TOP TEN FALL FOLIAGE SPOTS
Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Michigan. Photo (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
I came across MSN's "TOP TEN FALL FOLIAGE SPOTS". Some of the choices on MSN's list are classics (VT and NH). Others are surprising. MSN's list is
here.
My top ten list would look different.
What places would I add to this list? Let me mention a few in two states, Michigan and Colorado. Details follow. Times of best color are approximate and vary quite a bit from year to year. Check the link below for current reports. In Colorado, the color starts earlier in the higher elevations.
MICHIGAN. More red, crimson, and orange than you can imagine.
In late September to mid-October you can usually find great color in Michigan's Upper Penisula. Drive almost any highway in any of the national forests. US 2 along the Lake Michigan shore can be very nice. Stop at the Cut River Bridge west of St. Ignace. Head for the Porcupine Mountains out in the western U.P. Wander the back roads in the Seney-Germfask area. Go to Seney National Wildlife Refuge for water reflection shots with geese and swans at sunset or sunrise. Stay at the historic Blaney Park Inn south of Germfask in the little hamlet of Blaney Park. A nice B&B with very low rates. Drive around in the Tahquamenon Falls area and go to both the Upper and Lower Falls.
In early to mid-October, wander the northern half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Just draw a line from Traverse City to Alpena and drive around anywhere along and north of the line. I'm a little partial to the western half of this area. Drive up the Old Mission Peninsula, just north of Traverse City. Drive the justly famous "Tunnel of Trees" (MI-119) between Harbor springs and Cross Village. Stop and eat at
Legs Inn in Cross Village.
Maple Leaves near Germfask, Michigan. Photo (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
COLORADO. Go for the Gold.
Go to Rocky Mountain National Park in mid to late September. (Color may be earlier in 2004 based on early reports.) Look for golden aspen mingled with green evergreens. Drive the park roads and take a hike almost anywhere. Don't know where to begin? Hike in the Glacier Gorge and Bear Lake areas. Some of the apsen can be almost orange, depending on the location and the year. Go to the right on the trail around Bear Lake and climb up into the boulder field for a nice shot of Long's Peak between the aspen.
Sprague Lake does not have aspen but it is a great shot at sunrise and sunset.
Stay at the
Alpine Trail Ridge Inn in Estes Park and tell Jay and Fran that I sent you.
Guanella Pass. Between Grant and Georgetown. Wonderful aspen in mid to late September.
The San Jaun Skyway. From mid-September to early October, drive between Durango and Ridgeway, and between Ridgeway and Delores. The area around the Sneffels Range is especially nice. Wonderful aspens and spectacular scenery. The Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Silverton is something else.
Times of peak color vary every year. Check local fall color reports before you go. Links to color reports are
here.
Go photograph some gorgeous color!
Mt. Sneffels. Southwest Colorado. Photo (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
PHOTO OF THE DAY - "LIONESS"
Composite image. Copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
I had asked Andrea if I could use her photo on a promotional photo and she said sure "as long as you don't put my face on a horse". So I took her literally and didn't put it her face on a horse. I DID put her face on a lioness in Photoshop. The original images are below.
Lioness. Copyright (c) Jim Doty. Jr.
Andrea. Copyright (c) Jim Doty, Jr.
COLORADO
Symptoms: one sore right foot, one very sore left ankle, one very painful left achilles tendon, sore left thigh, one scraped knee, two scraped elbows, very sore ribs on the left side, bloodshot eyes, small lumps on the head, and one very big smile.
Obvious diagnosis: Taking pictures again in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The left ankle and achilles tendon can be explained by a minor fall while scrambling up some boulders to get just the right view of Bear Lake and Longs Peak framed by aspen.
The sore left side is from laying on a sharp rock to get the best possible low angle closeup for a flower photo. Despite wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt, the scraped knee and elbows are due to crawling around on rocky ground working on flower photos or a good angle for a wildlife shot.
The head lumps might be from from bug bites - or maybe my head just
isn't normal (I can hear my friends now.)
The bloodshot eyes are from staying up late to take star shots or to download digital photos and burn them to CD. They are also due to getting up at 5 AM to catch first light.
And the smile? That should be obvious. What photographer wouldn't be smiling after spending a few glorious days in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The sore right foot and sore left thigh? I don't know which photos to attribute them to.
More photos are
here.
