23 September 2014

Stardate 2014.729

Strand Bonus Trail, Crested Butte, Colorado

Autumn

Happy autumnal equinox, everyone. The first day of fall has arrived. It's only one of two times per year that the duration of night and day is theoretically equal at all points of the earth. More specifically, winter is right around the corner.

Brush Creek flows under the east slopes of Crested Butte.

A good place to enjoy fall is Crested Butte, Colorado.

East slopes of Crested Butte with 12,625 foot Gothic Mountain rising in the background.

There are lots of yellow leaves, along with some red and orange. Rising in the background is 12,625 foot Gothic Mountain.

Brush Creek just east of Crested Butte, Colorado.

Autumn color abounds along the Brush Creek drainage east of Crested Butte.

Lower Teocalli Ridge rises east of Crested Butte, Colorado.

Teocalli Ridge sports a good variety of leaf color. The remaining green indicates more yellow to come.

Lower Teocalli Ridge rises east of Crested Butte, Colorado.

Populus Tremuloides is the formal name for an aspen tree. In Colorado, an aspen is commonly known as a quaking aspen, or quakie.

The Black Pearl takes a breather in a golden heaven.

The Black Pearl was my mode of transportation for the day.

Flame-tipped aspen quake along Teocalli Ridge, Crested Butte, Colorado.

Teocalli Ridge flame-tips contrast with the blue sky. What's that George Strait song – "Baby Blue?"

Looking down Brush Creek from lower Teocalli Ridge, Crested Butte, Colorado.

The view down Brush Creek from Teocalli Ridge foretells more yellow on the way. 12,516 foot Mount Whetstone rises in the background.

Strand Hill, Crested Butte, Colorado

Strand Hill rises across the valley from Teocalli Ridge.

Flame-tipped aspen along Teocalli Ridge, Crested Butte, Colorado.

Quakie stand of flame-tips quake in the breeze at the terminus of Teocalli Ridge with Brush Creek.

Yellow leafed trail, Crested Butte, Colorado

Riding singletrack through yellow quakies on a warm fall day is nothing short of magical.

Sweet singletrack comprises the Strand Bonus Trail, Crested Butte, Colorado.

Every time you stop to open and close a gate you have a chance to catch your breath and take it all in! The gates are for the ubiquitous bovine. After all, you're in the middle of ranching country.

Teocalli Ridge rises above the Strand Bonus Trail, Crested Butte, Colorado.

Looking north at Teocalli Ridge from the Strand Bonus Trail.

Yellow leaf trail

Elton John's "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road" kept popping into my mind for some reason.

13,208 foot Teocalli Mountain rises east of Crested Butte, Colorado.  14,265 foot Castle Peak peeks over Teocalli's east ridge.

13,208 foot Teocalli Mountain towers above Brush Creek and is the 478th highest peak in Colorado. Castle Peak is seen peeping over the east shoulder of Teocalli. Castle Peak touches the sky at 14,265 feet and is the 13th highest peak in Colorado.

There is more to come of this colorful season, so stay tuned.

Adios

2 comments:

  1. What a breathtaking trip! The colors are spectacular; the weather was perfect, and sharing this slice of paradise with someone special made for a very special weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, thanks so much for the great photos. Riding over yellow aspen leaves is like riding over treasure ... the golden coins of nature.

    Some of those mountains have much the same shapes as wind-carved sand or snow.

    ReplyDelete

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