I almost stayed home because of the rain but remembered that rain and fog can produce some promising images. I ran into rain, snow and fog at Grand Mesa National Forest. Grand Mesa is the largest flat-top mountain in the world near Grand Junction.
Ohio Pass is between Gunnison and Crested Butte. It was a popular spot for reasons you will see below. Stay tuned for more images from the spectacular San Juan Mountains.
Kebler Pass, located just west of Crested Butte, is home to one of the largest aspen tree groves in the United States. This forest has been tested and found to be a clonal colony. It grows from a single root system and is a single living organism. Wow! It is the largest living entity in the state of Colorado and one of the largest in the world.
Following are the colorful autumn images to prove it which I captured just over a week ago.
As you can see, the colors were a mix of yellows, golds, magentas, oranges and waning greens.
Recent snows added some contrast to the autumn palette.
Aspens are really popping right now in the upper elevations near Zion National Park. Fall colors should arrive to Zion Canyon in a few weeks. Can’t wait!
Due to copious amounts of rain this summer, autumn colors will be arriving later than usual in Colorado. Mostly in October I reckon. When I was there in mid-September, there were small pockets of color but few and far between. I may try a quick trip back in a week or two.
Even leaveless Aspen Trees have their appeal. At the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Aspen trees were at full color at Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim last week. Paradoxically, nearby aspens were past peak. Those images to follow soon.
There is no paved parking lot. No signs. No shuttle buses. No entrance booth. No park rangers. No rails along the canyon rim. No guides. No hot dog stands. No mules to take you into the canyon. No Visitor Center. No visitors! Edward Abbey would approve of this place. In fact, it’s hard to find Coal Mine Canyon listed on any map. You’re suppose to look for the windmill near a farmhouse and water tank south of Tuba City. And that’s the way it should be.
Coal Mine Canyon could easily be its own National Park. It is in a remote part of Northern Arizona on the border of the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations. There are remnants of coal deposits in the canyon that the Hopis mined in the past. But hues of orange, magenta, gold, cyan and yellow dominate the canyon walls. Abstract shapes, patterns, and warped lines grab your attention.
My next post will be of the canyon next door to Coal Mine, Ha Ho No Geh Canyon. These images and more are available as downloadable files or signed prints at Dawn2Dawn Photography
Took a quick trip over to Arches National Park with my main purpose to shoot Delicate Arch at night, under the stars. But along the way, I had to drive through that amazing Southern Utah landscape again including Capital Reef National Park.
Peru has its amazing landscapes and lost cities but I was really struck by the people. The young, old and in between. All photos by Dawn2Dawn Photography.
