Colorado aspen updates
 

We were in Winter Park this weekend. Fall is definitely in the air.

The aspens are just starting to change in Winter Park.

Anyone have reports from other locations?

In the Utah Wasatch, our maples and oaks have changed. The aspens are just barely starting, but the colors are changing FAST! It will be interesting to see what kind of snow year we get this year.

Forecast is for snow mid week in the mountains. First of the season.

I hope this is not an El Niño year, as I think they are predicting.

As I understand it, El Niño would be the reverse of our last glorious winter when we had temperate weather in Denver combined with awesome snow in the mountains. Just the way I like it!

Fall is my favorite season, so I hope the snow doesn't fly too early.

I just returned from nine days in the Wind River Range, outside of Pinedale, Wyoming. No fall color up there yet, except for a few low shrubs in the forest floor and tundra. Weather was cool and unstable, including snow above 10,000'.

I don't know if colors typically come earlier there than in the Colorado Rockies, but not much happening so far.

P.S. My friends in Estes report that the trees in their yard are showing a first tinge of color, but generally not much change yet in RMNP. Looks like peak colors still a couple weeks out, if the weather holds.

We were in Vail and Aspen over Labor Day weekend, and our experience was the same as yours - the aspens were just starting to change - yellow edges.

Woke to 36 degrees and snow on the roofs and grass in Denver. And it has stayed cold all day. Just the unpredictability of weather in CO at this time if year. Ski resorts will start making snow soon.

No snow at our house in central Denver. Thank goodness. I am not ready! I did turn on the furnace this morning.

We actually had a few inches of snow in mid-August at the higher elevations of the Uinta Wilderness and Cottonwood Canyons. Of course, it melted.

Last night it was down to freezing at my home in Park City, elevation 6800. I pulled in all my flower pots to save them from the frost. I usually do this twice in Sept, after that - they are on their own!

Powder to the people

Dayle, all my plants outside know they are on their own from here on.

Report from Wednesday, two days ago.

Really excellent color on Kenosha Pass, on past Fairplay, and through South Park. I presume this means Lost Creek Wilderness would be beautiful right now.

East side of Wolf Creek Pass had a small amount of a color, but just starting. West side of the pass had almost no color at all yet.

Also not much color at Mesa Verde, but elk are starting to bugle.

Aspens are turning fast in the Utah Wasatch! We've had gorgeous, warmer than normal weather for the last week. Perfect for those last few grilled dinners on the deck!

Park City has resumed the "Autumn Aloft" balloon event this morning, after an absence of 20 years! What a treat.

Happy Fall everyone!

DH said there are more brilliant red trees in Winter Park this year. He's there now. Some trees are still green, like along the Fraser river. He thinks it will go another week.

Kenosha pass was almost at peak color and beautiful on Saturday. I couldn't believe the number of cars parked along Hwy 285. It was like a parking lot. Very pretty drive through South Park.

Drove over Kebler Pass on Friday and only a little bit of color but still a pretty drive.

The color on Cottonwood Pass was better, but best viewing will probably be within the next week.

More red leaves than I've seen in previous years. The weather was perfect for a fall drive.

It really is breathtaking, isn't it?

Not much Boulder way or Manitou Springs either.

So, Deb, where did you have lunch??

Sorry... We went to Celestial Seasonings for the tour and just missed getting on the next one. We had to wait 75 minutes, so we just ate there. It was actually very nice, we sat outside and had a nice bite to eat.

:)