GILPIN COUNTY - Change is in the air! These last few weeks have had me shifting from spending mornings out on the warm, sunny porch to choosing a cozier spot inside. The view with coffee has gone from the dance and play of hummingbirds to dustings of snow on Baldy and the transition from green to gold among the aspens.

There is a distinct aroma in the air (and it’s not pumpkin spice…), triggering fond memories and a desire for walks in the woods to the sound of leaves crunching underfoot.  

Evening breezes carry a brisk chill, and with it, the haunting bugle of distant bull elk.  The once-roaring mountain streams are now a gentle trickle of watery laughter.

While the songbirds have left for warmer winter climes, the calls of nuthatches and titters of chickadees abound in the forest as they sing songs of forage and gathering.

Traditionally, fall signifies a season not only of the harvest of the last fruits of the growing season, but also of stockpiling the bounty for the long winter ahead.

Modern technology has made these traditions mostly irrelevant for us humans. The animal kingdom, on the other hand, still celebrates this season with gusto. 

Bears and other hibernators and lingering migrators are in their autumnal hyperphagia revelry. This is a literal feeding frenzy, necessary for packing on the pounds and shoring up energy stores for their long nap ahead or great travel to a winter home.

With the bears, anything from autumn’s fruiting bushes and shrubs to the “fruits” of humans are in their sight. While it is always important to keep homes and vehicles “bear safe,” it is most important during this fall “mania,” as they will stop at nothing to devour anything they may come across or think they can get into.

Squirrels and chipmunks are caching away remaining seeds in the ground near their nests and dens for mid-winter survival snacks.

In the high country, the marmots and pika are already closer to winter than those of us down here.

The marmots are enjoying their last feasts like the bears before the deep sleep, while the tiny yet mighty pika gather their last flowers and grasses to be stored away in the den for dried winter meals.

Moose, elk, and deer are making their move to lower elevations, and are seen more frequently around town and in neighborhoods. Nutrient-rich foods up higher begin to dwindle, signifying time to once again change territories for sustenance and survival.

The last leaves of aspen and shrubs down here provide a final boost of rich foods before these animals are relegated to cold foraging of twigs and branches and digging through snow for the dessicated grass underneath.

With all members of the deer family as well as the bighorn sheep, this seasonal change also brings about familial reunification. Bulls, bucks, and rams are rejoining their herds for courtship and mating.

Here in the mountains, the elk are the first to begin their rut, followed by moose, then mule deer and sheep. Living with somewhat of an abundance of these creatures, we are blessed to be able to enjoy some of the most amazing seasonal rituals nature has to offer.

A sort of “first-hand” National Geographic or Wild Kingdom (though I date myself with that one) episode right outside our doors. Sometimes quite literally.

While the turn of the aspens this year seems not to be as glorious as our last few autumns, they are still showing off quite a bit. All our moisture has made for a wan and spotty look to the leaves.

That said, there is still beauty to be found in many of our local groves. Also, as always, the “ground show” of the vibrant reds and oranges of the shrubs and willows that follows the peak of the trees is sure to not disappoint.

All in all, it is time to celebrate this grand change outside our doors! Break out those flannels, grab yourself a warm beverage (pumpkin spiced, if you must), and head out into our beautiful backyard to savor this amazing season of harvest, gathering, and ritual.

As we know well here in the mountains, soon enough it will be time for those puffy coats, long johns, and ski wax. So enjoy it while it lasts!

For additional information about James DeWalt Photography, check out  https://jamesdewaltphotography.com.