An Omen of Early Autumn - Colorado? - UPDATE 09/03/18

[Thom02099]

This weekend we went up CO 14 west of Fort Collins and stayed at Chambers Lake (USFS CG). Nearby is Larimer CR 103 AKA the Laramie River Road. Since it was a cool/rainy weekend, we decided to explore a bit, as it's been probably 20+ years since I've been on that road. If you have any knowledge of the area, it's quite remote, with access to the Rawah Wilderness Area, and some really huge ranches. Beautiful scenery.

What struck me though was, that on the weekend of August 17-19, there were Aspen already changing. And more than just a few here and there. Enough that they caught my attention as we were driving the valley. Elevation for that area ranges from ~9200 feet to 8,000 feet along the road, with mountains in the 10,000-12,000 feet range. Most of the gold we saw was along the roadway, though there were also some visible at higher elevations.

Heading back up to RMNP in 2 weeks, will be interesting to see if there's any colour change up there yet.

[welove2drive]

I noticed a lot of wooly worms this weekend. Some all black. A couple were all gold. I thought it seemed early to see so many.

[memtb]

memtb wrote:
I’m sure that this is “very” temporary (and very unusual)....we never got to 70 F today! Normally, for this date....90’s to 100+ F.

Update: At approximately 19:00 hrs MDST (7 pm).....57 F and “drizzling” rain! Maybe it will wash some of the smoke out of the atmosphere!

[memtb]

I’m sure that this is “very” temporary (and very unusual)....we never got to 70 F today! Normally, for this date....90’s to 100+ F.

[profdant139]

In Southern Calif, it is so hot and sunny that the tourists are turning red. And their green dollars are wilting and fluttering down into the cash registers.

I wonder if the odd behavior of the leaves in the Rockies is a function of all of the smoke blowing in from the Far West?? Probably not. But the smoke maps are discouraging -- the whole country is suffering.

[ORbiker]

The weather is all wacked out this year.

Oregon has not had rain in almost 2 months and it has been HOT for Oregon temps. The only leaves that are falling are the dried up ones.

[rexlion]

Our forecast in OK for next week calls for temps we usually see starting Oct. 20.

[gbopp]

Pennsylvania is still green.....for now.

[Thom02099]

2gypsies wrote:
... can't see any changes in the Arizona desert yet! 🙂

Still 110 in the shade??? :C

[2gypsies1]

... can't see any changes in the Arizona desert yet! 🙂

[memtb]

We’re only at 4200 feet, and we’ve seen a few leaves on the ground already! It certainly is a bit early, but it already has that fall “feel”!

[Thom02099]

RoyB wrote:
Its doing that here in Virginia too... Leaves are starting to change... Spiders are building the webs to catch food for the winter, etc etc etc... It is month early as far as I am concerned...

Have no idea what all of this means...

Roy Ken

A month early. Exactly! Usually the Aspen start their turning in September and by the end of the month and into early October, they are reaching their peak. But to be STARTING in late August? Don't know what it means either...if anything...

[RoyB]

Its doing that here in Virginia too... Leaves are starting to change... Spiders are building the webs to catch food for the winter, etc etc etc... It is month early as far as I am concerned...

Have no idea what all of this means...

Roy Ken

[kohai]

The past week I'm seeing some trees change on the mountains here in Utah too.

[Busskipper]

Thom02099 wrote:
This weekend we went up CO 14 west of Fort Collins and stayed at Chambers Lake (USFS CG). Nearby is Larimer CR 103 AKA the Laramie River Road. Since it was a cool/rainy weekend, we decided to explore a bit, as it's been probably 20+ years since I've been on that road. If you have any knowledge of the area, it's quite remote, with access to the Rawah Wilderness Area, and some really huge ranches. Beautiful scenery.

What struck me though was, that on the weekend of August 17-19, there were Aspen already changing. And more than just a few here and there. Enough that they caught my attention as we were driving the valley. Elevation for that area ranges from ~9200 feet to 8,000 feet along the road, with mountains in the 10,000-12,000 feet range. Most of the gold we saw was along the roadway, though there were also some visible at higher elevations.

Heading back up to RMNP in 2 weeks, will be interesting to see if there's any colour change up there yet.

Thom,

Interesting - Early to say the Least,

Thanks for the Insight,