In previous years, I have tried a variety of ways to minimize the frustration of sitting in a traffic jam just to take-in the fall colors on my annual pilgrimage up to the mountains. I’ve tried playing hooky, I’ve tried getting out early, I’ve even tried going on non-peak weekends. This year, I think I hit on the right strategy!
I invited a friend and we decided to start our dive at sunrise but at the farthest point from Denver we could think of that would give us a few passes and some variety of colors. But also decided to go on a day when the weather was predicted to be less than perfect. The precast for Saturday was to be overcast with a chance of showers more-or-less all day with heavy rain predicted around mid-day.
So, we set-out well before sunrise, had breakfast in one of the small mountain towns and went to the far side of Kenosha Pass to await the sunrise.
The colors of the sunrise put me in mind of the old ELO Song: Fire On High. And, though the skies were gray, there was plenty of color to be seen!
September 23, 2017
Colorado’s Front Range
The threat (and indeed the actual fact) of rain, turning to snow at altitude, seems to have done its job and the traffic was pretty light this weekend. Our drive took us from South Park, over Kenosha and Guanella Passes through Georgetown and Idaho Springs, across the divide and down into Central City then up to Nederland and back to Lakewood.
Yeah, it rained and snowed, but it was never so bad that it was hazardous and all-in-all it was worth it to miss-out on the traffic. It was a great day in the mountains – but then, what day in the mountains isn’t!?
Wherever you are today, I hope that you have had a lovely weekend and are ready to start your week relaxed and ready to go!
Don Bergquist – September 25, 2017 – Lakewood, Colorado, USA
