Rime coated first in Steamboat
Every branch of the Aspen trees seemed coated in an iridescent frost creating a winter scene that took my breath away. It was different from the ordinary morning after a snowstorm where snow bedecks the branches of the evergreens in the forest. Not only were the Aspens coated, but the individual needles of the Christmas-like firs and pines were coated in this icy frost as well. Even the chairs on the lift were not exempt from this coating, as needle-like tendrils coated the metal bars along the chairs, looking like white feathers coating the edges. Riding the chairlift at Steamboat Springs one recent wintry morning transported me to a magical winter wonderland, taking it all in as I rode up the mountain.
When we think of winter, we most often think of snow, especially living in the Rocky Mountains. But this type of icy coating I kept seeing that morning was something different referred to as rime. Rime ice forms when liquid water droplets in the air freeze onto a surface, forming needles, feathers and other fascinating forms — think of fog that freezes. The moisture or droplets stay in a liquid form while in the air, but once it bumps into something solid — a tree, a chairlift, it freezes into rim ice, forming interesting shapes and designs. Oftentimes, the winds help create the rime as they blow the liquid-laden clouds around, so you’ll see rime more heavily deposited on the side of the tree that the wind is hitting first. 
That day at Steamboat stayed cool and foggy all day, so the rime remained on the trees and buildings throughout the day. But rime, like other forms of frozen water, will melt and thaw. As soon as the sun comes out, the clouds lift, and temperatures warm, it disappears. But the beauty of that frosty morning stayed with me, and brought me a moment of awe of the wonders created by this unique winter weather phenomena.
