I so needed a fix to see the fall foliage that I’m used to seeing on the North Rim but that’s seven hours away. Plus with stormy weather predicted for most of the week I decided to take the open window last Wednesday and drive to Flagstaff.
I’d been thinking about it for days and figured to see some snow as well as fall colors at 7,000 feet in elevation.
Awoke early to a pretty sunrise. Packed snacks and warm clothes and left home about 7am. I even washed the inside of the windshield though you wouldn’t know it to look at the photos taken on the fly.
Heading up Iron Springs Road I saw it might be a while before the Cottonwoods turn colors. Bypassing most of Prescott under blue sky yet see a cloud bank to the north where I’m headed.
Then north on SR89 through the awful Chino roundabouts and past the fields of tall bright shiny gold grasses. Didn’t see any antelope but did see long-horn cattle. Climbing towards Ashfork the Juniper and Pinyon woodlands don’t show any obvious visual fall colors except for the golden grasses.
Lots of construction on I40 slowed down the drive but what a difference it will make when done and no potholes large enough to swallow a Smart car.
The closer I got to Flagstaff the more clouds and the temperature dropped to 50°F. Driving up to Snowbowl felt like the beginnings of winter.
As the shoulder became more white the aspen started showing a little color. The road is in terrible condition, no shoulder and the fog line is crumbling away. Suppose that’s the result of lots of snow and plows to clear it.
This was my first visit to the end of this road to Snowbowl. Bet it’s a pretty place to snow ski, something I quit doing many decades ago in exchange for warmer winter activities in the southern desert.
From the busy parking lot I walked a trail towards the ski lifts and beyond. I wanted to take in the view from higher up without climbing any mountains before walking into the forest.
Talked to a young man who came up from Phoenix for a few days to take photos of the fall aspen.
Then a couple on horse back road up and asked if I would take their picture, sure if I could take some too. Nice way to get around and keep your feet dry, but you can see they are still bundled up, as was I, for the cold.
The sun tried to peak in and out of the clouds.
I walked downhill towards the colorful forest and slipped in the snow. A quick recovery kept me from getting wet. Was hard to believe flowers still bloomed.
Thank goodness for my water proof hiking boots my feet stayed warm and dry.
As I worked my way closer to the forest I also paid attention to stay out of the way of other photographers.
And in that process met a couple photographers I’ve known only on Facebook who had driven up from Sedona. They were all carrying tripods which I didn’t do but probably should have used it as a walking pole.
Felt like magic walking into the forest with the snow and golden leaves almost like the seasons were confused.
I spent about 2 1/2 hours wandering and making photos of this wonderland that all too soon will be buried under a white blanket and covered with skiers.
Then it was time to hit the highway home, a three hour drive. More construction along I40 caused me to be going slow enough to see a Bald Eagle fly. No photo of that rare sighting.
The clouds only thinned a little on the way back. More storms coming makes me wonder if that will be the end of the color at high elevation.
If the temperatures continue to drop I’ll soon be looking for fall foliage in my own neighborhood.
