When one thinks of the fall display of color that brings on the tour buses, photographers, and Sunday afternoon drivers, most people, as did I, immediately call up images of the New England hills in late September and October. That has changed for me.
This change happened yesterday, Oct 1, 2011. I have occasionally seen some great color in the Colorado Rockies, including here in RMNP, over in the ski areas along 70, and up in Steamboat, but have not spent enough time here in the early fall to experience the peak color very frequently. However this year, the colors are this weekend spectacular, and we are here!
Estes Park has been busy, as usual, with all the visitors for the elk rut and the various fall festivals here and in nearby foothill communities. Add all the TV newscast telling people to head to the mountains for the color, and our town has been PACKED this weekend. Making a run to the Safeway or to Kind Coffee for a cup is a challenge, taking 15-20 minutes each way (rather than the usual 5 min.) I am happy for the merchants (who generally feel it has been a good season already), but look forward to getting a little sanity back.
Yesterday, another couple on our street and Barbara and I drove down Hwy 7 where there was vista after vista - literally around every turn in this mountain road - of beautiful stands of aspen, mixed among the pines, with yellow, gold, and orange leaves quaking in the gentle wind. It was late in the day and depending on the direction of the road and where the vista was directed, the leaves would either be shining in the late day sun or glowing with the light shining through the leaves. It was partially cloudy, so the mixture of sun and shadow, the low angle of the sun, and the continually changing views of this brief, but perfect display will probably stay with me until most everything else has faded. We wound up the afternoon drive with a superb dinner in the restaurant a the Isle in Blackhawk.
I would still like to tour New England in a good year for color, but I don't feel too deprived anymore.
1 comment:
Wonderful! This is what I miss most about living in the Reno/Tahoe area, especially the latter. It was predominantly evergreen, but wherever the aspen grew, it clustered thick and blanketed sections of the mountains. Oh, did those glow brilliantly in the shifting sunlight! Thanks for bringing back some pleasantness.
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