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Fall Colors on Owl Creek Pass

Fall Colors 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013

I left work on Friday and headed south to the San Juan Mountains near Ridgway to start my annual week-long October trip. Normally, I spend this week in the desert of southern Utah and northern Arizona, but this year I decided to spend the first weekend chasing fall colors in the San Juan Mountains since the colors were a little late this year. After a quick dinner stop in Montrose I was soon driving up Owl Creek Pass as a winter storm moved through the area. Many of the aspen trees still seemed to be pretty green for this time of the year, but with the fresh snow on the ground and tress, low clouds above and colorful oaks, there were plenty of beautiful fall scenes.

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Brush & Clouds by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Brief spotlight on the ridge.

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Ridge Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Winter Spotlight by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I just love the fresh snow on the trees with a little splash of green and golds.

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Hillside by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

A closer look.

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Spot by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Cliff Light by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Vista View by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Valley & Storm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Changing Colors by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Muddy Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Cimarron Ridge by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

Here’s a few photos of the amazing colors as snow started to fall around me.

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Color in a Storm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Layers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Changing Seasons by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Owl Creek Pass Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

On the way up to the pass I found a nice grove of aspen trees.

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Aspen Ghosts by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

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Aspen Dance by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

My Jeep in a snowstorm as I got closer to the pass.

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In the Storm by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

As I reached Owl Creek Pass the snow was coming down pretty good. I went a little beyond the pass and then turned around since it was starting to get dark out and I needed to find somewhere to camp for the night.

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Winter Road by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

One last photo of the colors at sunset.

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Owl Creek Sunset by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr

I ended up setting up camp in the snow near Vista Point and slept pretty well in my 0 degree down sleeping bag. I had only left work a few hours ago and already the trip was going well!

>> Fall Colors on Owl Creek Pass Photo Gallery

2 Comments

  1. Michael Greene
    Michael Greene October 15, 2013

    Nice work! I left the day before when it was sunny and blustery – by the afternoon it overcast. Had I known it was going to snow I probably would have stayed. I think they were calling for a 20-30% chance. Great images!

    • Randy Langstraat
      Randy Langstraat October 15, 2013

      Thank you Michael!

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