TR: Changing of the guards, Colorado colors beginning

I took a hike up near Rollinsville / Nederland today. Heart Lake, from East Portal trailhead, was the destination. I hadn’t been up there yet this year, and I wanted to check in on the colors and fill the lungs with some cold air. I got some of both, here are some pictures to give you guys a status update of the area. Admittedly I am not as good of a photographer as some of you! But hopefully you’ll still see some colors through blurry eyes, maybe this is a nice tribute in some way.

The day started out with blue skies
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ake/aspen2.jpg

The trail follows South Boulder Creek and offers a lot of nice waterfalls along the way
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ke/stream3.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...aterfall02.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ke/stream2.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...aterfall01.jpg

But I was there for color, so I sought out some compositions

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...aspen-leaf.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...keyedsusan.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ake/flower.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...0lake/leaf.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...20lake/red.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ake/leaves.jpg

Heart Lake sits at about 11,300’ if I remember my map right. It was brisk and windy up there and with the overcast skies that quickly came in, it really felt like a few flakes of snow could happen if the temps dropped just a bit more. These are pictures of Heart Lake and another lake that's not named on my map. The mountains are the Continental Divide at Rogers Pass. Unnamed on my map. I think I might need a new map.

Heart Lake:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n.../heartlake.jpg

Other Lake
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...0lake/lake.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...lake/lake3.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...ake/stream.jpg

Aspen on the way out

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...lake/aspen.jpg

I like these two:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by agentorange

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...keyedsusan.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...0lake/leaf.jpg

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The leaves are slowly starting to turn up here. Still mostly green, but some bright yellow clumps.

Thank you

Right on.

The equinox is just over a week away.

Hope Valley along Hwy 88 is starting to change too. It's a bit earlier this year, but they got an early start in spring and the lack of water has them stressed a bit i guess. either way i'll take it as a good sign. And with the weather forecast for the next week I wouldn't be surprised if Freel gets it's first dusting by Friday.

took these up in Mosquito Gulch last weekend. Quite a few Aspens were already changing.

http://home.comcast.net/~jtq_99/Site...s/IMG_1120.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jtq_99/Site...s/IMG_1122.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jtq_99/Site...s/IMG_1123.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~jtq_99/Site...s/IMG_1124.jpg

Colors in WY and Jellystone too!

Schwing! Love this time of year. Almost as good as moments before dropping into a line.

The wife and I will be in Vail next weekend - hope our timing is good. Thanks for the pics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by release

The wife and I will be in Vail next weekend - hope our timing is good. Thanks for the pics.

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It will be at peak at about 9000'. I'd suggest exploring Gilman or Piney areas for the goods.

Flat Tops are close to peak (not too many aspens up high though).

http://www.pbase.com/praeesse/image/85765713/large.jpg

Red Mountain Pass last week. One cold night and about three days later they popped. Early in the week everything was still really green.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010372.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010374.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010375.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010376.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010378.jpg

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/P1010377.jpg

There truly is gold in them thar hills!