changing of colors of the Aspens

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Daphne - 24 Aug 2005 01:35 GMT

WE are planning a trip to the Colorado for changing of colors of the Aspens.
First we are going to the balloon festival in Alb. NM on Oct. 4 for a couple
of days.
Where is the best viewing (and photo ops) in Colorado after that.

Thanks in advance,

Bruce

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Bill Hilton - 24 Aug 2005 14:47 GMT

> Bruce writes ...
>
>WE are planning a trip to the Colorado for changing of colors of the
>Aspens. First we are going to the balloon festival in Alb. NM on
>Oct. 4 for a couple of days.
>Where is the best viewing (and photo ops) in Colorado after that.

Many years, probably most, the aspens in southwest Colorado are peaking
the last week in Sept and the first week in Oct so if you can adjust
your schedule I'd go to the San Juans first and then to Albuquerque,
else you will likely miss peak. Good places would include the Durango
- Silverton - Ouray - Telluride loop around the San Juans, Crested
Butte and Aspen for the Maroon Bells. There are many other spots but
these are the ones I'm most familiar with.

Bill

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Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) - 25 Aug 2005 03:25 GMT

>>Bruce writes ...
>>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Bill

I agree with Bill.

Roger (in Colorado)

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Peter D. Tillman - 07 Sep 2005 19:55 GMT

> > Bruce writes ...
> >
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Butte and Aspen for the Maroon Bells. There are many other spots but
> these are the ones I'm most familiar with.

For that matter, there are some very fine aspen-viewing places in
northern NM as well. One of my faves is the Aspen Trail off the road to
the Santa Fe ski area. Another, with longer views, is along the highway
through the Valles caldera, W of Los Alamos. Or almost anywhere near
Taos....

[rummages in HD] Well, dammit, I can't find the URL's I thought I had
for the good Fall Color sites -- there are a couple kept up by the
Forest Service for NM & Colo, plus some private ones. Anyone else have
'em handy?

Hard to believe summer's almost over. Though not for you, Bill... <G>

Cheers -- Pete Tillman
Santa Fe

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Peter D. Tillman - 25 Sep 2005 17:27 GMT

> For that matter, there are some very fine aspen-viewing places in
> northern NM as well. One of my faves is the Aspen Trail off the road to
> the Santa Fe ski area. Another, with longer views, is along the highway
> through the Valles caldera, W of Los Alamos. Or almost anywhere near
> Taos....

Took a walk up the Aspen Vista trail y'day: trailhead is (surprise!)
Aspen Vista on the road to S. Fe ski area, el. c.10,000'. Aspens are
just starting to turn -- not much low, but the upper part of Tesuque Pk
(radio towers) is very nice. Note that this isn't a place to go for
solitude -- but it's only 30 min from the Plaza. Lots of H20 in Big
Tesuque Crk.

Any reports from SF Peaks (N. of Flagstaff)? My recollection is, they
lag the Sangres by about a week or so.

Speaking of changing leaves -- you owe it to yourself to take a look at
Andy Goldsworthy's new book, PASSAGE. He does some amazing things with
golden leaves....

Cheers -- Pete Tillman

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