Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A Cloudy Day of Leaf-Peeping on Mount Evans Road

Fall Season starts today and this past Sunday found Scarlett and I riding into the mountains, joining the growing number of "leaf-peepers", the folks who drive up to seek and enjoy the colors of the aspen leaves as they turn yellow and red as temperatures cool down.

Altitude drives the rate of change for the leaves it seems, as the higher Scarlett and I rode, the more frequent the splashes of bright yellow and occasional reds that fluttered in the wind, highlighted by the dark background of dark green pine trees.

The road to the mountain colors involved twists and turns along Deer Creek Canyon Road, Bear Creek Canyon Road, and Witter Gulch Road, eventually leading me to CO 103 or Squaw Pass Road.

Witter Gulch Road
"Calvin and Hobbes courtesy of www.gomics.com"
Inspiration: Petapixel

One takes CO103 about 12 miles from its junction of Witter Gulch Road (which is now paved, I discovered) and ends up near Echo Lake and the entrance to CO5, Mount Evans Road.  Here's some of the Fall Colors Scarlett and I managed to find along the way to Mount Evans Road:


 Near the sign for Squaw Pass

 Near Echo Lake Lodge, the spot I like to pose my motorcycles
at, with the phrase: "On a Clear Day, you can see Forever"

Scarlett and I would end up above the clouds you see.



A little bit clearer and yeah, you could see forever...




Once we arrived at the fee station for Mount Evans, we found that the road was only open to Summit Lake and so the fee was only half.  The below views along Mount Evans Road cost me all of $1.50 and gas.  Good deal eh?

 It was a bit cloudy as we neared Summit Lake, about
10 miles from the entrance station.

Peaks wreathed in clouds...

 Here's how things looked near Summit Lake, being in the clouds
felt a bit like a soft Irish rain, small water droplets felt on one's face...

Once again back on CO 103, Scarlett and I headed back towards Bergen Park, stopping a few times for pictures:


I had a sense of serene peace while taking this last picture, 
this one is for you, Bobskoot.

A good day of riding away from the metro area where the leaves remain green and Fall is but a pending event on the calendar.  

11 comments:

RichardM said...

Beautiful colors! You must've had a nice, sunny day.

redlegsrides said...

One had to catch the sun when it did its own peeping in between clouds overhead....

SonjaM said...

This is a wonderful set of pictures, Dom. Fall is my favourite season, and you just provided the reasons why. Simply stunning autumn scenery.

redlegsrides said...

Vielen Dank, SonjaM!

GlennandSun said...

Your photos tug at my heart.....it is this time of year I most miss Colorado and the breath taking changes that occur in the aspens. Sun has never seen the trees in Colorado, in all their autumn beauty as you have shared, something I must remedy soon. Thanks for sharing Dom.....so good to see them again though your lens.

Bluekat said...

Beautiful. My favorite time of year.

redlegsrides said...

GlennandSun, you are too kind....you and Sun should come visit us here....

Bluekat....glad you liked the pics, thanks.

Trobairitz said...

Oooh such a burst of bright colors. We needed the cheering up.

David Masse said...

The trees that turned the most in those photos are aspens, right?

Normally I'm used to seeing evergreens against scenery like that, which is what one sees in BC and Alberta.

The aspens (if that's indeed what they are) are a stunning contrast.

In French aspens are "trembles" which is what they do in the slightest breeze, they tremble.

Wonderful photos.

redlegsrides said...

Trobairitz, glad I could help....

David Masse: yep, indeed the trees which are turning colors are Aspens. Yes, they do tremble in the breeze....thanks for the comment and kind words.

Steve Williams said...

Damn, what great photos. You have the best riding landscape. It's so good that even a URAL looks good.

I'm jealous. Of the scenery.

Steve Williams
Scooter in the Sticks