. It has perpetually been on my list of places to visit, something else has just come up. Finally though, as I get into the holiday spirit, I made it over to take a tour of the historic home decked out for the season. The Colorado Governor's Mansion, also known as the Cheesman-Evans-... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
November 21, 2011
I wasn't sure of what to expect, as I walked through the doors of the Clyfford Still Museum. After much fanfare, news coverage, and general hoopla, I was about to walk through the doors of Denver's newest museum on its opening weekend. I had been planning this visit for nearly a year - ever since I heard about the opening date - and was now concerned I might be let down after so much buildup. I worried I'd experience that all-too-familiar feeling of being let down ... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
October 31, 2011
"When things aren't happening, it really makes you appreciate that much more the times when something does occur," I stated to our six-person group. And then, as if on cue, a motion sensor-activated light popped to life. We were sprawled on the floor in a hallway lined with cells on the upper floor of the Museum of Colorado Prisons, almost ready to call it quits for the night, when our attention was directed to the other end of the hall. Someone else who we could ... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
September 22, 2011
Stradling the border between Colorado and Utah, Dinosaur National Monument sits on the far western - or eastern, depending on your perspective - side of the state. It is for this reason that I had not traveled there - the drive from Denver was just too long. But this past week I finally made the park I coveted for so long,  getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the new visitor center and museum before Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar attends the grand opening on Tuesd... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
August 29, 2011
I ran for the cover under the tall lodgepole pine trees. Rain was falling in large, fat droplets at Rocky Mountain National Park's Dream Lake and I wanted nothing to do with it; I wasn't prepared with a jacket or even a cap. But I knew, as someone who was taking cover with me joked, that the weather in the park would change in fifteen minutes if I didn't like it. And I hoped it changed soon, since I was nearing the end of my hike with a friend and ravenousl  y hungry. I sta... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
July 21, 2011
I walked to my car in the cool summer evening admiring the fact that I tried something new. No, it wasn't anything crazy like eating some bugs, alligator tail, or even dog - although, I'm pretty sure I accidentally ate some while visiting the Old Summer Palace on my 2006 trip to China. No, it was nothing like that; I simply sat down for a cup of tea at Boulder's Dushanbe Teahouse. I have desired to visit the Dushanbe Teahouse for many years, simply because of a snippet of hist...
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Posted by Jason Hussong.
July 18, 2011
My legs shook like trees in the wind as I stopped to take a picture of a stream that ran through the forest on the east side of Mount Elbert, the tallest peak in all of the Rocky Mountains. I paused to rest for a moment - wondering if a few more trips to the gym would have really helped the situation - and covered for my weakness by taking a quick  photo. I needed the break more than the memories, if I was going to skip across three stones in the water to continue back down to the t... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
June 13, 2011
NOTES: Read about A Ghostly Tour of the Stanley Hotel before continuing. Also, observe the large orb on the right side of Karl's head on the left side of the picture as he stands next to Callie. It was taken in the Stanley Hotel's Concert Hall basement foyer. 
Sitting in a stall in the women's lavatory in the Stanley Hotel's Concert Hall made me question my sanity. I never thought I'd be where I was, particularly with a dozen strangers surrounding me. Yet, there I was, on the toilet in the d... Continue reading...
Posted by Jason Hussong.
May 9, 2011
I ended the week feeling demoralized. I thought I had worked hard, but apparently it wasn't enough, because I struggled climbing a hill only 8,000 feet above sea level, Sure, to a low-lander that may sound like a veritable mountain, but in Colorado it only constitutes a hill. I now can tell that I'm not only going to need to spend my time in the gym better, but also purchase some more tools to help me along the way. 
The week began with a false start. I drove up the scenic Poudre Canyon t...
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Posted by Jason Hussong.
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hat international teams had spent all week working on. I had heard from friends and coworkers that it was a great must-see event for any Coloradoan in the winter.
details which were missing.
