Loving Autumn in the Utah Mountains: A Preview

Since I arrived back in Utah three weeks ago I’ve been inspired by the coming of – and now the arrival of – autumn in the mountains. On my walks in the morning I am looking up to see the change in colors, and almost every afternoon I have found myself walking through forest and high meadows, enjoying the cool air and watching as the aspens morph into fiery yellow glowsticks, first at ten thousand feet, then nine, then eight.

After months of humidity on our trip around Lake Superior and New York followed by hot September days here at the base of the mountains, I feel invigorated by the bite of the early morning air and the midday chill at the higher elevations despite the strong sun, and I have been reminded of all the reasons why I love fall. Spring has the coming of light – which I absolutely crave – but fall brings a relief of sorts and is a time when the days have the perfect amount of warmth, the nights are cool for restful sleeping, and the views of the leaves are turning dramatic colors.

I hadn’t really given too much thought to the actual beginning of autumn as per the calendar until I read two blog posts (by Liz and Lina) regarding what they loved most about the season. It made me more aware of all the things of the season that I’m enjoying right now, and ultimately, how appreciative I am to be here – by these mountains, doing many of the things I love most. It feels so wonderful and right to be exactly where I am. I feel incredibly blessed that I wake up every morning overflowing with happiness, that I get to do so many of the things I love to do during my favorite season, and that I go to sleep every night having enjoyed another day in my life.

What I love most about autumn? Hiking in the cool air and under clear skies in the mountains. Baking pumpkin bread. Wearing flannel. Also, fleece pants. Roasting vegetables. Snuggling up on cool nights. Morning walks in the brisk air. Reading in the evenings. Other things I’ve been enjoying during these early weeks of fall? Taking photos of the changing colors. Smelling the rich caramels of the ponderosa pines. Creating a recipe for vegan caramel. Using said vegan caramel on top of my new zucchini apple muffin recipe. Exploring dirt forest roads. Enjoying Oktoberfest at the local ski resort. And again, hiking in the mountains.

So, with my love of autumn declared, I now give you a preview of sorts – a taste of the southern Utah mountains in early September – before bringing you back to Ontario in my next blog post.

Want to see more photos of the local fall colors? I know you do: Check out this blog.