aspen

Can someone recommend a nice motel that is
fairly inexpensive near Maroon Bells?
When is the about the best time of the year to photograph them?
How early should I get there?
Thanks
Joe

Well, Joe, unfortunately inexpensive and Aspen usually don't go together in the same sentence. I think most photogs here car camp in the parking lot at the Bells. Or, pitch a tent. I did stay in Snowmass with another guy a few years back and we found a pretty good rate (69 a night for both) on Expedia, but I think that was more luck than usual fare.

As far as when is very difficult to tell. Most average years it's difficult to predict the peak of the color, but with the severe drought this year, it's going to be almost impossible. The best time for there is most often the last week of September in my experience. And, don't go on a Saturday or Sunday unless you want to spend time shoulder to shoulder, overlapping tripods and all, with 100 of your best photog friends. Now, if it snows the day before a Saturday or Sunday, by all means get there.

Good luck, and it is worth the crowds.

There are 2 motels in carbondale that are reasonable and that puts you within driving distance

http://www.priceline.com sometimes has good deals on hotels.

In order of distance: Snowmass, Carbondale, and the south side of Glenwood Springs would be the places I would check for reasonably priced rooms. Snowmass does have some good deals for multi-night stays in the off season, but when not traveling with family, I prefer to car camp, so it has been awhile since I have stayed there.

I have stayed in the Mountain Chalet (I think that's right) in Aspen with friends before during fall color. I want to say about $65-70 for a double bed room. Dated, but if you are like me, who cares. Clean, good price, and good location right in downtown. My personal opinion is the drought will bring fall early, but who knows.

Regarding start of fall color, I personally did not know the science so I checked.

What drought might do - "Drought stress during the growing season can sometimes trigger the early formation of the abscission layer, and leaves may drop before they have a chance to develop fall coloration." (http://www.usna.usda.gov/PhotoGallery/FallFoliage/ScienceFallColor.html). There is also a hint that it may reduce budding for next year - but its unclear in the article.

Of interest, in another article a forester in Missouri suggests that sunny days in the 60's and nights in the 40's late in the season may actually improve color as sugars that produce the leaf-coloring agent can get trapped in the leaves. http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/09/22/trees-are-changing-colors-fall-approaches/

I stayed in Snowmass a couple years ago for $60 a night. It was a really nice hotel on the slopes. I think I got it off of expedia. There are a lot of places to stay that are affordable, just not in Aspen.