Here in Colorado, it’s leaf-peeping season. Right now, there are a few yellow aspen leaves here and there, but in another week the hills will be blazing with color.

So, what do leafers*, fall foliage maps, and peak foliage have to do with Tech? There are websites and apps out there to help you find the best places and times to go for the tree color. Here are my favorites:

Predictive Map

I think this one from the Smoky Mountains is the best one. Even though it is from the East coast, they’ve got an amazing predictive Fall Foliage Forecast map for the entire US. David Angotti from SmokyMountains.com, who developed the map with his team says, “The fall leaf map is intuitive and easy to use. When you visit the page, you will see a slider at the bottom. The slider will be set to the current week. You can slide the slider to the right to see the predicted progression of fall. The green indicates the trees in that area of the country have not begun to change colors. The brown color means that the leaves are past their peak. The remaining colors show a colorful depiction of the progression of fall.”

One big downside to this map is that you can’t zoom in to see your particular region or county. https://smokymountains.com/fallfoliage map/

Colorado Map

If you’re looking for a map with only Colorado, I think the map from KDVR is spot on. It looks like the Peak to Peak region will peak mid to end of September. https://kdvr.com/news/local/2021- fall Weather

You can’t go leaf-peeping in the rain! Check the forecast a few days before, and then on the morning that you are setting out. I’ve got a couple of favorites. Simply enter the zip code or city name of where you’re going:

• The National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/

• Weather Underground: https://www.wunderground.com/

• For weather in Nederland, I like NedWeather. This site is great in the middle of February when you want to see what that latest wind gust was. http://nedweather.com/

Driving tips

• If you find a great view and want to take a photo, pull all the way off the road. • If you notice someone driving up behind you really fast, they may have an emergency, or just need to get to work. Pull over and let them pass. Then you can continue taking in the view at your own pace.

Cell Service

Several years ago, I published a guide to cell service along the Peak to Peak Highway. There has been some expansion of coverage, but it’s still fairly accurate. You can find that here: https://geekforhireinc.com/cell-phone

* Leafer. Yes, it’s a word. According to the Urban Dictionary, “A leafer is any American who travels north to see the leaves change colour. Also known as a wanna-be Canadian. Hogs your bars and parking spots.”

Information about Geek For Hire, Inc

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service to families and small businesses with Macs and PCs for the past nineteen years. You can find more on our website or give us a call at 303-618-0154. Our Covid policy can be found here: https://geekforhireinc.com/covid19-policy. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote service throughout North America.