At 8,800 feet above sea level, autumn comes early. While true autumn – the crisp nights and vibrant aspens – are still a ways off, the first signs of the new season start popping every year around this time.

In the Brooks Range autumn hits early, with the first signs becoming apparent around this time of year. That’s to be expected, as the Brooks Range is well above the Arctic Circle. Before our forays in that range, the earliest I ever saw evidence of autumn was in Denali National Park, where a breezy hike in late-August of 2011 brought swirling yellow and red leaves and a scene out of a fairy tale.

It makes little sense that our valley – a good 2,500 miles south of Alaska – would show signs of fall this early. But it’s happening, as it has for the past two decades (at least). I figure it’s a combination of altitude and the fact that we’re the closest town to Colorado’s largest glacier, almost a remnant sign from a bygone era.

The turning seasons makes me happy, and makes we want to try and see every second of it. It also triggered me to check our wood supply and make plans to double it in the coming week.

Here’s a few photos from this afternoons searching-for-autumn walk: