When Dan West heard on the radio last week that the fall foliage color change had started already in Summit County, he reacted with skepticism and a bit of annoyance.

It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate the beauty of a hillside embroidered with yellow and gold aspen stands in September. It’s just that the entomologist for the Colorado State Forest Service was dubious that the change had begun so early.

“I thought, ‘Here we go again,’” West said. “We need to stop with the misinformation and just give people the facts.”

West, who annually spends late summer inspecting forests in the state from an airplane to determine their health, drove to Summit and Eagle counties last weekend to see for himself. His suspicions were confirmed.

“There is a little bit of yellowing, but it’s a stress resp

See Full Page