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| Massive bull elk express their dominance |
It’s October so the haunting calls of wild beasts permeate the crisp air. The elk are in a frenzy and massive bulls bellow to express their dominance. Up here, the yearly cycle includes windy transitions that usher in four incredibly distinct seasons. Fall is special because of the mild weather and beautiful colors. Autumn always presents some striking juxtapositions. The orange ground is broken by fresh snow, pale aspen are set against dark pine and pure white peaks pierce the shimmering blue sky. The Mount Evans Road is closed and the birds have already flown south. A few red squirrels are busily gathering nuts while a pair of woodpeckers uncharacteristically share a tree. The forest is quiet but look closely, a little woolly bear is ominously distinguished by its narrow, orange band. It’s going to be a long, cold winter.
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| The elk rut occurs in October |
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| The haunting calls are legendary |
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| Mount Evans Road is closed |
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| Orange ground is broken by fresh snow |
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| There are four distinct seasons |
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| Most of the birds have flown south |
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| The woolly bear caterpillar is a predictor of winter weather (via IronChris) |
