September 30

What a wild day...it started with rain in Carbondale at 6:30 and clouds shrouding the top of Mt. Sopris but I thought maybe there'd be a break so I headed up CR 111 toward an overlook I've used in the past. For the next two hours as intermittent rain pelted the area and clouds raced by, there was some of the most incredible light. And when it was clouds only, I found a couple of nice intimate landscapes along the way. Then, I headed down the road because I wanted to be at the Ridgway area and Dallas Divide by late afternoon. The wind felt like it was gale force---so strong I was worried it would rip off my Thule car top carrier. By the time I arrived in Ridgway, it was ugly---high winds. lots of dust in the air---no chance for vistas and little chance for even intimate landscapes as everything was moving in the wind. Nevertheless, it was a great day and it's supposed to storm tonight but right now it's "severe clear" outside so we'll see.