Fall Color Reports, 2008

[Ron Bailey]

Marble should be popping this weekend and probably into Monday...but then I'm no forecaster, just a photographer.

The Crystal Mill should be great this weekend as long as the leaves don't freeze like last year. I've shot it so much I thought I would try something a little different this time around.

Maroon Bells is great right now and looks like it should be through the weekend when you can join 200-300 of your closet friends on the photo line. there were less than a couple of dozen at sunrise today and people trickled in and out throughout the morning.

Mill shot is from yesterday and Bells from today.

[Joshua Williams]

Jeff, I think we were at Crystal the same time yesterday. I talked to someone from Ft. Collins who was there with one other guy. Was that you?

I left there and headed toward McClure Pass, but everything was pretty disappointing on the south side. I camped back at Glenwood Springs and hit Maroon Bells this morning. Agree with Ron that the whole basin looks good, and the remaining green should be changing quickly to gold so this weekend should be great.

A few positive notes:

1. The road to Crystal Mill was in pretty good shape. I got my Santa Fe in and out with no problem. A local Jeep guide hauled in a guy from California, and he said it looked like the Forest Service had done some work on the road. It's a big investment in time, but it might be worth the trip if you've never been there.

2. I wouldn't say the aspen were in perfect condition, but I was pleasantly surprised by the overall health of the forests I saw. I saw a few muddy, ruddy stands, but most of what I saw looked much better than I thought it would given the recent Sudden Aspen Decline issues that the Forest Service have been referencing.

3. There was not much pine beetle damage in the backcountry around Crystal Mill and Maroon Bells. My heart sank a little when I came out of the Eisenhower Tunnel toward Breck the other day, but fortunately it wasn't as widespread as I thought it might be.

I'll post photos as I get them ready. Staying with friends in the Springs, and then headed back to Oklahoma tomorrow. Happy shooting!

[Joshua Williams]

Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 24.

[Ron Bailey]

The north side of The Mesa is beautiful right now with plenty of aspen left to turn for Sunday and probably even Monday in some areas. Some of the stands might be a little less vibrant by Sunday but overall it should be one of the best color weekends there in quite some time in my opinion. Never made it past Mesa Lakes Resort as there is just too much to capture!

Sorry, no time to process and show but will do so at earliest opportunity!

Okay, a quick conversion through Capture One of Mesa Lake on The Mesa from this afternoon. If you can get there this weekend go!

Added a pano that is in the works.

[Jeff Shearer]

Hey Josh- Yup--that was me. I was the guy w/ the Canon who kept leaving stuff in his car and kept running up the hill after it. It was good to meet you--although the connection wasn't made until now.

Conditions in Dallas Divide/Last Dollar Road area as of today (Friday) are still mostly green--I'd say 50% still green. Red Mountain Pass to Durango, however, is almost at peak (maybe...just maybe a few more days). The Durango-Silverton Railroad is being lit up in Silverton from 7pm-9pm tomorrow (Sat) if anyone is interested. I'll be there--I'll be the one wearing a Chinese sweatshirt that I bought for $10 b/c it was freakin' cold in Crested Butte the other morning.

[Jean Luc]

its never ever cold in crested butte

[Randy Van Winkle]

Hello All,

I made a trip yesterday to the Arapahoe Glacier overlook. The trailhead for this hike is the Fourth of July trail. Past Nederland and through Hessie there is some really nice color. Between Ned and Hessie I would say the trees are maybe 60%. Between Hessie TH to the 4th trail head is the best right now and I would call it 80-90% peak. I spent too much time on my hike and had a timeline to get back to the Fort; so, I just sort of rushed a few shots from the road. I was kind of surprised at how many aspen were up there. Also, the Hessie TH was ridiculously crowded at noon when I was coming down. There had to have been cars parked along the side of the road for upwards of a mile.

[Bill Bean]

There's been a lot of run for Bear Lake in RMNP on that other forum. Here's an image from the other Bear Lake...the one south of Cuchara off the Highway of Legends. Also a few more aspen shots. I had some obligations near Wetmore so I went south this year for my aspen trip and I was amazed! I only had one morning to shoot so this area will see me again next year when I have more time. If you're like me and looking for something fresh after a few years in Crested Butte, take a look at this place. It's called the Highway of Legends and it's spectacular!

[Ron Bailey]

What a year for rich colors! I've seen more reds this year than any time I can remember.

Colors on Grand Mesa still beautiful as well as the colors near and around Vega Lakes which is where these two were shot today.

[Jeff Shearer]

The first two images below are of Silverton and of the Durango-Silverton Railroad, both taken on Saturday the 27th. The last two are near Owl Creek Pass and were taken today (Sunday the 28th).

A few other notes: the west side of Owl Creek Pass is better than the east side currently (partially due to the plethora of evergreens on the east side). As with many of the places I've seen over the past two or three days near/in the San Juans, there are patches of aspens that are at peak, but most of the panoramas still show seas of green. Also, on the way back to the Front Range, I drove from Monarch to Salida on Highway 50 and can not remember seeing any green aspens, as they are all at peak.