The hills are on fire

EAGLE COUNTY — It’s fall in the mountains, and nothing signals the end of summer like the changing of the aspen leaves. The golden, orange and red hues are in their peak color, making for gawk-worthy landscapes in the mountains.

Each year brings different variations of colors, changing at slightly different times in the fall, depending on rainfall, temperatures and altitude. The aspens are looking very healthy this year, said University of Colorado Boulder professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Michael Grant, which could be part of the reason the colors are particularly impressive this season.

So feel free to stare — unless you’re driving, of course — and read on for some interesting facts about the phenomenon of our autumn colors.