I took this shot in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area here near Aspen. It was a pretty amazing moment -- I saw the mountain goat coming down a trail leading out of a basin about 1/2 mile away from where I was. He was just ambling down the path, enjoying the day. I figured he would stay on the path, so I hid about 4 feet off the trail behind a bush, with just my camera sticking over the leaves. I took this shot at the exact moment when he noticed me. After I got the shot, he walked towards me quite quickly. I let him get about 3 feet away before I stood up. When he saw just how big I was he looked surprised and backed off.

Pyramid Peak is the mountain in the background.

© All rights reserved

Patches and patterns, a filigree of lace and light weaving shadows among the snow draped pines and aspen branches.

Mount Sopris in the back

Fall colors on Forest Road 612 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8185. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Aspen Trees in the Tahoe Basin

Full Aspen color near Independence Pass. High altitude -- above 11,000 feet. From the original 4x5 color transparency.

Topaz clean.

Stand Of Quaking Aspens along the inner basin trail during Fall Near Flagstaff, AZ

{Kodak Ektar 100}

I love this shot for the depth it provides.

Wellington Lake, Colorado

Maroon Bells hike to Crater Lake, Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness.

Falling leaves dot the freshly fallen snow in an aspen grove at Soapstone Basin in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest east of Kamas, Utah. (c) 2013 Tom Kelly

Fall in Glacier National Park

Fall colors on Forest Road 612 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8164. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

After driving thru splendid fall color all afternoon, I captured this as the sun set.

Autumn color at Lost Lake Campground off of Kebler Pass Road in Colorado.

Fall colors on Forest Road 610 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8241. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Northeastern Nevada. 2012

impressionsblog.com/2012/10/13/autumn-ranchland-4/

Fall colors on Forest Road 219 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8282. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Tom McSparron Photography 2011 | All Rights Reserved | Please do not use without my permission.

Fall colors on Forest Road 219B on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8274. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Canoeing in boats made of one piece of wood in the Gauja river, Latvia. Summer 2010.

The boats is made of the aspen tree.

foto: Rihards Vidzickis

Spring raindrops and Aspen leaves.

The leaves are turning. This is from Saturday, went up to Rocky Mountain N.P. to photograph sunrise and see what the leaves were doing. Above Bear Lake there was some good color, and a perfect day for hiking.

Aspen trees in the mountains near Flagstaff, Az.

Fall colors on Forest Road 271 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8102. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Fall colors on Forest Road 271 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8100. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Parowan Canyon -- Iron County, Utah.

October 7, 2016. ©Copyright 2016 Karlton Huber Photography - all rights reserved.

Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Virginia Lakes

Today I headed north in search of more fall color near the Virginia Lakes. I was disappointed to find the often vivid color found around the lakes pretty much done. I returned to my vehicle without even removing a lens cap.

Predicting fall color, especially good peak color is like trying to predict next week's winning lottery numbers. It's next to impossible and winning is more a result of luck than skill or some mysterious formula. Thankfully, Mother Nature gives us a little bit of a break and offers us all a fair chance to get in some serious leaf peeping every year in the eastern Sierra by staggering the color change of different slopes, plateaus, canyons and drainages. The leaves don't all change color at the same time and the color change window for good color is open for several weeks depending on location and weather. Take in mind, a strong storm can knock all the leaves down very quickly. In the eastern Sierra color change usually starts around mid to late September and can last into early November, but late October is probably a safer bet. Do your homework, pick some days, head on up and be prepared to explore various locations and I'm sure you will find some amazing fall foliage.

This photograph is a result of asking myself "I wonder what's down that road" then making the effort to go find out.

Fall colors on Forest Road 22. North Kaibab district. 9-27-17. IMG8095. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

Lee Vining Canyon,

Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA

Nikon F6

Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR

Kodak Ektar 100

Developed and scanned at Northcoast Photographic Services, Carlsbad, CA

October 18, 2022 - Twin Lakes Vista at Mammoth Lakes, CA with a beautiful view of the Aspen Trees in peak Fall Foliage Yellow and Gold Colors!

Fall colors on Forest Road 612 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8187. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.

© Lindbloom Photography

Fall colors on Forest Road 612 on the North Kaibab District. 9-28-17. IMG8193. Photo by David Hercher. Credit the U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest.