OUT IN THE COLD

Winter is upon us, and this will be the first in a few years to feel the effects of El Niño, which, under normal circumstances, tends to make things cooler and wetter in our neck of the woods. Time will tell, but if you're hoping for a white Christmas, there's hope.

A PORTFOLIO EDITED BY JEFF KIDA AND KEITH WHITNEY

PRECEDING PANEL: Sunset brings pink and purple hues to the cloud-shrouded San Francisco Peaks. This view of Arizona's highest mountain range is anchored by snow-flocked evergreens in Flagstaff. TOM BEAN LEFT: A seasonal tributary of Lynx Creek, in the Prescott National Forest, flows through a snow-blanketed landscape as it mirrors tall ponderosa pines and the colors of sunset. THERESA ROSE DITSON ABOVE: Reflections in calm water, the snowy Granite Dells and morning fog combine for an eerie scene at the Prescott area's Watson Lake. The Dells, which cradle this reservoir, are about 1.4 billion years old. MICHAEL WILSON

The orange-brown hues of ponderosa pine trunks stand out in a winter wonderland near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The South Rim averages nearly 5 feet of snow per winter, while the North Rim typically sees more than twice that much. ADAM SCHALLAU

NIKON D800E, 1/4 SEC, F/16, ISO 100, 135 MM LENS

A late-winter storm leaves heavy snow on saguaro cactuses and other desert plants at Honey Bee Canyon Park, in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is also home to hiking trails, petroglyphs and a historic dam.

PRECEDING PANEL: Bare cottonwoods snake through Canyon de Chelly in a winter view from Spider Rock Overlook. Numerous overlooks at Canyon de Chelly National Monument offer easy access to views of the canyon and its main tributary, Canyon del Muerto.

LEFT: Ponderosa pines surround a snow-covered meadow at Lower Lake Mary, southeast of Flagstaff, as seen from Forest Highway 3. When it has water in it, Lower Lake Mary is popular among anglers, thanks to it being regularly stocked with trout.

At sunset, clouds clear from the Fin (foreground) and Wilson Mountain (background) in a view from below Airport Mesa in Sedona. Dustings of snow on the buttes of Red Rock Country are common in winter, making these landmarks even more appealing for photographers.