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The Sitgreaves National Forest...golden aspen after the first snow fall...it shone like something out of this world that day as we stopped to view it.

Elk were busy that day as well...it was after the elk hunts were over for the year. Herds roamed through forest abandoned by the hunters with their atv's, generators, motorhomes, and travel trailers. The woods were silent of human noise, as they would probably remain until spring.

It is high here, in altitude, over 7000 ft above sea level. In the summer, this area has ferns growing, and it is primeval in appearance. In the spring, the new grass appears between the trees, tiny ground hugging plants produce the first flowers of the year, often from beneath a scattering of snow or frost.

This waterfall was photographed in Utah, in early summer, at the Capitol Reef National Park. I've seen this same waterfall at flood stage during a summer storm. Instead of looking anything like a water fall...the water is SHOOTING out through the hole in the stone...its the most unique site I have ever seen, truly

This is Sunset Crater, a cinder cone volcano near Flagstaff, Arizona. This is a national monument, part of the same loop drive as Wupatki National Monument. With easy access from Highway 89, this is a popular location for tourists to the area. The visitor center even has a seismograph on display, showing recent earthquakes, something that truly fascinates kids and adults alike. While hiking on Sunset Crater itself is forbidden, there are trails available to walk on, with only moderate difficulty. This is an excellent place to take the kids for a good excursion to get rid of some excess energy without worrying about getting lost in an unfamiliar area.

Contrast seems to be the truth of this area. On one side, we have the molten chocolate looking flow of the Grand Falls of the Little Colorado...on the other, we have the snow covered canyon of Willow Creek. In time, these pictures were taken only about 90 days apart...the flow of the falls was photographed in September. The snow covered Willow Creek Canyon was photographed about the first of November.