[Image]  My dear husband took the kids Sunday morning so I could go for a trail run. I wanted to check out the Timber Creek-South Fork Baker loop (about 5.5 miles) and see the fall colors before a winter storm arrives in the next couple of days.  I started off on the relatively flat section of the trail, with fall colors around me.

As I climbed up into Timber Creek, the yellows became more brilliant. Although I was trying to run faster than the last time I had run the trail, I had already decided I was going to take photos with my phone whenever I wanted, no matter if that made my time slower. I couldn't really remember my earlier time anyway, so that took a lot of pressure off.
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Some of the leaves were off already at the higher elevations.
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To my great surprise, I saw people on the trail! I passed these two--what a fun feeling it is to pass someone on the trail, even if I was basically just walking fast because I'm not fast enough to run up switchbacks. I also saw nine backpackers coming down this trail, and two backpackers later, for a total 13 people!
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I really liked the sections of trails where leaves covered the winding path. Plus it was a little flatter here, which is always a nice change on a trail that gains and loses 1,800 feet in 5.5 miles.
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The meadow at the top was as glorious as I was imagining. The fast-moving clouds allowed for dramatic vistas, including the backside of Wheeler Peak and Jeff Davis.
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I veered off the trail for a bit and found these cool aspen trees. I especially like the symmetry.
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Sunlight illuminated the top of Pyramid Peak and the aspen grove on the far side of the meadow.
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Looking north, there were more great colors.
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I had to try for a selfie, you know, to prove I was there. It was really windy in the meadow.
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I headed down along South Fork Baker Creek, seeing the colors turn in the riparian veg, too.
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The colors were even better on the South Fork Baker side, with so many leaves blanketing the trail.
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Yep, this really is the way!
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When I came out to the lower meadow, I saw some backpackers enjoying the view and soaking up the sun.
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I said a quick hi and kept running.
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Till I stopped to take more photos!
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Most of the color is due to the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) leaves, but willows and skunkbush also provided a nice splash of color.
[Image] It was a fun run/walk and I was happy to finish in under two hours. Maybe sometime I'll find where I wrote down my earlier times and see how I did. But even if I didn't, it was a great excuse to get outside and enjoy part of our beautiful world.