I've lived in Colorado for 46 years

[locks]

and have only missed one time (Covid year) of seeing our gorgeous aspen trees turn to gold on the Peak to Peak highway from Boulder to Rocky Mountain National Park. This year is one to remember, those golden leaves sparkling in the sun, quaking in the wind, the orange/red standing out against all that gold and huge dark green pine up to treeline on 14,000 foot Long's Peak. And beautiful blue sky.
After our terrible fires we are so blessed and can only hope that we can control the awful fires in California and save the giant sequoias and redwoods and our amazing planet.

[msongs]

1. here's wishing you a lot of snow, maybe even record amounts nt

[Walleye]

2. I was thinking of a 21st century update to the question to Benjamin Franklin

“What have we got sir?“
“A planet madam, if you can keep it.”

[calimary]

4. Indeed.

"A planet, madam, if you can keep it."

[evemac]

3. Just got back from

Ward via Lefthand Canyon with my 17 year old son. He was in awe. The yellow is so vibrant it almost hurts my eyes. I love this time of year on the Front Range!

[calimary]

5. Welcome to DU, evemac!

VERY nice that you took your son. He should see all sorts of this stuff. And know how spectacularly beautiful Mother Nature can be.

[Ponietz]

6. Rec

I climbed Long’s Peak in 1981. One of the best weeks of my life in RMNP.

[Tommymac]

7. I lived near Rollinsville in the 1980's

I walked the Peak To Peak to Nederland many many times.

I think the most beautiful was in the morning after a big snow storm. Blue sky, fresh white powder. Few cars. So peaceful.

But Aspen Gold time was also very special. My favorite area was the old road going up to Rollins pass. There were several groves on the lower part between the Moffat Tunnel and before the old tunnels that were just gorgeous.

Thanks for the memories!

[Cassidy]

8. I get a catch in my throat whenever I go into the Rockies for the past decade.

I grew up on the eastern Colorado plains and have lived much of my adult life on the Front Range.

I remember when all the conifers were green, not the present high fraction of heinous, ugly, beetle-killed red. I remember when the cabins were hidden in the forest, instead of having the trees cleared to minimize fire spread.

I try to focus on the beauty, but it has changed so much in my lifetime. It will never be the same and this is what we have done.

[Backseat Driver]

9. A fall "leaf ride" or hike is always on my annual agenda,

though I've missed some when priorities were different. Visited Colorado years ago, but in the summer---Rocky Mtn National Park; Royal Gorge; Estas Park...mind-blowing beauty!

[flying_wahini]

10. Never been there in the fall, but I am going now. Thanks for the inspiration.

[spike jones]

11. I drove through or to all the high passes from Pagosa Springs to Steamboat Springs

this time of year in 2000 at the start of a 12,000 mile road trip. I went through WY, SD, Minn, North of the great Lakes through Canada, into Maine then down the Appalchian Mountains to Georga. Drove the back roads and was on the road ten weeks. I took 54 rolls of film.