Skywatch Friday: Mountain Town in Winter

Nighttime temperatures have been around -20 deg F (-30 deg C) in the small Rocky Mountain city of Butte, Montana. After the first cold spell one is used to it. Typically, the colder it is, the more clear & sunny (and windless) it is, so even -20 can feel downright pleasant. And beautiful, as the sun rises above the East Ridge in a cold, clear sky:

Lighting up the frost crystals on a pane of glass:

The morning light makes a study in contrast as it falls on the peaks of the Pintler Wilderness west of town:

Mountain skies are endlessly changing, deeply fascinating. The next morning dawns with a thin cloud cover, a colorful sunrise:

And yet another study in contrast looking west:

Walking down the hill from Walkerville to my workplace, I approach the lovely Immaculate Conception Catholic church:

And find that the cold weather has brought some mule deer down from the hills during the night to feed upon the lush shrubs of the townsfolk:

Before the light of day is on them, the deer return to their hiding place on Big Butte, the landmark hill that stands over my little city in the Rockies: