My friend Sharon and I hiked the trail to Finch Lake yesterday hoping to see the turning of the aspens from green to yellow and then to gold. But we were too late for this elevation.

Our hike started at 9,000 feet and took us to 10,000 feet at Finch Lake. This was the first time I had ever hiked to Finch Lake, an easy nine-mile roundtrip in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Many of the aspens along the trail had already shed their fall foliage, and few of the remaining leaves were the glorious gold that we had sought. In fact, even at lower elevations this year few aspens are decked out in their usual fall glory, probably because of this summer’s and fall’s devastating dryness. In Boulder we’ve had only one rainy day since at least mid-July.

A Few Golden Aspens

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Instead of aspen gold, Sharon and I found a delightful blue lake that we were able to enjoy with only birds as our companions.

Finch Lake

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A Steller's Jay Peers into the Lake

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Beside the Steller’s Jay, our only companions were a pair of Gray Jays, which live in the coniferous forests of the United States and Canada. They followed us as we walked along the lakeshore and then settled down for a rest.

The Gray Jay's Claws Look Sharp, But Sharon Says that the Bird Was Gentle

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A Gray Jay on Sharon's Shoulder

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Our Companions

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Finally, Sharon pointed out a mossy patch near where we rested and watched the Gray Jays. Before we returned to civilization I captured this memory.

A Mossy Abstract

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