October 9, 2020 Fort Collins, Colorado

 We drove up Poudre Canyon toward the Cameron Fire. We hiked in Youngs Gulch. The sky was smoke filled so the fall colors were not as vibrant as when the sun shines. 

It was smoky. The edges of the smoke plume from the Cameron Fire were red at 3pm. Fall colors in Youngs Gulch. The fire in 2012 burned over this canyon. Parts of it by the stream survived. 

John on the trail in Youngs Gulch. A new bridge on the trail. 

Edge of the smoke plume. Fall color along the trail. 

Fall color along the stream. Fall color over a meadow. In the background are the sides of the canyon that burned in the 2012 fire. You can see how thick the smoke from the Cameron fire is in the distance.

Fall colors in Youngs Gulch.

Fall colors in Youngs Gulch. A katydid by the outdoor faucet today. Purple asters, autumn leaves.

John crossing a stream in Youngs Gulch.  Red wild rose leaves, fallen leaf, campion, and a yellow aster. 

Clouds over burnt trees.  Red poison ivy in front of a yellow shrub.

Smiley stumps, fall colors and white flowers.  John hiking back in the orange light coming through the wildfire smoke. 

Edge of the smoke plume. Fall colors near the Filter Plant on the way back, smoke in the background.

I didn't realize I was photographing the edge of the smoke plume till I looked back on the way out and saw sunset on the whole thing. The sun sank lower and looked like a space ship in the sky.

Space ship in the sky during sunset.