Colorado with Tacobella

With the advent of Fall, comes the shift in temperatures and shorter days. Fall also brings a change in color, and the lower Rockies are home to a unique ecosystem with plenty to show. In the higher elevation, a species of aspen tree puts on a show as their leaves turn from green to yellow. These trees form in clonal colonies, and each tree in a colony is genetically identical to its neighbor and shares the same root system. Because of this, whole groupings of tree's leaves will turn at the same time.

Santa Fe is well known for when the aspens change color, but I much prefer the far northern reaches of New Mexico and southern portions of Colorado to experience this event.

I took Bella up north to Chama. The weather wasn't the best, and I was worried it might not be a good day to go, but it was getting late in the season for the changing colors, and it was my last opportunity to do it this year.

Chama NM is also home to the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, an active railway that still utilizes steam engines to give tours of the region's railroad. As I pulled into Chama around 9 AM, I noticed the engineers and station staff preparing not one, but two trains for the day's expedition. Hoping for additional photo opportunities, I quickly headed north for the Colorado border to get my photos of the aspens.

After stopping at the always iconic "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign, I hesitated for a moment. Should I push into Colorado, or go back and try to get photos of the trains? Was it time yet? Bah, onward I went as I headed to one of my favorite scenic overlooks near Elk Creek campground. As I rounded the switchbacks I was greeted with one of the most opportune photo moments I've ever experienced.

It wasn't two minutes after I took this series of photographs that the rainbow disappeared. As I pulled up to park at the overlook, two continental divide trail hikers also walked onto the scene. We chatted about the scene that was before us until we parted ways.

I headed back south, worried I might miss the trains. The weather was turning, and as I approached Cumbres Pass, I had to stop and get a video of how dramatically low the cloud layer was.

I pushed onward south of the pass, and saw people gathering near a railroad crossing. I had timed everything perfectly this day and had a perfect opportunity to get a video of the first train. Perhaps I should have worn earplugs though.

Note: The following videos are very loud.

The weather was taking a turn for the worse, but I stuck around another five minutes to wait for the train to make the climb up to the pass. Hearing the engine chug along, the whistle echo for miles around, all while not being able to see the train at all was so unique that you almost have to experience for yourself.

I passed back into New Mexico, and just north of Chama I encountered the second train heading north. The weather continued to worsen, so after snapping a couple of quick photos I started my drive back to Santa Fe.