Water drops carry across a puddle on aspen leaves Tuesday on Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Afternoon sunshine lights up a grove of aspen trees above U.S. Highway 550 at Molas Pass on Tuesday. The San Juan Mountains are in different stages of their fall colors.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Mike Scinto of California takes a picture of an aspen grove along U.S. Highway 550 below Coal Bank Pass north of Durango on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
One of the billions of aspen leaves in the San Juan Mountains wears its fall colors Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
A plant on the forest floor turns a bright red near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Plants next to a small stream change colors near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Aspen trees turn color near Old Lime Creek Road on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Colorful aspen leaves fill the mountain sides, but a closer look also shows rocks covered with a fall color Tuesday near Coal Bank Pass.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Aspen trees turn color above Silverton on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
Afternoon sunlight shines through clouds to light up a stand of aspen trees on a ridge near Moloas Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
A couple drive down Old Lime Creek Road looking at the fall colors near Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Remnants of ranching sits in a grass meadow near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>A Plant on the forest floor turns a bright red near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Grasses along with trees turn color below Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Aspen trees turn color above Silverton on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Aspen trees turn color near Old Lime Creek Road on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Berries hang over a small creek near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Changing aspen near Old Lime Creek Road on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Afternoon sunlight shines through clouds to light up a stand of aspen trees on a ridge near Moloas Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Plants next to a small stream change colors near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>A grove of aspen trees turn a mixed red color along U.S. Highway 550 below Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Water drops carry across a puddle on aspen leaves on Tuesday on Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Changing aspen near Old Lime Creek Road on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>One of the billions of aspen leaves in the San Juan Mountains begins to turn into to its fall color on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Aspen leaves of many colors are in change near Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Yellow aspen leaves create a contrast to the white tree trunks on Tuesday on Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Colorful aspen leaves fill the mountain sides but a closer look also shows rocks covered with a fall color on Tuesday near Coal Bank Pass.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Plants and grass begin to turn color near Old Lime Creek Road.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Rocks glisten with changing aspen trees on Tuesday near Coal Bank Pass.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>A grove of aspen trees turn a mixed red color along U.S. Highway 550 below Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Mike Scinto, of California, takes a picture of a grove of aspen trees along U.S. Highway 550 below Coal Bank Pass north of Durango on Tuesday while touring the changing leaves. The San Juan Mountains are in different stages of fall colors.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Colorful aspen trees frame Engineer Mountain on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>A couple drive down Old Lime Creek Road looking at the fall colors near Coal Bank Pass on Tuesday.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>Afternoon sunshine lights up a grove of aspen trees above U.S. Highway 550 below Molas Pass north of Durango on Tuesday.The San Juan Mountains are in different stages of fall colors.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald<br>The colors of the Red Mountain area compliments the changing aspen trees on Tuesday.
If you close your eyes and listen closely, the wind might whisper fall’s cool secrets in your ear.
Soon, the golden leaves will crunch beneath your boots, the sun will set in the early evening, and in the blink of an eye, the wintery, crisp air will sprinkle its frost upon your weary feet.
So how does one celebrate and bear witness to these colorful and majestic changes?
Well, there are plenty of activities and picturesque places to visit throughout the Southwest for optimal fall-foliage viewing.
For instance, the aspen leaves in Silverton and on Red Mountain Pass are 75 percent turned, according to the San Juan National Forest 2014 Fall Color Report. The report recommends making it to the Silverton area this week to catch the transition just before the leaves completely turn.
Rose Raab, interim director for the Silverton-area Chamber of Commerce, said one of her favorite places to look for leaves changing is the Million Dollar Highway.
The scenic section of U.S. Highway 550 between Silverton to Ouray brings tourists from across the country. The road runs from Bernalillo, New Mexico, to Montrose.
Officials were worried that Sunday’s and Monday’s heavy storms were going to spoil the leaf-changing in the high country.
“We are pretty much at peak,” she said regarding the foliage. “We were getting worried with the rain and the weather, but everything is holding steady.”
As far as predicting how long the leaves will be at their peak, Raab said officials leave it up to Mother Nature and don’t make predictions.
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is also promoting its annual Fall Photographer’s Train. Unlike the standard trips, the train will allow passengers to get off at a pre-determined location to take photos. The train will run Saturday and Sunday.
If you are seeking an activity a little closer to home, fear not.
About 40 percent of leaves on Molas Pass have turned. While the colors in Rico and Dolores are at 30 percent, according to the U.S. Forest Service website.
Aspens in Durango and the Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort area are at about 10 percent foliage, and the oak brush on Missionary Ridge is at 50 percent, the website read.
The San Juan National Forest website also recommends hitting the high country this week for optimal viewing. Slightly lower areas will reach a peak by the first week of October.
Jack Llewellyn, executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce, said the aspens will peak this weekend. He drove to Denver last week, and upon his return Sunday, the leaves had already turned on Wolf Creek Pass, he said.
“It’s amazing how fast they do that,” he said.
The Lime Creek and Cascade Creek areas are off the beaten path, but highly recommended, he said.
He’s also heard great reviews from friends and co-workers who made it to Silverton this past weekend.
And that begs the question: Why do the leaves change colors?
It’s all caused by a chemical change within the plant.
According to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, a plant cell contains a chemical called chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green pigmentation of plants. It absorbs energy from the sun, which feeds the plant through a process called photosynthesis.
Plant cells also contain a pigment called carotenoids, which produces the red-orange pigmentation found in carrots.
During the fall, the availability of sunlight and weather conditions change, causing a reduction in chlorophyll, and the carotenoids become more prominent.
Thus, we get a few weeks of splendid fall colors varying from yellow and brown, to purple, orange and red.
No one can predict how long the transition will last, so catch it while you can.
“It’s a spectacular view from here to Silverton,” Llewellyn said.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
On the Net
Forest Service Fall Color Report: www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/sanjuan/home/?cid=stelprdb5389668&width=full
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