Timpooneke Road in September

I love this road; it has a magical "through the woods" feel that I always enjoy when I drive it. It does have the drawback of being terribly eroded, but even that can be seen as a plus because it keeps out too many people. The fall colors render it even more magical. I only wish I had a better camera than my phone, it would have done the country more justice. 

Timpanogos North Summit as seen through the pines on Timpooneke Road.

 

Looking north from the "scree" portion of the road. 

The afterglow of the setting sun. 

My little truck's headlights lighting up the road as we head for home, in the last afterglow of twilight.

Timp's North Summit, with a blanket of green and gold leaves covering its knees. 

Early autumn leaves

The onset of fall has required travel into the hills to view the oncoming rush of color. The signs of autumn are just beginning to creep down the mountainside, but all too soon winter will be here. 

Sunrays glance upon the north summit of Timpanogos as the sun sets.

Green and fallow gold. 

High up, the aspens are beginning to turn.

The road to Cascade Springs. 

A poorly-focused photo of the rising harvest moon slipping between the mountains, with Utah suburbia in the foreground.

View Benchmark

The remnants of summer will be swept away over the next ten days as we move from 80-degree days to 60-degree days. I hope fall lasts longer this year. 

As a toast to the close of summer, here's a shot of View Benchmark, elevation 6682 ft., taken this last week. 

Sunset over the Ochre Mountains.

Wolf Creek Pass

                               

 Wolf Creek Pass scenic overlook; the verdant growth and green belie the narrative that the West is burning up with wildfire conditions and scorching heat. Here, at least, conditions are ideal.

A hastily taken photo from the road of an incoming rainstorm over Wolf Creek Pass.

Views of the storm.

And of it clearing. 

Clear Creek Falls, Seven Lakes Overlook, Bristol Head

 

Clear Creek Falls.

A hastily snapped photo of Bristol Head, taken from a moving car.

Among the stinging nettle growing at the base of South Clear Creek Falls. 

The beautiful view at the overlook for the Seven Lakes remains as idyllic as ever.

Cold Mountain Air up Rat Creek Canyon, Creede CO

 

View looking away from above Creede, from lower Rat Creek Road

Among the wildflowers. 

Approaching the summit. 

Among the clouds.

Adventurers in side-by-sides three.

Sandboarding at Great Sand Dunes National Park

 

Under the full glare of the Colorado Sun, hiking up the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park seems like visiting the world's largest beach and never seeing the ocean. And like the beach, sand gets everywhere, especially when kicking up in rooster tails that spray you with a backwash as you try to slow yourself down with an arm or leg as you breeze down a steep slope on the back of a well-waxed sandboard. 

Nevertheless, the surrounding views of still lushly green montains, and the nearby creek flowing at the base of the dunes are worth the hike.