The Aspens Are Changing!

After visiting Breckenridge, Colorado this past Saturday, my sister Susan and I, along with her dog Blackberry, drove up Boreas Pass Road to look at the aspens. At 11,451 feet, they have begun to change color, and the "leaf peepers" were up there in force. Unlike some places, Boreas Pass has wide spots in the road where you can stop, get out of the car, and take some photographs, such as the one on the left.

In addition to the aspens, the view of the mountains is really nice from there, too. There is a lake on the valley floor, seen in the photograph on the right, which I am happy to report has more water in it now than the last time I was up there, during the heat of summer. The road is unpaved, and has more than its share of potholes, but is well worth the trouble. During the winter, the road is closed to traffic and becomes a cross-country ski trail. I skied there with my ex-wife Lisa several times many years ago, but these days tend to avoid heading up to the mountains in the winter. If you get caught in a snow storm, and your car is not properly equipped to drive in winter, you can get in big trouble if you wind up getting stuck and blocking the interstate. Colorado law now mandates steep fines and/or being shot and pushed off the side of the mountain, along with your offending car, for such a violation. Best not to attempt it.

I try to get up to the mountains each fall to take photographs of the aspens, and have learned to always go early rather than later. Once October comes along, many trees have already lost their leaves, and it is depressing to have to drive around all over the place to find a tree with a leaf or two still on it. Of course, having taken photography classes at the University of Denver, I know that photographs of golden aspens are not considered very artistic, since after a while, they all begin to look the same. Perhaps some female nudes would make those photos more artistic. I'll have to give careful consideration to that idea for next year.