Before four in the morning the air slides down out of North Cheyenne Cañon, crosses Ivywild's short blocks and lays the night's snow in long combed rows. Espinoza Landscaping is already out in it, headlights swinging, taking driveways and front walks down to bare pavement while the street is still dark. There is a particular satisfaction in the last pass — the shovel line squared at the sidewalk, the apron opened all the way to the curb, salt laid where the shade will hold the cold past noon. By the time the sun clears the plains east of town and the valley goes gold all at once, the way out is already open. Snow in Colorado Springs arrives gentle some nights and sideways others; either way, someone has to be there first.