IntrepidXJ
09-30-2012, 08:04 PM
Fall Colors 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/09/fall-and-winter-on-the-grand-mesa/)
After work I decided to drive up on top of the Grand Mesa for a few hours to try and photograph some of the fall colors before it was too late. I was hoping to come back with a couple of photos, but instead I came back with a whole trip report! The colors were outstanding and the active weather provided a lot of interesting views throughout the evening. I even got caught in a snowstorm while on the very top, reminding me of the approaching winter.
There were some nice clouds over Mount Garfield as I drove past on my way to the Grand Mesa, so I had to stop for a quick photo.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8041386937_663350aac1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041386937/)
Mount Garfield (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041386937/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
As I was driving up the switchbacks that climb the side of the Mesa, I saw a storm in the distance lit up by some light getting through the clouds.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8028552947_6fd3a25f03_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028552947/)
September Rain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028552947/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Stopped along the highway to check out the fall colors.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8028600371_a6f8505d79_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028600371/)
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028600371/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
A group of aspen trees that caught my eye.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8041643493_829beced53_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041643493/)
Chaos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041643493/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Snow on the pine trees, clouds hovering in the small valley, and a touch of gold below.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8034082187_f54b4400fa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034082187/)
A Touch of Color and Clouds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034082187/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
I stopped at a great overlook along the highway that offered a lot of different compositions, not to mention some great colors, snow on the trees and some low clouds above Chalk Mountain in the distance. Needless to say, I spent quite a bit of time photographing this area.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8028679148_ce8680d502_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028679148/)
Fall on the Grand Mesa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028679148/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8034097403_a3da3bdf3d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034097403/)
Fall Layers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034097403/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8041423347_63df6e44f7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041423347/)
Fall to Winter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041423347/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8041632900_b98bdb9cef_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041632900/)
Yellow Ridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041632900/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8041606604_9ee42c5748_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041606604/)
Fresh Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041606604/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
My original plan for the evening was to try and photograph the sunset from the viewpoint at the end of the Land of Lakes trail, so that's where I headed to next. As I climbed higher on the Mesa, I soon found myself in a snowstorm and in the clouds.
My Jeep at the Land of Lakes trailhead. I guess I was the first one here since the snow started to fly.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8028623272_9d430e6545_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028623272/)
Alone in the Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028623272/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Talk about a great view! I guess my plan for photographing sunset from here didn't work out so well. I made the best of it!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8028564627_d53fc7e606_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028564627/)
What a View! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028564627/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
A lone tree lost in the snowstorm at the edge of the cliff near the overlook.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8041575644_b02c93cd01_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041575644/)
On the Edge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041575644/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
My tracks in the fresh snow along the trail.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8041452706_f5faac257d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041452706/)
Tracks in the Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041452706/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Hiking back to my Jeep through the trees.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8041487682_fa06b99e54_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041487682/)
Winter Path (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041487682/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
This short trip turned out to be a great way to spend a few hours after work!
>> Fall on the Grand Mesa Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCgbygH)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Original Trip Report on ADVENTR.CO (http://adventr.co/2012/09/fall-and-winter-on-the-grand-mesa/)
After work I decided to drive up on top of the Grand Mesa for a few hours to try and photograph some of the fall colors before it was too late. I was hoping to come back with a couple of photos, but instead I came back with a whole trip report! The colors were outstanding and the active weather provided a lot of interesting views throughout the evening. I even got caught in a snowstorm while on the very top, reminding me of the approaching winter.
There were some nice clouds over Mount Garfield as I drove past on my way to the Grand Mesa, so I had to stop for a quick photo.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8041386937_663350aac1_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041386937/)
Mount Garfield (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041386937/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
As I was driving up the switchbacks that climb the side of the Mesa, I saw a storm in the distance lit up by some light getting through the clouds.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8028552947_6fd3a25f03_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028552947/)
September Rain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028552947/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Stopped along the highway to check out the fall colors.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8028600371_a6f8505d79_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028600371/)
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028600371/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
A group of aspen trees that caught my eye.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8041643493_829beced53_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041643493/)
Chaos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041643493/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Snow on the pine trees, clouds hovering in the small valley, and a touch of gold below.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8034082187_f54b4400fa_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034082187/)
A Touch of Color and Clouds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034082187/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
I stopped at a great overlook along the highway that offered a lot of different compositions, not to mention some great colors, snow on the trees and some low clouds above Chalk Mountain in the distance. Needless to say, I spent quite a bit of time photographing this area.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8028679148_ce8680d502_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028679148/)
Fall on the Grand Mesa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028679148/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8034097403_a3da3bdf3d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034097403/)
Fall Layers (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8034097403/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8041423347_63df6e44f7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041423347/)
Fall to Winter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041423347/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8041632900_b98bdb9cef_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041632900/)
Yellow Ridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041632900/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8041606604_9ee42c5748_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041606604/)
Fresh Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041606604/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
My original plan for the evening was to try and photograph the sunset from the viewpoint at the end of the Land of Lakes trail, so that's where I headed to next. As I climbed higher on the Mesa, I soon found myself in a snowstorm and in the clouds.
My Jeep at the Land of Lakes trailhead. I guess I was the first one here since the snow started to fly.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8028623272_9d430e6545_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028623272/)
Alone in the Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028623272/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Talk about a great view! I guess my plan for photographing sunset from here didn't work out so well. I made the best of it!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8028564627_d53fc7e606_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028564627/)
What a View! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8028564627/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
A lone tree lost in the snowstorm at the edge of the cliff near the overlook.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8041575644_b02c93cd01_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041575644/)
On the Edge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041575644/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
My tracks in the fresh snow along the trail.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8041452706_f5faac257d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041452706/)
Tracks in the Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041452706/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
Hiking back to my Jeep through the trees.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8041487682_fa06b99e54_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041487682/)
Winter Path (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlngstrt/8041487682/) by IntrepidXJ (http://www.flickr.com/people/rlngstrt/), on Flickr
This short trip turned out to be a great way to spend a few hours after work!
>> Fall on the Grand Mesa Photo Gallery (http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCgbygH)