Bells today UPDATED!

This was the Bells this morning! A lot of talk lately how early the colors are turning, I think this is all bs! From where I have driven yesterday and today everything is on time as normal. The typical Bells shot in my best opinion will be this weekend leading into the begining of next week. The Bells valley itself has a lot of mixed colors the majority of them have not turned yet, even though some have completely gone. Enjoy the Point and Shoot shots of the valley today!

Bells valley #1

Bells valley #2

Bells valley #3

I saw the colors of the classic shot literally turn overnight this weekend. That patch right below the peak was already blowing off. I do agree that people will get good shots all the way until late next week, as the green stand to the right of the lake is always turning late, and there are other swaths of green obviously throughout. I also still say that the middle of this week will be best if you still hope to get that color right under the peaks for the classic reflection shot. I guess if you want to call that bs, good for you.

Some of the attitudes here are really hard to figure out. Isn't the point of this forum to post information? So people post reports guessing when, based on what they saw, things might happen. Now, you can reject the speculation part if you like, but I'm not sure it's necessary to call it bs when someone took the time to post what they saw. What motive would any of us have in giving bs to our posts? I would rather have more info and reports to sift through, and decide for myself whether the person's speculation is credible. Posters will be wrong sometimes. [edited out as inaccurate]

Brian, I am not talking about you saying that your post was bs! I am talking about all the forums that I have read in general, not just this site but others as well. Did identify one particulars email, no! I apologize if you thought I was talking about you, I wasn't! Did I say BVD was bs? NO! and by the way I am not the one who said that all the flowers were fried in summer 05. Why are you pointing fingers here? This will be my last fall update.

As for the patch below the bells that has always blown off first compared to the rest in my history visiting the bells.

Sorry if you were not the one saying the wildflowers were fried. My bad, and I'm sorry. But I stick by my other points. The bs thing was unnecessary, whether directed at me or others.

All I am saying is colors seem to be on track as normal. Why can't I give my opinion?

Let's all calm down, as usual fall color is getting everyone worked up and excited.

To all: I'm not a big fan of deleting posts/threads and plan to leave this one up. I ask that you not give Rick or myself a reason to delete anything.

I've taken my prozac now. Sorry Jody. Thanks for the update. Keep up the reports, and ignore fools like myself.

Now that that misunderstanding is out of the way...did either of you, Jody or Brian, make it over to Ashcroft while you were in the area?

Jody, thanks for the info and pictures. Words are more the posters opinion, but pictures allow everyone to formulate their own opinions based on prior visits to the area. From the photo's you and others have posted of that area, I would tend to agree with you that we have another 5-7 days before it's "there" in the Maroon Valley. Hopefully this next storm won't play havoc on the conditions.

Thanks again and please keep posting!
Craig

On the way home from the Bells, I came across a funny texan on the road, with a ladder out the window of the car. There are aspens in the post so it does count to post on this forum.

part 2 texan

These last pics are funny. This is one of those modern Texans without an F-250 PowerStroke. I like an Acura better.

BTW, thank you for posting the pics. Like others say, we can make our own judgements based on pictures.

Regarding Ashcroft, the forest service guy said it was prime last weekend, but he was wrong. We went, and there were some good color (better than anywhere else around the area), but still a ways to go. It should be perfect this weekend. This photo was from stand of Aspen right off the Taylor Pass road, along Castle Creek.

You might want to let that Texan know that it takes alot more than a ladder to climb the Bells.

Jody,

You mean you don't carry a step ladder with you when you photograph in order to get that unique view. Believe me there is many a time I wish my ladder was even taller.

John

A ladder is a great tool for photography and there have been many time I wished I had one with me.

Would I be out of line to suggest that the color change might be late this year I love this season and have never been disappointed in my fall outdoor experience. Peak color is always a nice bonus.

I'm hitting Golden Gate on Sunday. I'll definitely file my report!

Jody,

Mighty helpful. Thanks alot.

Oh. Ok. Bye.

Momo, Looks like this Texan is wondering why they didn't bring their powerstroker. Hope they didn't have far to go because I'm sure they'd eventually get cited for something like this.
Too funny!

Photo updates are good, predictions just make you crazy for no reason. Ricks other post sums it up well. Those who said the color was early may have been dead right for the areas they were in. Why get uptight about it either way?
The way I see it, for CO mountains and probably UT - If I get out in the last 2 weeks of Sept. or the 1st week of Oct. I'll find some good stuff. And bring on the bad weather. I was camping in the Flattops last weekend when the snow hit. 5-10 inches depending on where you stood. I'll try to post pics for a "late" update when I get my host server problem figured out.

I think some folks need to get out of the city traffic and relax a little!

Note to Brian: If you call the Forest Service in January and ask them how the fall colors are, they'll tell you it's prime time right now.

I'm convinced it's a government conspiracy to get people to the parks no matter what they ask, ever since I called Zion's park rangers one year and they told me it was prime time. I drove all the way out there to find almost everything still green, and not enough time to twiddle my thumbs for another 10 days to two weeks for the color to arrive.

Todd,

The Crested Butte folks tell you wildflowers are already peaking when you call in mid June.

Brian,

You were correct about "weren't you the guy whom in summer 05 said that the wildflowers in the San Juans all sucked and were fried already". The comment was actually directed at Yankee Boy and we almost canceled our trip. We went anyway and the flowers were great.