It’s no secret that autumn brings a beautiful change of scenery to the mountains. Green foliage does a spectacular dance from gold to red and an abundance of sunny days brings an extra sparkle to the spectacle.

For those of us who cherish the winter season, fall also ushers in a certain anticipation, AND an onslaught of superstition.

One of my favorites (and one I have yet to see disproved) is in play today. When our first snows fall in late September or early October, snow lovers want to believe that it might signal the arrival of an early winter. But those who’ve been around a while will swear that any snow that falls before the Western Larch drop their needles will not be here to stay.

With that in mind, it’s especially wonderful to see the larch burst into gold and chartreuse.

 It’s not only a beautiful display, but also a promising omen that winter is not too far away.

– April