Long time no post for me...But I have something (hopefully) useful to contribute now that I was out last weekend.
- Maroon Bells was really nice last weekend. The wet, cold weather is going to make short work of the remaining aspens, but it should be nice through mid-week and possibly into next weekend. And like Todd said, hey, it's the BELLS--I mean, c'mon. There's ALWAYS something to shoot there, even if everything isn't pristine. (I will say that the snow totally ROCKED this past weekend--18" of snow on Friday/Saturday and it's going to hang around on the mtns for awhile)
- Castle Creek/Ashcroft was looking nice on Thursday afternoon, although I'll make the same wet/cold comment as above. The aspens are a weird mix--green in spots, peak in spots, mixed in spots, stripped in spots (and not in a way you would consider predictable, either). Very odd year because of the cold wet weather we had early on in Sept.
- Marble valley/Crystal River valley were a real surprise this year. The aspens are pretty decent (about 70% changed) but the treat was the underbrush--wild rose, river willow, and bunches of other stuff I can't identify that are all really colorful. Reds, oranges, purples, greenish-yellows, ambers...Good stuff for intimate scenes along the river. Best when wet, IMO. But, with that said, the wet and cold are not doing them any favors. This will fade quickly over the week.
- The Crystal Mill, as Tony mentioned before, is definitely stripped behind the Mill (early Sept cold + wind = bad for Mill). The trip was, uh, "interesting" on that road with wet/snow. I had some guy behind me from Georgia until about Lizard Lake and then he chickened out. He probably made a good call. With snow or something going on around the Mill, it's interesting enough to make the trip. Otherwise, I'd skip this icon if you're looking for the "classic" shot.
- McClure Pass was about 60% changed on the north side, really green on the south side. The ferns are probably wiped out now with all that snow. Hard to say what the lower bend will look like--the trees had a sickly brown tinge to them before the storm hit, but you never know. The pass from a distance looked nice...Getting closer it was only OK. Not as much red this weekend. Perhaps that will change for next.
Good to see everyone at the Bells this weekend! Definitely some rocking fun weather up there!
-D
Posted by Bruce Painter on September 25, 2006 at 12:17 PM
Ah Dave! Now I know who I was following since I did not get your name down at Crystal Lake . It was me who chickened out at Lizzard Lake. By myself and in my old Ford Ranger 4X4 I would have went further, but in the best interest of the rental Explorer and maybe even my marrage I opted to get a couple of shots at Lizzard Lake and turn around. Sorry to hear that the Mill was not up to par. The weather was not exactly what I had hoped for but it was a nice trip and the people we met were great.
Bruce
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 25, 2006 at 1:08 PM
18" of snow on Friday/Saturday and it's going to hang around on the mtns for awhile...
Glad to see you made it out OK. I'm sure your wife was perhaps less than enthusiastic after she saw that hill going down from Lizard Lake...I know mine would have been. Glad you enjoyed your trip!
-D
Posted by Bruce Painter on September 25, 2006 at 3:00 PM
Thanks Dave,
Yes she was not to thrilled about the drop off on her side of the road when it got narrow. I thought I had went far enough when I watched you go under (through) the trees at Lizzard Lake and I thought about the rental being a little bigger than your truck. I did not think my insurance co. would be happy about the reason for having to pay out a claim to the rental co. if I put any scratches down the side of it.
I look forward to seeing the images from you and others from the area after the weather broke and you get some good light.
BTW, I went to your website and you have some really nice images on there. I wish mine were as good.
Bruce
Posted by Bruce Painter on September 28, 2006 at 10:57 PM
After hijacking and killing Dave's fall colors thread I'll at least try and show a photo from Lizzard Lake where I turned around.
This is my first attempt at showing a photo here.
Discussion
5 repliesLong time no post for me...But I have something (hopefully) useful to contribute now that I was out last weekend.
- Maroon Bells was really nice last weekend. The wet, cold weather is going to make short work of the remaining aspens, but it should be nice through mid-week and possibly into next weekend. And like Todd said, hey, it's the BELLS--I mean, c'mon. There's ALWAYS something to shoot there, even if everything isn't pristine. (I will say that the snow totally ROCKED this past weekend--18" of snow on Friday/Saturday and it's going to hang around on the mtns for awhile)
- Castle Creek/Ashcroft was looking nice on Thursday afternoon, although I'll make the same wet/cold comment as above. The aspens are a weird mix--green in spots, peak in spots, mixed in spots, stripped in spots (and not in a way you would consider predictable, either). Very odd year because of the cold wet weather we had early on in Sept.
- Marble valley/Crystal River valley were a real surprise this year. The aspens are pretty decent (about 70% changed) but the treat was the underbrush--wild rose, river willow, and bunches of other stuff I can't identify that are all really colorful. Reds, oranges, purples, greenish-yellows, ambers...Good stuff for intimate scenes along the river. Best when wet, IMO. But, with that said, the wet and cold are not doing them any favors. This will fade quickly over the week.
- The Crystal Mill, as Tony mentioned before, is definitely stripped behind the Mill (early Sept cold + wind = bad for Mill). The trip was, uh, "interesting" on that road with wet/snow. I had some guy behind me from Georgia until about Lizard Lake and then he chickened out. He probably made a good call.
- McClure Pass was about 60% changed on the north side, really green on the south side. The ferns are probably wiped out now with all that snow. Hard to say what the lower bend will look like--the trees had a sickly brown tinge to them before the storm hit, but you never know. The pass from a distance looked nice...Getting closer it was only OK. Not as much red this weekend. Perhaps that will change for next.
Good to see everyone at the Bells this weekend! Definitely some rocking fun weather up there!
-D
Bruce
Yeah, like July.
Glad to see you made it out OK. I'm sure your wife was perhaps less than enthusiastic after she saw that hill going down from Lizard Lake...I know mine would have been.
-D
Yes she was not to thrilled about the drop off on her side of the road when it got narrow. I thought I had went far enough when I watched you go under (through) the trees at Lizzard Lake and I thought about the rental being a little bigger than your truck. I did not think my insurance co. would be happy about the reason for having to pay out a claim to the rental co. if I put any scratches down the side of it.
I look forward to seeing the images from you and others from the area after the weather broke and you get some good light.
BTW, I went to your website and you have some really nice images on there. I wish mine were as good.
Bruce
This is my first attempt at showing a photo here.
http://www.dphoto.us/forumphotos/data/500/060916-427.jpg
Bruce