Walking through a grove of autumn aspens must be one of the most beautiful experiences that nature has to offer. Sunlight illuminates the golden leaves like a brilliant stained glass window in a cathedral of nature, like stepping into a colorful pointillist painting of Vincent van Gogh or Gustav Klimt.

In late September and early October this year here in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, I've spent many days hiking and basking in the glory of the aspens, including a couple evenings when I strung up my hammock between the aspen boles, listening to the rustle of the leaves in the breeze and the prehistoric sounds of rutting elk all around.