IntrepidXJ
Explorer
Fall Colors 2014
Saturday & Sunday, September 27-28, 2014
Mount Sopris Alpenglow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since we had seen some early fall colors in the San Juan Mountains last weekend, we decided to head over into the Elk Mountains this time to check on the fall colors there for my annual Fall Colors weekend. I planned to visit a few locations I have been to before and then try out a few new ones. We left early Saturday and took a late morning drive along Kebler Pass and over Ohio Pass before turning around and heading back out the same way. We then drove over McClure Pass and found a campsite along Prince Creek near Carbondale before continuing up along Capitol Creek to catch the sunset over Capitol Peak (14,130 feet). While there was a little nice evening light when we first arrived, a storm cloud moved in from the west and blocked any light for the rest of the evening. When the sun was down we drove back to camp in the dark. I was expecting it to start raining overnight based on the weather forecasts, but was happy to wake up for sunrise to dry conditions. We caught the sunrise from a nearby location with a beautiful view over Mount Sopris before returning back to camp and taking down our tent. Just after loading everything back into the Jeep it finally started to rain- it was perfect timing! We took another drive back up to McClure Pass and stopped for a few photos along the way before returning to Carbondale for an early lunch at White House Pizza. After lunch we had an uneventful drive home in the rain.
View of West Beckwith Peak (12,191 feet) from Kebler Pass Road. The trees below were still mostly green.
West Beckwith by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A little fun with my camera in a golden aspen grove along Kebler Pass Road.
Fall Color Explosion by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Sideways by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View over the pine trees from Ohio Pass Road.
Ohio Pass View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Red-tipped aspen trees below the Anthracite Range.
Red-Tipped by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A side road off of Ohio Pass that we explored.
Ohio Creek Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Fall Drive by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
East Beckwith Mountain (12,438 feet) was looking pretty good on our drive back.
East Beckwith by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Many shades of color along Kebler Pass Road.
Kebler Color by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were nice views from McClure Pass.
McClure View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Aspen View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We stopped by Dinkle Lake before finding a campsite along Prince Creek.
Dinkle Lake by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Dinkle Colors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Home for the night.
Prince Creek Camp by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The road above Capitol Creek.
Yellow Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A beautiful view up Capitol Creek towards Capitol Peak in the middle. To the left of Capitol is Mount Daly (13,300 feet).
Capitol Peak Evening by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Color Gradient by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Capitol Peak by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A distant rain storm illuminated by evening light.
Light Rain by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Rain and spot-lighting along Capitol Creek.
Capitol Creek Rain by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Saturday & Sunday, September 27-28, 2014
Mount Sopris Alpenglow by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Since we had seen some early fall colors in the San Juan Mountains last weekend, we decided to head over into the Elk Mountains this time to check on the fall colors there for my annual Fall Colors weekend. I planned to visit a few locations I have been to before and then try out a few new ones. We left early Saturday and took a late morning drive along Kebler Pass and over Ohio Pass before turning around and heading back out the same way. We then drove over McClure Pass and found a campsite along Prince Creek near Carbondale before continuing up along Capitol Creek to catch the sunset over Capitol Peak (14,130 feet). While there was a little nice evening light when we first arrived, a storm cloud moved in from the west and blocked any light for the rest of the evening. When the sun was down we drove back to camp in the dark. I was expecting it to start raining overnight based on the weather forecasts, but was happy to wake up for sunrise to dry conditions. We caught the sunrise from a nearby location with a beautiful view over Mount Sopris before returning back to camp and taking down our tent. Just after loading everything back into the Jeep it finally started to rain- it was perfect timing! We took another drive back up to McClure Pass and stopped for a few photos along the way before returning to Carbondale for an early lunch at White House Pizza. After lunch we had an uneventful drive home in the rain.
View of West Beckwith Peak (12,191 feet) from Kebler Pass Road. The trees below were still mostly green.
West Beckwith by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A little fun with my camera in a golden aspen grove along Kebler Pass Road.
Fall Color Explosion by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Sideways by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
View over the pine trees from Ohio Pass Road.
Ohio Pass View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Red-tipped aspen trees below the Anthracite Range.
Red-Tipped by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A side road off of Ohio Pass that we explored.
Ohio Creek Trail by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Fall Drive by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
East Beckwith Mountain (12,438 feet) was looking pretty good on our drive back.
East Beckwith by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Many shades of color along Kebler Pass Road.
Kebler Color by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
There were nice views from McClure Pass.
McClure View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Aspen View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
We stopped by Dinkle Lake before finding a campsite along Prince Creek.
Dinkle Lake by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Dinkle Colors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Home for the night.
Prince Creek Camp by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The road above Capitol Creek.
Yellow Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A beautiful view up Capitol Creek towards Capitol Peak in the middle. To the left of Capitol is Mount Daly (13,300 feet).
Capitol Peak Evening by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Color Gradient by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Capitol Peak by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
A distant rain storm illuminated by evening light.
Light Rain by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Rain and spot-lighting along Capitol Creek.
Capitol Creek Rain by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
