The path to an old outhouse in Vicksburg, Colorado, is paved with golden aspen leaves on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The path to an old outhouse in Vicksburg, Colorado, is paved with golden aspen leaves on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)A baby Aspen tree is lit by a shaft of sunlight near the ghost town of Vicksburg, Colorado on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett)Cyclists were taking advantage of a beautiful day and beautiful scenery on Castle Creed Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The Fall colors are putting on a show, but mostly at the higher elevations. Castle Creek Rd. is located south of Aspen. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)A cyclist takes advantage of a beautiful day and beautiful scenery on Castle Creed Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The Fall colors are putting on a show, but mostly at the higher elevations. Castle Creek Rd. is located south of Aspen. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Morgan and Chere Garvey from Highlands Ranch enter the Bird House Hotel in the ghost town of Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Tom Moura and his son, Gustavo, and Tom’s parents Claudia and Eric Villela were visiting the Bird House Hotel in the ghost town of Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)This guy had to wait outside the ghost town, because dogs aren’t allowed in the ghost town of Ashcroft. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Claudia and Eric Villela check out a historic placard before going in the Bird House Hotel in Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)el (Jerilee Bennett)Golden aspens fill the hillside above the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Draven Romero and Melissa Rodriguez, from Colorado Springs, look out at the aspen colors through the windows of the Bird House Hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Draven Romero and Melissa Rodriguez check out a couple of the old saloons on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)An old yellow iron bed in Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Interlaken, an abandoned lakeside resort, can be seen on the other side of Twin Lakes underneath a mountainside. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Turning aspens frame the Madonna Mine on Monarch Pass in Colorado Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens turn golden along Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Mud puddles on Engineer Pass reflect the changing aspens on a raining day Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds begin to break on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., after a storm dropped rain and snow on the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds begin to break on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., after a storm dropped rain and snow on the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens turn to gold along Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A jeep climbs Engineer Pass through the turning aspens outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as a storm moves through the San Juan Mountains bringing rain and snow. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens show their colors on 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The fall foliage surrounds the remains of the Bonanza Empire Chief Mill Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. The historic structure was destroyed by an avalance in 2008. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The rain soaks fallen aspen leaves Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as they lie on a rusted piece of metal roof from the Bonanza Empire Chief Mill on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo. An avalanche destroyed the historic structure in 2008. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Rain drips from the turning aspen leaves on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)An alpine plant begins to turn along Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives over 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, as the aspens turn to gold. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A truck drives through the turning aspens outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, as a storm brings rain and snow to the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens begin to turn golden along Cement Creek outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Clouds hang low over Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after a storm dropped rain and snow the historic mining down in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls the Willam Duncan House in the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. The Duncan House was built in 1879. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Clouds hang low over Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after a storm dropped rain and snow the historic mining down in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The snow-capped mountains outside Silverton, Colo., peek through the clouds on a wet fall day Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The snow-capped mountains outside Silverton, Colo., peek through the clouds on a wet fall day Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Rain clouds hang low in the mountains outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The turning aspens frame an old ore mill in the ghost town Eureka outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The hills turn to gold on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break after a storm exposing the snow-capped mountains and the turning aspens outside Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock, the courier)The clouds begin to break on Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after the storm passed through the San Juan Mountains bringing the area rain and snow. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A photographers sets to capture the turning aspens 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)
A car drives over 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, as the aspens turn to gold. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)
A car drives over 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, as the aspens turn to gold. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The path to an old outhouse in Vicksburg, Colorado, is paved with golden aspen leaves on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)A baby Aspen tree is lit by a shaft of sunlight near the ghost town of Vicksburg, Colorado on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett)Cyclists were taking advantage of a beautiful day and beautiful scenery on Castle Creed Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The Fall colors are putting on a show, but mostly at the higher elevations. Castle Creek Rd. is located south of Aspen. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)A cyclist takes advantage of a beautiful day and beautiful scenery on Castle Creed Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. The Fall colors are putting on a show, but mostly at the higher elevations. Castle Creek Rd. is located south of Aspen. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Morgan and Chere Garvey from Highlands Ranch enter the Bird House Hotel in the ghost town of Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Tom Moura and his son, Gustavo, and Tom’s parents Claudia and Eric Villela were visiting the Bird House Hotel in the ghost town of Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)This guy had to wait outside the ghost town, because dogs aren’t allowed in the ghost town of Ashcroft. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Claudia and Eric Villela check out a historic placard before going in the Bird House Hotel in Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)el (Jerilee Bennett)Golden aspens fill the hillside above the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Draven Romero and Melissa Rodriguez, from Colorado Springs, look out at the aspen colors through the windows of the Bird House Hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Draven Romero and Melissa Rodriguez check out a couple of the old saloons on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Visitors to Ashcroft, Colorado, walk through a patch of aspens in Ashcroft, Colorado, on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)An old yellow iron bed in Ashcroft on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. In 1883, Ashcroft, Colorado was a town with a population of perhaps 2,000 with two newspapers, a school, sawmills, a small smelter, and 20 saloons—bigger than Aspen at the time. Ashcroft is 11 miles south of Aspen on Castle Creek Rd. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. Vicksburg is a well preserved ghost town tucked away in Clear Creek Canyon. The canyon lies between Leadville and Buena Vista on Highway 24. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)The colors of Fall on the Castle Creek Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Interlaken, an abandoned lakeside resort, can be seen on the other side of Twin Lakes underneath a mountainside. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) (Jerilee Bennett)Turning aspens frame the Madonna Mine on Monarch Pass in Colorado Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens turn golden along Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Mud puddles on Engineer Pass reflect the changing aspens on a raining day Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds begin to break on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., after a storm dropped rain and snow on the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds begin to break on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., after a storm dropped rain and snow on the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens turn to gold along Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A jeep climbs Engineer Pass through the turning aspens outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as a storm moves through the San Juan Mountains bringing rain and snow. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens show their colors on 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A car drives down 11,530-foot Slumgullion Pass through the changing aspens toward Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The ghost town of Capitol City is surrounded by the turning aspens on Engineer Pass Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The fall foliage surrounds the remains of the Bonanza Empire Chief Mill Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. The historic structure was destroyed by an avalance in 2008. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The rain soaks fallen aspen leaves Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as they lie on a rusted piece of metal roof from the Bonanza Empire Chief Mill on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo. An avalanche destroyed the historic structure in 2008. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Rain drips from the turning aspen leaves on Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)An alpine plant begins to turn along Engineer Pass outside Lake City, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A truck drives through the turning aspens outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, as a storm brings rain and snow to the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Aspens begin to turn golden along Cement Creek outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Clouds hang low over Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after a storm dropped rain and snow the historic mining down in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls the Willam Duncan House in the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. The Duncan House was built in 1879. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Snow falls on the ghost town of Animas Forks at 11,00-feet in the San Juan Mountains Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. The town was founded in the 1870s. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Clouds hang low over Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after a storm dropped rain and snow the historic mining down in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The snow-capped mountains outside Silverton, Colo., peek through the clouds on a wet fall day Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The snow-capped mountains outside Silverton, Colo., peek through the clouds on a wet fall day Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)Rain clouds hang low in the mountains outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The turning aspens frame an old ore mill in the ghost town Eureka outside Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The hills turn to gold on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break after a storm exposing the snow-capped mountains and the turning aspens outside Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds break revealing the snow-capped mountains on 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)The clouds begin to break on Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, after the storm passed through the San Juan Mountains bringing the area rain and snow. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)A photographers sets to capture the turning aspens 11,018-foot Red Mountain Pass between Ouray and Silverton, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (Christian Murdock/The Gazette)
