Aspens

Every year in late September, as the first crisp days of fall descend upon the Rocky Mountains we are treated to the brilliant colors of the aspens turning. Populus Tremuloides, also known as the Quaking or American Aspen grow in large colonies all throughout Colorado. The colonies consist of identical tree clones that grow from the root sprouts of others. Since they are genetically the same and share the same root structure the colonies are considered one organism. The largest colony named Pando, is located in Eastern Utah on the Western Colorado Plateau. The 80,000 year old colony is thought to be the heaviest known organism in the world. Oddly trees in the same colony turn different colors at different times. Once they start though it happens quick, with the peak taking place in less than a week based on temperature and elevation. It's so important in Colorado that the local news includes of a forecast of peak times based on region in the nightly weather forecast.

Having grown up on the East Coast with vivid falls, the aspens have always made September a magical month for me. It's the best time of year to take pictures. The air is clear, the colors are vivid, and the angle of sun makes for long golden hours at sunrise and sunset. Mountain biking and hang gliding become secondary, nothing more than a vehicle to experience a wonderland of vivid greens, yellows, oranges, and reds. I missed most of peak season this year due to being in OZ and catching up on work, but luckily I have a collection of unposted pics from years past.

Here are some token Aspen shots I took in Telluride a few years ago.

This was on the drive out to the 24 Hours of Moab in 2006.

Which reminded me of a ferry flight I did back in September of 2005.

Our route took us over one of my favorite, but least explored places - The Grand Mesa. I spent a day there scouting Lands End, a hang gliding cliff launch, and kayaking with Molly in the many picturesque lakes on top of the mesa. I also was angrily escorted out of an Astronomer's Party which is a story I'll save for a later post. My second trip there was hang gliding trip, where I flew off Lands End with Tim and it was the first thing I ever posted on the Lee-Side (Here).

The Grand Mesa.

Lands End - Launch is above the cliff face on the left side of shot.

From the air the texture and varied colors of the Aspens stand out in a way that you can't appreciate from the ground.

I'm not sure if these are individual colonies or clumps of a larger connected colony.

When you add orange to the mix, to quote Jeff, "They look like Fruti Pebbles".

Fruti Pebbles - Mmm...

A gentle wave cloud over Eastern Grand Mesa.

As the sun sets the aspens reflect their colors upward, here is the same wave cloud from a different angle, lined up with the sun. Other than a slight (10%) saturation boost, I have not altered the colors.

More Clouds

After the peak when the nights get colder and the leaves get thinner the aspens take on a new look. Skeletal groups of closely spaced trunks show the actual size of colonies. Here's a shot I would call The Last of the Aspens.