Last year it seemed like we nailed autumn in Colorado, hanging in the SW part of the state just as aspens around the San Juan mountains peaked. This year sadly it seems like we’re a couple of weeks late. We hung out at Sylvan Lake for a week before heading south to O’Haver Lake, about a half-hour south of Poncha Springs. While most of the trees dotting the lake’s perimeter seems to have doffed their leaves, there were still some patches. An early morning hike up Marshall Pass revealed a pasture full of just-past but still beautiful aspens in all their golden glory. 

When we’re hiking in remote areas we always carry a few things: spare water of course, a knife, small flashlight, emergency whistle and compass, some snacks, and bear spray. When going out solo I don’t bother trying to stay quiet along the trail as it’s best for everyone when black bears (the predominant kind in Colorado) to hear you before they see you. On this occasion, no bears and looking at tracks saw just one paw print amid the many deer hoof impressions in the dirt. One thing did catch my eye though: A large wet, yellow-ish spot on the side of a medium-sized aspen. Given the height off the ground, it’s probably from a moose (maybe the same one we saw the day prior while driving through the pass?). Beyond that, I was by myself as the sun rose higher in the sky, giving the aspens different looks with each passing minute. Magical.