Fall Color Reports, 2007

[bill proud]

Lizard Head and Trout Lake area has great color and the peaks have snow on them. I shoot film so don't have images to show but if anyone is close to this area it is good. I was up yesterday afternoon, Monday, 24th.

Drove to the Sunshine/Wilson overlook on 145 and although the Wilson Range has snow the mesa is still green.

cheers

[bill proud]

I gave out the wrong phone number on page one for a fall color hot line.

The correct number is 800 354-4595

Sorry about that error.

[Darren Kilgore]

Finally some McClure visuals from, I'm guessing, over the weekend: 14ers thread, page 6.

Thank you all for the continued updates. Most excellent work, and I know this is helping me out a great deal, and undoubtedly many others.

[Jeff Shearer]

My wife and I went on a "we must get out of the house before we go insane" weekend drive this past weekend. We drove from Fort Collins to Aspen to Ouray and back (yes, we are a little crazy). Here is a report of what we saw. The attached pictures have descriptions typed on them--mainly because pictures are better than words in this case.

*All photos were taken on Saturday, the 22nd, as were the following observations

- Maroon Bells: (see picture for color) I tried talking to as many of the 100+ photographers at the lake, but still didn't meet anyone from NPColorado.
- Kebler Pass Road: From Paonia Reservoir to Mile Marker 13, most everything is still green. From Marker 13-Crested Butte, I would say the Aspens are well above 60-70% changed.
- Crested Butte area: Aspen's are 75% or more changed
- Gunnison: Cottonwoods around the river are 85% changed, at least those surrounding Hwy 50 West out of Gunnison
- Dallas Divide: Maybe 4 trees have changed from the overlook. I didn't drive down Lost Dollar Road, but there were a few peaked Aspens at the entrance
- Hwy 550 from Ouray to Crystal Lake in Red Mtn Pass: 30-40% max have changed.
- Red Mtn Pass from Crystal Lake to Mining Overlook: 80% changed in my opinion--the whole pass area seemed to be on fire with yellow

More pictures from our trip can be found in my fall gallery: http://naturewalkgallery.com/galleri...ado_Fall_2007/

Hope that helps.

[Kalin Wilson]

Thanks Jeff! Nice report.

[Darren Kilgore]

Ironton Park area this morning



Ironton Park



Lime Creek Road this afternoon



Dallas Divide tonight


Those are quick snapshots straight off the camera with no editing. There is so much green in this state, it's crazy! Ironton Park is the only thing going on in this region, though even it could use another 2-3 days before it peaks, assuming the leaves that are yellow could hang on the trees.

In case anyone was wondering, the trees are on the late side of things this year.

[Scott Bacon]

Here's a few from Sept 22-23. The first 2 are from along Castle Creek. The 3rd is above the Capitol Peak Trailhead...

[Joshua Hardin]

Here's a shot from 133 between Redstone and Marble on the north side of McClure taken last week. I went by there a couple of days ago and the aspen on the lower end of this stand had lost several of their leaves, but the ones that are green in this photo are now very yellow. Most of the rest of the pass had not changed much since my last visit except the south side is starting to change slowly. There is a little bit of snow on Chair Mountain. Will upload more photos soon.

[Joshua Hardin]

For those wondering about the state of the Maroon Bells, they should look something like this now. This was taken on Sept. 27.

[Joshua Hardin]

Here is a photo of McClure from the opposite, south, side of the pass as of Sept. 27. Still a lot of green there, but beginning to turn. Middle of next week to the weekend should be good. Seems a little late from most of the past years that I remember.