Setember:

Geese fly in formation. Fall colors awaken around the third week of the month. The days shorten. Frost covers the ground. The month had temperatures in the 70s and lows in the 30s. Overall, it was spectacular with a perfect mix of rainy days.

My internal clock can certainly identify fall. I desire heavier foods, time outdoors and the desire to ground myself- into my family, my work, my life. It is a wonderful time of the year. Both the Cottonwoods and Aspens are turning a brilliant yellow. The Chokecherry is turning a deep shade of red and the Mountain Ash a dusky orange.

When you see the mosaic of color you can connect with the change of the seasons. The plants are preparing for the winter. They stop photosynthesizing and producing chlorophyll so the other pigments, besides green, can be seen. Fall is the perfect time to connect. You can sense and often feel the energetic pulse of nature during this time of the year. Change is occurring and we can almost witness it day to day. With change comes strength. The ability to lose all your leaves innately knowing they will grow again is powerful.

The animals are on the move. We have received some snow in the high country so the animals have started their fall migration. Any day, elk will be seen on the National Elk Refuge outside of Jackson. Animals move to a winter territory that will give food, shelter, and some protection from the winter weather. Some burrow deep in the ground and sleep like the Uinta Ground Squirrels. Some gather food to eat during the winter like the pikas and the red squirrels. Some stay active and find winter territories lower in elevation like the elk, moose and deer. Some, like the pronghorn, can’t stand winter and leave. Others, like bears, establish beds and keep feeding until winter truly begins.

It is fun to open our eyes and look at this time of year and contemplate how different species survive the winter. Humans have it easy. And modern humans have it especially easy, compared to our ancestors. Unfortunately, “easy” might make us forgetful of the hardship winter brings to species that have to live in it. To stay connected, notice nature.

I am happy to report that the red squirrels have been quite busy. They have stored lots of lodgepole pinecones in their middens (the circle of trees that they call home). I have seen cones and branch tips on all the trails. A year ago the squirrels weren’t as active and we had a mild winter. They know more then we can imagine so I feel a good, wet winter coming.

Enjoy the fall, mentally, physcially and spiritually. As one of my teachers said, “you can plant the seed in the fall so it will grow in the spring.” If you have life changes you want to make, fall is a powerful time to begin.

What’s in the Woods:

9/1-9/7: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black-capped Chickadee, Cardinals, Immature Ferriginous Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Monarch Butterflies, Downy Woodpecker, various gulls.

9/8: Atherton Creek/Antelope Flats- Numerous Bison, Pronghorn, Redtail Hawk, Clark’s Nutcracker

9/9: Table Mountain (first bit of snow)- Sticky Geranium, Lupine, lots of fireweed seeds, Showy Goldeneye, Oregon Juncos, Clark’s Nutcracker

9/10: Victor, ID- flock of Turkeys and a Pheasant !

9/14: Moose-Wilson Rd.- Porcupine, small Bull Moose
Death Canyon- Bull Moose, Mule Deer, American Water Pipit

9/15-9/16: Glorious weekend, colors starting to change

9/17: Old Pass Road- red-dogwood, yellow-thimbleberry, red- huckleberry, red- chokecherry
Third week- fall colors truly begin

9/21: Victor, ID-Garter snake

9/21: Snow in the Tetons

9/25: Beautiful fall day- Aspens and Cottonwoods- color spectacular

9/29: Rain/snow mix in the mountains

Trail Suggestion:

Hikes are spectacular at this time of the year. Hikes near water, such as Hermitage Point and Schwabacher’s Landing in Grand Teton National Park, will be beautiful with the fall colors. If you feel like a scenic drive, go to the Oxbow Bend area in Grand Teton Park. Aspens with the Teton Peaks in the distance surround this slow moving tributary of the Snake River. The Aspen Trail in Darby Canyon is a great fall hike or bike ride. For this, you need to drive over Teton Pass on Highway 22. Once you enter Idaho the route changes to Highway 33. You continue on the road until you see the Darby Canyon sign near the Spud Drive-In movie theater. You turn right, drive up the canyon and you will see the trail sign on the left. This trail meanders through the Aspen with great views of the Idaho valley. Local guidebooks and suggestions can be found at the visitor centers or the outdoor shops in town. Remember to be prepared. It can snow at any time.

Biologist Cathy Shill operates The Hole Hiking Experience.

Every month, Shill will post a Nature News update on The Mountain Culture.