13 for '13

I guess it's that time of year to take a look back and select my favorite images from the past year.  The images I have selected are my favorites for a variety of reasons.  They might not be me my best or tell the story the best, but they all have meaning to me for one reason or another.  Enjoy.

13. Winter Park Highlands fire

Granby firefighters wet down a hot spot on a house fire on County Road 85
in the Winter Park Highlands on Saturday morning, Oct. 5.  Firefighters from
East Grand, Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs/Parshall fire departments
responded to the blaze that left the residence a total loss.

12. Red Bull Final Descent

Ned Kajko of Steamboat Springs recovers from crashes on his two previous laps
during the Red Bull Final Descent at Winter Park Resort in September.
Individuals and teams attempted to complete as many laps
through the Trestle Bike Park as they could in 12 hours.

11. Perch perfect

A female red-winged blackbird sings while perching on a cattail
along the shore of Shadow Mountain Reservoir in May.

10. Rivalry game

Middle Park's Jace Linke (32) blocks the shot of West Grand's
Nick Ritschard (0) during the cross-county rivalry game
in January in Kremmling.  The Panthers held on for a 57-50 win.  

9. Dog bites "dog"

Bernie the Colorado Avalanche mascot has his foot bit by National Sports Center
for the Disabled therapy dog Cinnamon during the Wells Fargo Ski Cup
in March at Winter Park Resort. 

 8. Too close for comfort

Visitors to Grand Lake look at the smoke rising from the Big Meadows fire
 in Rocky Mountain National Park in June.

7. Hug a tree

Grand County Search and Rescue member Dave Kafer instructs Granby Elementary School
 third graders on how to use a garbage bag to stay warm and dry as part
 of the Hug-a-Tree program in May.

6. Bald is beautiful

A bald eagle passes above the Colorado River
along U.S. 40 between Parshall and Kremmling in February. 

5. "A" for effort

West Grand and Hayden face off in a Western Slope League game in October in Kremmling.

4. Boys will be boys

Bighorn rams play on the tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park in August.

3. A "Kool" reaction

A fan reacts as Shawn McQuiller, lead singer of Kool and The Gang, touches her hand
 as the band performs "Ladies Night" during the Winter Park Jazz Festival in July.

2. Rain art

Rain from a passing thunderstorm runs down a car windshield
in Rocky Mountain National Park in August.

1. Snow-clasico

Costa Rica defender Juan Diego Madrigal (6) falls in the snow as United States forward
Herculez Gomez (9) looks for the ball in the second half of a World Cup
 qualifier at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City in March.
The United States won 1-0.  

goo, goo, g'joob