The fall foliage forecast declared that most locations in the state would be past peak by the time my Fall Break and accompanying road trip with Danelle rolled around. Forecasts such as this are further evidence that human beings are absolute hot garbage at predicting the future.
Pagosa Springs was our first destination, which meant a stop at Wolf Creek Pass.
This was my third time stopping at Wolf Creek Pass for photos. And the third time the views were stunning.
Treasure Falls was next up. It, too, never disappoints. Late afternoon light certainly doesn't hurt.
Rain came in overnight, so my plans to shoot sunrise didn't materialize. But Wolf Creek Pass was still worth another visit to capture its moodier side.
The view of Wolf Creek itself from just across the highway was also beautiful.
Overcast conditions often result in boring landscape shots. Low clouds, however, can be really cool.
You know what else are cool? Cows? And this little herd found me fascinating.
I find the stretch of highway from Durango to Silverton in many ways more spectacular than the Million Dollar Highway from Silverton to Ouray. Consider this photo Exhibit A.
And here I present Exhibit B.
Not that the Million Dollar Highway is hideous. Crystal Lake may not have been especially crystal on this gloomy day, but water in a scene is nearly always a good thing.
Even better than still water is running water, and the day's rains had this cascade along the Uncompahgre River flowing briskly.
And with the recently fallen (and therefore still vibrant) leaves strewn along the bank? This is quintessential autumn in Colorado to me.
Past peak? Not from what I could see!
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