Colorado; In the Path of Autumn
© B.J.Barton
Autumn doesn't come to Colorado all at once. With an elevation difference of 8,000-9,000 feet between mountain tops and plains, the shift from summer to fall begins on the tundra in late August and gradually moves down to lower elevations over the next six to eight weeks. I like to follow the path of Autumn to see the changes in plants and animals as they prepare for cold weather and snow.
In late August, I made a trip up to the top of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. On the tundra, at 12,000 feet, the colors of autumn were spread over the ground-hugging plants. It was a tapestry of golds, browns, and reds.
A large flock of Rosy Finches moved restlessly from one spot to another. And then, there were the Pikas. Pikas (Ochotona princeps) are little mammals that belong to the same Family as rabbits. Only seven or eight inches long, with small rounded ears and no visible tail, Pikas live among the talus slopes and rocks at higher elevations. In late summer they cut grass and other plants and spread them out to dry in the sun, much as farmers make hay. They even turn their hay often so it will dry better before they store it in dens.
I watched with fascination while the Pikas raced among the rocks, driven by instinct to gather as many mouthfuls of food as they possibly could before the snows came. The Pika in the photo was in mid-air, leaping from rock to rock with a mouthful of food. Pikas don't hibernate, so they live through about six months of winter, often moving around through tunnels under many feet of snow, and eating stored hay and lichens from the rocks.
Between mid-September and late September, aspen leaves in the subalpine region turned from green to gold or orange. This is a prime time of year to go to the mountains. You can listen to the elk bugling and coyotes howling. The days are crisp and clear and the nights turn downright chilly. Some mornings there is a sifting of snow on the high peaks.
