On a brisk morning Jon and I ventured through Leadville and over a rather snowy Independence Pass in order to check out the Maroon Bells with changing leaves. It seems like this year has flown by at an impossible rate. And with so many plans and adventures lined up for autumn, this was (probably) our last chance to get out that way before winter arrives. But maybe I am a little ahead of myself here, because I didn’t express just how shocked I was by the snow.
When I woke up, I noticed a super hard frost on the ground, but it was still dark out. As the sun rose, the frost didn’t melt off. And by the time you could really get a good look around, the world was white. The ground was coated in a thick white frost. The mountains were white and snowy. And not just a tiny bit of snow- a measurable amount. Half an inch or more. It was stunning. There are still wildflowers everywhere! And fall color! So throw some snow in that mix and what you’re looking at is an impossibly beautiful landscape. Colorful and bright. Set amongst a clear blue sky with mountains surrounding everything. Let me tell ya... not a bad way to start a day.
So we hit the road, through Leadville and Independence Pass. The Maroon Bells were waiting!
This was a day for driving. For sight seeing. Some days are like that. Where you go ahead and play tourist in your own home. It’s pretty hard to not be overwhelmed by the beauty that is Colorado. At any time of year. Let alone autumn. I never mean to go off on tangents about how much I love Colorado or the mountains or the scenery. It simply happens. My love for the west is the love of a lifetime.
This post is mostly for photographs of the day. Because honestly, what words could do justice to the glory of our natural wilderness during the changing of seasons? I don’t think I could come up with those words...
“Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees.” -Faith Baldwin
It was a still day. A quiet day. A peaceful day. The colors of the world were vivid and awe inspiring.
The lake was green, blue and red. The foliage was bright yellow with bursts of orange. The snow on the 14,000ft peaks added a very romantic element to the landscape. A contrast with the blue sky, much like the fluffy clouds.
If you’ve never been to the Maroon Bells Wilderness, you should probably change that. I cannot comprehend how anyone could see this in person and not feel full. Full of love and overwhelm and wonder. It is an area that is so very special and unique.
“Somewhere along the way, I realized that the new year doesn't begin for me in January. The new and fresh has always come for me in the Fall. Ironically, as leaves are falling like rain, crunching beneath my feet with finality, I am vibrating with the excitement of birth and new beginnings.... My year begins in Autumn.” -Betsy Cañas Garmon
