Not quite fall colors

One of our favorite fall traditions is to drive up to the high country to see the aspens in all their autumn splendor. Usually we take Emma who is mildly enthusiastic at best.

This year, we decided to take Piper instead.

We took Highway 287 to Grant, then turned onto the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway. 

We stopped several times to take pictures and hike.

There was a little bit of fall color, but not much.

That's okay. There were a lot of other things to see, including a waterfall,

big rocks...

and small critters.

After our hike, we got back in the van and headed further up the mountain.

We stopped at an overlook.

Seth held Piper up high so she could have a better view.

Then it was back in the car and up to the summit.

The parking lot was crowded. 

Most of our fellow adventurers were tackling Mt. Bierdstadt. That's a serious hike and much  too ambitious for us. We set our sights on the lake on the lake instead.

We made it!

The ground around the lake was surprisingly swampy.

Piper got a little bit dirty.

Ewwwww!

Fortunately, by the time we got back to the car, she was mostly dry again. We brushed her off as best as we could, and headed down the Georgetown side of the highway.

This is where the aspens are.

There were some nice yellow leaves, but mostly, they were still green. This was a little disappointing, but not surprising. We knew this week was a bit too early, but the rest of the month is really busy. Basically, it was a case of now or never.

As we were heading down the mountain past all those green leaves, we saw a bighorn sheep sign. I laughed and told Seth, "I want to see some sheep. That would make up for the leaves."

Then we went around a curve, and there they were!

Most of the flock crossed right in front of us and disappeared up the side of the mountain.

Goodbye little lambie!

The stragglers eventually did the same, but it took them a lot longer.

I really enjoyed watching the sheep.

I was right. They totally did make up for the leaves.

This was such a fun day.

I can't wait to do it again next year. With any luck, we'll get fall colors and bighorn sheep.