September on Vallecito Creek

Surprise encounters on a favorite trail

A September Hike on Vallecito Creek

As school gets back underway and the temperatures start to recede into fall, I love getting out and hiking in the beautiful mountains I am lucky to be surrounded by. This past weekend was perfect weather for a quick hike on one of my favorite trails. The experience did not disappoint.

An aspen tree embedded in the surrounding evergreen trees.
An aspen tree embedded in the surrounding evergreen trees.
Alongside the bridge over Fall Creek, which feeds into Vallecito Creek.
Alongside the bridge over Fall Creek, which feeds into Vallecito Creek.
A small pine grows out of an old stump.
A small pine grows out of an old stump.
The impressive gray granite cliffs that line the east side of Vallecito Creek.
The impressive gray granite cliffs that line the east side of Vallecito Creek.
Mount Irving rises in the background behind the canyon that Vallecito Creek flows through.
Mount Irving rises in the background behind the canyon that Vallecito Creek flows through.

The trail was in good shape and was not too busy. After running into a youth group returning from a camping excursion, the scenery was peaceful and stunning as always. We didn't have a long hike in mind this day, but wanted to get to a spot we frequent on this trail before turning back. It had been a while since I had gone out with my camera and it felt great to get into nature and look for those scenes and details I might overlook when I'm not seeking a photographic subject.

As our destination got close, we passed two couples with their very young babies riding along in backpack carriers. We got to the beach along the creek and it was occupied by a number of other folks and a strangely large quantity of dogs. So we went further downstream from the beach, which was quite easy with the water being lower than usual. I went about photographing the flow of the mountain stream, the details in the boulders along its shores, and trying to get a frame of a butterfly that was relentlessly trying to escape my lens.

Shortly thereafter, my hiking partner informed me that the couples we had passed had arrived on the beach and promptly removed all of their clothing. We couldn't help but watch inquisitively as the women posed with their babies on a boulder in the middle of the stream. Their lack of inhibition was a little surprising, yet inspiring. They went about having their little photoshoot, seemingly to create some memories they could relive down the line as age eventually strips them of their youthful builds. And I went back to finding those natural details I am fond of making photographs of.

A large boulder in Vallecito Creek.
A large boulder in Vallecito Creek.
An endless series of rapids and calm pools of water define Vallecito Creek.
An endless series of rapids and calm pools of water define Vallecito Creek.
A hoary comma butterfly resting momentarily on the granite along the creek.
A hoary comma butterfly resting momentarily on the granite along the creek.
Clear mountain water rushes over and around dark, smooth boulders, forming small cascades and white foam.
Clear mountain water rushes over and around dark, smooth boulders, forming small cascades and white foam.
Close-up of mottled granite with veins of white quartz, dotted by bright yellow-green lichens in dappled light.
Close-up of mottled granite with veins of white quartz, dotted by bright yellow-green lichens in dappled light.
A small Gambel oak shrub turning yellow and orange grows among green foliage and rocks offering a prelude to the coming fall color change.
A small Gambel oak shrub turning yellow and orange grows among green foliage and rocks offering a prelude to the coming fall color change.
The only flower I saw all day was this late blooming wild geranium.
The only flower I saw all day was this late blooming wild geranium.
Close-up of a small red rose hip and a green unripe one on a stem with serrated leaves, set against a dark, softly blurred background.
Close-up of a small red rose hip and a green unripe one on a stem with serrated leaves, set against a dark, softly blurred background.