UPDATE 09/03/18
Just got back from a weekend trip up to RMNP. At Glacier Basin CG, looking south at Longs Peak, there were more than a few groves of Aspen among the fir trees that were turning gold. And driving along Trail Ridge Road up to timberline, again saw more than a few groves where the leaves were turning.
It appears to me that the leaf colour change is about 2+ weeks ahead of the usual time, mid to late September.
Sidebar: There was a fire below Trail Ridge Road between the Forest Canyon Overlook and the Rock Cut. While we were there, they were using Chinook helicopter to go to a nearby alpine lake, upload water into the chopper and then fly over the site to douse it. Very steep terrain, it was too dangerous for ground firefighters. Fire was about 3 acres at that time. A news report I read later said that in that particular area, there had not been a fire in over 800 years. Yes. 800 years, according to Park personnel.
Overnight temps all 3 nights at Glacier Basin were in the low 40s, highs in the 60s. This is the last weekend of operations for Glacier Basin.
