On Sunday, I was thinking I should call my friend Kim because the aspens in the Sangre de Cristo mountains have started turning golden. As I was having this thought, my phone dinged in the other room. There was a text message from Kim asking if I wanted to go for a hike to see the aspens. So I promptly called her back and mentioned that I was thinking the exact same thing.
Hiking is one of my favorite things to do, but because my dog, Aster tends to get car sick, it's something that I didn't do all summer. This summer was also so hot that I didn't feel like going. But the turning of the aspen leaves is a ritual that I look forward to annually.
We wended our way around the switchbacks on the way to the Big Tesuque trail, which is about 12 miles North of downtown Santa Fe.
It seems like the aspen leaves changed color later this year, but it was worth the wait. I can't remember the leaves being so luminous last year.
The Big Tesuque trail joins the Aspen Vista trail. There are lots of gradations of yellow and green at the vista itself. Conifers are interspersed with aspens.
The whiteness of the bark seems to lend itself to being photographed. I probably have hundreds of aspens photos, but I can't seem resist taking one more.
Banks of trees ablaze in golden light. Nature doesn't get much better than this.
I'm joining Happy Homemaker UK for the Post of the Month Club. Thanks for hosting Laura.
The whiteness of the bark seems to lend itself to being photographed. I probably have hundreds of aspens photos, but I can't seem resist taking one more. 
I'm joining Happy Homemaker UK for the Post of the Month Club. Thanks for hosting Laura.
Telepathy - this often happens to me too. Beautiful photos. We have not so much yellow, it is still more green. Fall is a suitable season for hiking.
ReplyDeleteThey have gorgeous fall color. Those photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Gorgeous!! We're on the road now, on our way to Guadalupita, NM. One of our plans is to do some hiking in the area - can't wait to see all this beauty!
ReplyDeleteWe're getting more gold, especially in the high country, but it seems later up here this year, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Aspen are turning here too, but they are early. I love the fulgent color of their understory when they change color.
ReplyDeleteA-ah...beautiful! I have often wished I could duplicate the beauty of an aspen forest, but I don't think I have the room. Thanks for sharing such lovely photos of these perfect specimens!
ReplyDeleteOh, how gorgeous! When I lived in Colorado I'd make an annual pilgrimage to see the aspens but haven't managed it here. Your second photo totally made my day. It's funny how some things just compel us to take picture after picture. Every year and tree have their own different flavor, though.
ReplyDelete@Mimi - Daniela, I plan to do lots more hiking before it gets cold. It makes me smile when a friend and I are thinking the same thing.
ReplyDelete@Sunray - Cher, it's beautiful how golden the aspens are. They might make it one more week.
@charlie b. - Have a great time in Guadalupita! Enjoy the fall air and the fall colors.
@Patricia - The leaves are changing color later, but it still took me by surprise. The fall color seemed to happen in the last week or so, almost all at once.
ReplyDelete@Susan - I had to look up fulgent. Nice word.
@TSB - Michelle, you're right. I have a few aspens, but they hardly resemble the magnificence of seeing them in nature. It's always an awes inspiring experience.
ReplyDelete@Stacy - the second photo is my favorite, too. I have an aspen wall, on one side of my hallway. It's mostly snapshots of my friends and I hiking.
What gorgeous pictures! and what a nice place you have to go hiking. Love the yellow leaves.
ReplyDeletelovely! nice pictures girlsprout. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSpectacular. Thanks for helping me relive my fall trip to Aspen of many years ago.
ReplyDelete@BL - It was beautiful and it's been raining up a storm today so I'm glad I got to see them before the leaves fell off.
ReplyDelete@Angel - Thanks for stopping by. Love going up there and it was a great photo op.
@Carolyn - Wow, the leaves turning must have been amazing in Aspen.
Oh my, Michele what a privilege you have to have seen them in person. At their finest, it has one of the most amazing display of sheer beauty of nature.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful and what an amzing yellow! The colour of sunshine. Thank you for sharing these with someone from accross the world. Christina
ReplyDeleteWow! What beautiful images! The golden leaves are breathtaking. My favorite is the 2nd image.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent! Such glorious colors! The aspen is one of the most beautiful trees in the fall!
ReplyDelete@Patrick - I try not to take it for granted. It was extra beautiful this year.
ReplyDelete@One - The second image is my favorite, too. I was hiking in the opposite direction and just happened to look back serendipitously.
@Indie - I agree! I love seeing them in all seasons, but in the fall - they're glorious.
AWESOME trees.
ReplyDeleteWow, rocky mountain high! It reminds me of my time spent on the front range. beautiful.
ReplyDelete@Christina - In the fall, the aspens have double the sunshine because of the leaves golden color and the sunlight illuminating them.
ReplyDelete@Catharine - They're an awesomeness I never tire of.
@Greggo - I'm sure you saw quite a few aspen glows in Colorado Springs. I feel very fortunate.
Stunning photos! I hope Aster got to go, as well??
ReplyDeleteThat landscape is so different than what we see here, another beautiful benefit of blogging, seeing the other parts of the country!
Just gorgeous. Aspens are a fall miracle.
ReplyDelete@Sissy - Aster did get to go. She did really well on the trail.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorite things about blogging, too. It's like taking a mental holiday for a few minutes.
@GWGT - Donna, you're right. I don't think words can describe how beautiful they are.
Breathtaking! Such beautiful coours.
ReplyDelete@Bridget - I think I went hiking at the perfect time. Sometimes, the leaves are already starting to fall and other times not as golden.
ReplyDeleteWow! There really is nothing like the turning of the Aspens! You captured it beautifully. Thank you for linking up and joining Post Of The Month Club! XoLaura
ReplyDeleteVisiting from HH UK. I love the Aspen. Feels like it would if I was still in Colorado. Your blog is lovely and I will be back to visit often.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my place and commenting.
Eli
Hi, I'm popping in via Laura's Post of the Month Club. Your photos are absolutely breathtaking! Thanks for sharing this beauty.
ReplyDeleteFall is such a wonderful time of year for a hike. Your photography is lovely.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! Popping over from Post Of The Month Club
ReplyDelete