Cold settles into the valley overnight, pooling on the floor of it while the hills above stay warmer, so a Montrose morning can start ten degrees under the mesa tops. Alpine Maintenance begins in that hour, five o'clock and dark, opening drives, walks and lots before anyone has to face them. Shovel work along a north-facing entry is slow and cold and matters more than anything else on the property, because that strip never sees sun. Get it cleared and treated and the whole day downstream goes easier. Winter is long enough around here; the walk to the truck doesn't need to be part of it.