Autumn Gold Rush in the San Juans
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.
A deer calmly and curiously observes the photographer on an autumn day in the San Juan Mountains.
Golden aspens surround the town of Telluride in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in late September.
Full moon rises at sunset over Ingram Peak as seen from the town of Telluride.
Sunlight shines through towering golden aspens in the San Juan Mountains.
Relaxing in the hammock amongst golden aspens and a view of the Telluride valley.
An old aspenglyph carved on an aspen bole.
Sunset light illuminates autumn aspens above the valley of Telluride.
An idyllic aspen scene in the Cimarrons.
A stand of golden aspen reflect in a small lake after sunset.
Golden aspen leaves flutter to the ground on a breezy day at the tail end of autumn in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
A view of Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain through a grove of aspens.
Sunset light on the Sneffels Range, October.
