Fall Colors 2019

[dwoodward13]

I don't think I've seen one of these yet so I'll start the party for the best time of the year! Post your updates and photos in this tread.

What a difference a year makes! I was up in RMNP today and 99% of aspens are still green in the Bear Lake corridor. Only a few patchy branches on the smaller trees have turned.

[pbergmaier]

I drove from Big Sky, MT down to Laramie, WY today and did not see any fall color whatsoever. Everything is way behind this year, by up to 2 weeks as far as I can see. It really hasn't even started up high in the Elks yet.

Bells/Pyramid - September 13, 2018

Sept2018_aspen_highlands_roundshot.jpg (105.5 KiB) Viewed 5285 times

Bells/Pyramid - September 13, 2019 (yesterday)

Sept2019_aspen_highlands_roundshot.jpg (103.6 KiB) Viewed 5284 times

I'm not sure what this means for fall color this year. Will it be delayed but then proceed as normal, or will it be delayed and then go really fast?

[peter303]

I saw no color in Brainard Lake area this week, not even treeline willows. Quite late.

[SkaredShtles]

Spent the weekend up in the high country. You *can* see the beginning of the color change... on Saturday there were hints across I-70 from Copper Mountain. Drove over from Estes -> Grand Lk on Sunday and there are some legitimate stands of aspens that have turned.

As usual, I suspect Sep 21st is going to be prime-time... get ready for the leaf-peeping mayhem!

[RJ_Greenhorn24]

Anyone know how the leaves are looking near Pagosa? I usually take a drive down by Platoro this time of year to see them change.

Thanks!

[The Turtle]

I’m passing through Pagosa Springs on my way to Castle Rock right now and
There are no colors, not even any on the very high peaks. Some slight fading of green. Maybe in 2 weeks if we don’t get a frost.
I hiked 11 miles of The Colorado Trail yesterday an there was no colors. Still lush green

[pbergmaier]

FWIW, I nerded out and put together this spreadsheet based on a completely subjective analysis of fall color at Maroon Lake over the last 5 years (via archived imagery from the Aspen Highlands Roundshot webcam). Seems this year might be most similar to 2014 or 2015, although looking at the webcam today it still doesn't look like there are any vibrant patches quite yet above Maroon Lake. I'm thinking they'll peak somewhere between 9/25 and 9/28.

Fall Color Tracker - Maroon Bells.jpg (84.75 KiB) Viewed 4705 times

[pw]

FWIW, I nerded out and put together this spreadsheet based on a completely subjective analysis of fall color at Maroon Lake over the last 5 years (via archived imagery from the Aspen Highlands Roundshot webcam). Seems this year might be most similar to 2014 or 2015, although looking at the webcam today it still doesn't look like there are any vibrant patches quite yet above Maroon Lake. I'm thinking they'll peak somewhere between 9/25 and 9/28.

Fall Color Tracker - Maroon Bells.jpg

Great work, I love this sort of stuff. My own impression based mostly on seeing pictures from others here and elsewhere would have been that the peak is around September 23 to about the 29th, so I'm not that far off. If those dates hold, then the start of next week should be good. I've always found it a bit odd that Kebler, which isn't all that far away and at a similar elevation, is on such a different schedule, usually first few days of October.

[dwoodward13]

FWIW, I nerded out and put together this spreadsheet based on a completely subjective analysis of fall color at Maroon Lake over the last 5 years (via archived imagery from the Aspen Highlands Roundshot webcam). Seems this year might be most similar to 2014 or 2015, although looking at the webcam today it still doesn't look like there are any vibrant patches quite yet above Maroon Lake. I'm thinking they'll peak somewhere between 9/25 and 9/28.

This is awesome! Little surprised last year was in line with previous years for the peak colors. I would have suspected it would have peaked earlier due to the drought compared to previous years.

Another great website in addition to the Roundshot cams for Aspen area conditions is the Travel Crested Butte website. They will post pictures of the area, as well as give conditions for the various popular viewing spots. As things start turning it seems like they switch to near daily updates.

https://travelcrestedbutte.com/crested- ... r-updates/

[pbergmaier]

FWIW, I nerded out and put together this spreadsheet based on a completely subjective analysis of fall color at Maroon Lake over the last 5 years (via archived imagery from the Aspen Highlands Roundshot webcam). Seems this year might be most similar to 2014 or 2015, although looking at the webcam today it still doesn't look like there are any vibrant patches quite yet above Maroon Lake. I'm thinking they'll peak somewhere between 9/25 and 9/28.

This is awesome! Little surprised last year was in line with previous years for the peak colors. I would have suspected it would have peaked earlier due to the drought compared to previous years.

I'm surprised about that too. Although, this is only for the Maroon Lake area, which may not have been affected as much by the drought as nearby lower-elevation areas or other mountain ranges. Anecdotally, I do remember 2014 and 2015 being really good for fall color, and the last few years I thought were relatively dull.

[Invictis]

Any idea when Telluride usually turns?

Planning on doing Sneffels ane Blue Lakes this weekend, may put it off until next weekend though to see more pronounced fall colors.

[cbskies]

Im in Crested Butte, only a very few groves beginning to show signs of changing, most everything is still green as can be. Kind of crazy, its been an incredible summer. Also i’ve never seen so much snow at higher elevations this late in the season.

Did a backpack trip to Yule lakes mid summer and crossed an avalanche debree pile near the top of the pass with what i estimate to be a 2,500 lb boulder sitting on top, guessing it was 40-50 feet off the actual ground, never seen that before.