The molecules of moisture on the trail expand and collapse beneath the warmth of the midday sun. The ground under the snow, not yet frozen on this early fall day, is already soupy, slippery.
I step lightly, eyes cast down, not wanting my feet to come out from beneath me. My vision of vigorous hiking melts to one of strolling.
I come up over the first rise. Ahead of me is a timeless scene of tranquility.
On how many instances, over the millenia, has the element of fresh snow, fallen at the height of the autumnal display, created this wonderland that I behold?
To my left, up high, a chattering in the trees. I direct my eyes there and focus on the merging of blue, green, golden yellows, and winter white.
On a far-off hillside, a gun report. And with its reverberations, disintegrating clumps of snow leap from high branches to their destiny below. A few leaves follow suit, slowly, uncertain in the suicide contagion. I marvel at their beauty at the time of death.
A Colorado fall is defined by the contrast of greens and yellows, but here now, at eye level, is an outsider, not shunned, but accepted, welcomed, for its diverse and complementary quality.
Deep in the woods, another of its kind hides, perhaps not yet assured of its value among the more typical hues. If only it could see itself for what it’s worth.
A beautiful sight, walking in an autumn wonderland.
Reposted for the Daily Prompt: Mid-Season Replacement:
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/daily-prompt-seasons-2/
A String of Pearls 
Oct 08, 2013 @ 08:05:46
Beautiful words and beautiful photos!
Oct 08, 2013 @ 08:56:47
Thank you! The season made me do it. 🙂
Oct 08, 2013 @ 09:04:12
I can’t wait until we start seeing more color down here in The South!
Oct 08, 2013 @ 11:46:19
I haven’t ever experienced that kind of a winter (mostly because of the lack of my traveling ventures). Such pictures; gives you a precise idea of how the winter is. A little yellow, brown and white. Beautiful.
Oct 08, 2013 @ 12:04:05
It is actually fall/autumn here and won’t officially be winter until December 21 or so. It was an early snow and started to melt the next day. In the heart of winter, all of the leaves will be brown, dropped, dead and disintegrating beneath several feet of the white stuff. I hope you can see it some day. 🙂
Oct 08, 2013 @ 15:55:49
Beautiful colors.
Oct 12, 2013 @ 09:29:18
I know. Don’t you just love fall?
Oct 12, 2013 @ 11:54:06
I do! And not just because my birthday is the first day of fall (when “they” do the calendar right!), but also because fall feels like a second spring. It was 64F here yesterday. BIG difference from 112F all summer long! 🙂
Oct 09, 2013 @ 09:33:30
BEAUTIFUL–post and photos.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 09:58:56
Thank you. I appreciate you taking a look at it and commenting. Glad you liked it.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 14:52:53
Wow this is stunning. The mixing of the seasons is so cool.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 21:15:31
I agree. In all my years here, I haven’t really experienced the extra element of snow. It was just amazing.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 15:11:06
Wow, I’m moving to Colorado. It’s 84 degrees here in Houston, yuck. Lovely post and pictures.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 15:35:26
Where in Colorado? You’re going to love it. I lived a year in Texas City – my first teaching job out of college.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 18:23:36
We have fall in New England now and it is one of my favorite times of the year. I lived in Denver and worked in Central City for a while, so I remember the beautiful colors and brilliant blue sky. Beautiful photos!
Oct 09, 2013 @ 20:31:07
I lived in Denver for a couple years as a young child. Colorado is so beautiful (Durango is still my favorite town!) Gorgeous photos – love the snow on the trees and the colors of the leaves.
Oct 09, 2013 @ 21:07:02
I was in Denver for 15 years and now on the Western Slope. Thanks for checking out the autumn wonderland!
Oct 09, 2013 @ 21:13:04
I have yet to go to New England, but when I do, I hope it’s in the Fall. Yours is a different fall and I want to experience it. Thanks for checking out my post.
Oct 10, 2013 @ 09:51:46
Stunning photos, beautiful words… I’ve been dying to get up in our canyons here in Utah, but there just hasn’t been the time, so I’m glad to live vicariously through you. 🙂
Oct 10, 2013 @ 10:49:56
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad the post brought you some joy. It is weird how an autumn can “get away from us,” huh? I’ll check out your blog; I like your name Paradise Monster and Life’s Back Roads.
Oct 10, 2013 @ 15:20:02
I want to go to there! Gorgeous! I wish we had weather where I live. It rained yesterday, and I was thrilled just to have a change!
Oct 10, 2013 @ 15:28:02
Oh no, no weather? Where do you live? On the coast? I’m glad you found the pictures pretty.
Oct 10, 2013 @ 15:56:36
STUNNING photography. Every one of them could be blown up and framed! Wow. And the words to go with them just as beautiful. I enjoyed this so much. Huge fan of Colorado – any season, but since Fall is my favorite, well, I mean…..
Oct 10, 2013 @ 16:09:52
Wow, thank you for your feedback. It’s easy to take pretty pictures in pretty places. Hard to write words to describe them though. 🙂
Oct 11, 2013 @ 07:02:13
Gorgeous colors!
Oct 11, 2013 @ 07:04:53
Yep! Glad they came through in the photos. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Oct 11, 2013 @ 07:10:33
welcome! 🙂
Oct 11, 2013 @ 08:04:02
Absolutely stunning images accompanied by lovely sentiments.
Oct 12, 2013 @ 09:24:04
At first I wrote a standard blurb about fall. Then, after reading a certain page in You Can’t Make This Stuff Up by Lee Gutkind, I rewrote it and came up with this.
Thank you, btw.
Oct 14, 2013 @ 17:27:15
Snow too soon! Love your description of your autumn splendor walk…
Oct 14, 2013 @ 19:03:12
The early snow is okay as long as it doesn’t tear all of the leaves down. It added to the beauty. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love yours and am now following you.
Oct 14, 2013 @ 20:40:53
Welcome, Randee, so happy you are enjoying my blog.
Oct 27, 2013 @ 03:39:34
Stunning… but oh so cold!! 😉
Oct 27, 2013 @ 06:54:52
Nah, 45 degrees F. It was starting to melt already.
Sep 27, 2014 @ 11:57:45
So uplifting!
Sep 27, 2014 @ 13:52:14
Thank you. This was a year ago and now the aspens are golden again.
Sep 27, 2014 @ 13:58:39
I looked around on several of your beautiful posts.
Sep 27, 2014 @ 14:00:19
Great. I will check yours out, too.
Sep 28, 2014 @ 18:34:58
Thanks.