Natural History Wanderings

Kit Frost Photography has a Colorado fall color report for the Alpine loop for Sept. 29, 2013

I spent a few days driving the Alpine Loop in Colorado. this drive is especially nice in the fall as it’s a Photographer’s Gem. This year the Aspens are slow to bloom, as we have a had a warm late summer and early fall.  The West side of the loop, and the La Platas are not showing color changes just yet. We searched out a few of my favorite high altitude pockets of aspen, above 9000 feet, but I estimate a week to 10 days for prime time on the West side. Even though it snowed in Telluride and up on Lizard Head Pass, the aspen is still predominately green.

I usually count 10 days from the first frost and then take a group of students to my favorite locations. Because a storm and strong winds were in the forecast for Friday, we went West to East on the Alpine loop; Durango, Mancos, Dolores, Telluride, Ridgway.

We hit the top of Lizard Head Pass just as a storm hit.  So we skipped Telluride, which was to have snow starting at 5pm through 10pm, and drove up to Dallas Divide.  I love changeable light and was like a kid in a candy store taking my students up to Ridgway.  I wasn’t disappointed.

Once we arrived at our Sunset location at Dallas divide, the Sneffels view was obscured by clouds, but still wonderful for photography and some time lapse, as the storm was driven by strong, cold winds, and was moving fast. At the Divide, the crowds were lined up for sunset and I noticed a strong cloud bank just to the west, where the sun would soon set. I like to be there an hour or more before to scout the light. Even though Star Walk app posted sunset at 7:05 I knew we would be “skunked” out of it if we got there too late. The best time right now is about 5-6:35.

See photos and older reports at: Kit Frost’s blog