Snow King of Aspen

About Snow King of Aspen

Midland Avenue wakes early in a storm — shop lights on, the old Midland railroad grade buried somewhere under the white. Snow King of Aspen plows the Basalt end of the valley through those mornings: driveways, private lanes and business lots, with hand work at the steps and entries where a blade is no use. Up-valley weather stacks one storm on the next, and by February the banks stand high enough that pushing snow becomes a question of where rather than whether. Sand and ice melt go on the steep pitches and the corners that stay in shadow. There is a particular pleasure in finishing a lot while it is still snowing, knowing full well it will be done again by noon.