October Again

Fall Colors along Last Dollar Road.

October, the perfect month. The one I wait for all year.

And this year it seems even more sweet than usual. Because we've lived through an Exceptional drought (who knew there was a category beyond Extreme?) and now the fall rains have been falling and soaking in.

Aspen colors from the east end of Last Dollar Road.

It could have been a very dry autumn, too, but so far we're looking up at the rain falling.

Orange aspen colors, Last Dollar Road.

There is snow falling on the high peaks, but for the most part I can't see it yet; the clouds are keeping them secret for now. Soon enough. Hopefully for some photos of the remaining fall colors with the snowy peaks on the skyline.

Cottonwood colors, San Miguel River, Colorado.

See much more of my photography at www.NaturalMoment.com.

© Copyright 2018 Stephen J. Krieg

Colorado Fall Colors, South Fork San Miguel River

Looking down at the upper South Fork of the San Miguel River, October 1, 2018.

After a slow start the past few weeks due to warm temperatures, the fall colors in the high country of southwest Colorado have picked it up.

Highway 145 stormy day fall colors near Telluride, Colorado.

Some might call this "peak colors", but I don't. It's close, though. Still a lot of green aspen leaves mixed in with the yellow. And now we have rain pushing in from the south due to a hurricane turned tropical storm that made landfall on the Baja Peninsula. But it's relatively warm rain. So it will be interesting to see how things continue to play out for the rest of this week.

Photo location: Along Colorado Highway 145 south of Telluride, Colorado.

See much more of my photography on my website: www.NaturalMoment.com.

© Copyright 2018 Stephen J. Krieg

Fall Colors in Colorado

Historic Trout Lake Trestle, near Trout Lake, Colorado.

I was up in the San Juan mountain range in southwest Colorado again. Another high country fall season, another compelling reason to get back up there and experience it again.

For me the autumn colors of the aspen stands are the crowning glory of fall there. But there are many more subtle shades of color down low to the earth. Shrubs, forbs, grasses. Yellows, reds and browns set against the deep greens of the conifer trees.

For this photograph, I had been driving the forest road between Trout Lake and Lizard Head Pass. It pretty much follows the route of the historic railroad that ran there in the late 1800's. So it's an easy drive for any vehicle, since trains can't handle steep grades.

In this photo, I stopped to photograph the Trout Lake Trestle, with the mountain brook tumbling beneath it and one of the first snows of fall on the distant peaks.

Photo location: Uncompahgre National Forest south of Telluride, San Miguel County, Colorado.

© Copyright 2016 Stephen J. Krieg

Best Halloween Display Ever

Pumpkins take over Telluride at Halloween

Seen recently in Telluride, Colorado. Perhaps the perfect mountain town, even though it's overbuilt, trendy, and expensive? 

If anything, this display indicates they like to have fun and don't take things too seriously.

Telluride is a beautiful town.

Downtown Telluride, Colorado.

Ain't it?

© Copyright 2015 Stephen J. Krieg