Contributed by Miles A. Lumbard
Photos by Miles A. Lumbard & Jerry Clark
| "Even now, the Alpine Warriors sense the coming of Winter, but the mountains still have one last brilliant, riotous fling, when time brings another golden Autumn around." |
| A quotation from Bill Fries' San Juan Odyssey, and a perfect description of Autumn in the San Juan. During September, the lush green aspen that covered the mountain slopes in summer are transformed into a blanket of golden fire, and the scrub oaks turn brilliant crimson. Nature spreads her beautiful, Autumn tapestry over the mountain valleys...a prelude to her blanket of Winter snow. |
| There is something magical about aspen leaves. They can transform sunlight into a shimmering golden fire, that can never be truly captured on film. To stand in the midst of an aspen grove on a sunlit autumn day, is one of thee most incredible experiences I have ever had. The leaves seem possessed of an inner light, a pure golden yellow light, even brighter the sun. |
| It's true that if you visit the San Juan in mid September, you may be snowed out of some of the high passes, but you will reap a golden reward as rich as any fortune every wrested from the rock of these mountains. To see entire mountainsides covered with a shining golden mantle is a true treasure for the soul. |
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Aspens ablaze just north
of Ironton Park (115k) |
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Aspens glow in the
San Juan Autumn (134k) |
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Who says there's no gold
left in these mountains? (156k) |
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Another golden autumn
in the San Juan (153k) |
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Where in the world is a
more beautiful place? (148k) |
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Aspens shimmer in the sunlight
at the bottom of Hendrick Gulch (143k) |
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Fire & Ice - Seen from the
Corkscrew Turntable (106k) |
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Aspens along US 550
at Ironton Park (113k) |
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A dramatic Autumn view
of Ironton Park (103k) |
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Golden aspen shimmer beneath
the summit of Red Mountain (112k) |
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The slopes of Ironton Park
ablaze in the Autumn sun (132k) |
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Golden aspens and Colorado
Blue skies along US 550 (109k) |
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Golden aspens and Colorado
Blue skies along US 550 (108k) |
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The ruins of the Northstar Mill, nestled
the aspens just north of Silverton (100k) |
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The ruins of the Northstar Mill, peer out
of the aspens just north of Silverton (147k) |
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Even without sun, they
burn with golden fire (117k) |
|
"Walk with me, and
let your heart run free" (145k) |
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Looking up into Arrastra Gulch (99k) |
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A hillside north of Silverton,
along Cement Creek (116k) |
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You have to mine this
gold with your soul (100k) |
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Aspens aglow against
Mount Abrams (115k) |
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Aspens blaze in
the Amphitheater (102k) |
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Autumn along the Portland Creek
Trail in the Amphitheater (96k) |
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Along the Dexter Creek Road
north of Ouray (109k) |
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Nature paints the Uncompahgre Valley
with her Autumn brush (155k) |
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The Uncompahgre Valley, ablaze
with Autumn colors (111k) |
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Autumn spreads her tapestry
over Dallas Divide (116k) |
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If you listen hard in the Autumn wind, you
can still hear the ghosts of the RGS (114k) |
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Scrub oaks paint the landscape
on the Double RL Ranch (96k) |
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An early Autumn snow
blankets the Sneffels Range (83k) |
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The Sneffels Range
in Autumn (129k) |
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"Even now the Alpine Warriors
sense the coming winter" (122k) |
|
Fire in the sky at
Box Factory Park (156k) |
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Box Factory Park
(113k) |
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Out here, gold grows on trees!
(148k) |
Mark L. Evans
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