Stevens Family Calendar: November

This is part of a series about the Stevens Family Calendar (if you know, you know).

More yellow, more drama than October's page

Last month's theme was autumn in all its glory. November is similar, but with a twist. 

All this month's shots are taken in the mountains of the west, primarily in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. This could be a little confusing (and, perhaps even redundant) because I used shots from these places in January, March and December. It's more about design that chronology. So, if you see two similar photos in different places, it's OK.

For example, January also featured Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, as will December; the upper left photo (which has a Bear in in) is in the opening; Left photos: Scott Stevens

Many of the photos for both the main page and the calendar page came from a solo trip Scott took to Alaska. 

Used on the back cover; Photo: Scott Stevens

Then, there is a smattering of other photos both on the calendar and in the rejection bin.

His main purpose (as it often is) was to find some spectacular northern lights. He likes to travel to Alaska in mid-September because the Park is usually still open, animals are often still up and about, but there is enough dark to see aurora. 

In mid-summer, when we went to Dutch Harbor, there wasn't much dark at all.

It turns out that the lights didn't deliver too much, nor did the animals (more on them later), but the Alaskan landscape did.

Fall comes early along the Savage River in Denali National Park;
the left shot is on the main page and the right is on the cover; Photos: Scott Stevens

When the temperatures start to drop in the fall, one of two things happens, depending on the type of foliage where you are. When there are low bushes and tundra, such as in many parts of Denali, the ground cover turns blazing red and orange.

This stunning shot is on the calendar page; Photo: Scott Stevens

When you have a mix of pines and deciduous tree, you get a lovely patchwork of green and gold.

An early fall Alaska vista that appears on the cover; Photo: Scott Stevens

And, of course, regardless of the month, the higher elevations always maintain their mantles of snow and ice.

Denali (AKA "the Great One) is America's tallest mountain; Photo: Scott Stevens

Scott got some fabulous photos in Denali and it was hard to pick our favorites to feature in the calendar.

We used this on the main page; Photo: Scott Stevens

But, we could have used this; Photo: Scott Stevens

All four of these are deserving; we used the lower right on the calendar page; Photos: Scott Stevens

And, who doesn't love trains? These late season Alaska Railroad shots are beautiful;
the top one is on the calendar page; Photos: Scott Stevens 

The Falls with some snow: Photo: Scott Stevens

It's a similar situation with Grand Teton and Yellowstone. 

We go often, so we feature photos of these two National Parks in our calendars almost every year. 

They are just so dang gorgeous that it is hard to stop. 

This month, we refrained from the usual type shots (go to January for that) and instead used a lovely photo of Upper Yellowstone Falls on the main November page.

Plus, we included a photo of a ranch in rural Wyoming just south of Grand Teton in the opening section.

The top made it; the bottom didn't; Photos: Scott Stevens

We used a shot of western Yellowstone National Park in the opening section as well.

North of Norris and south of Mammoth

The Gunnison River is on the main page;
Photo: Scott Stevens

But, we don't really have to travel far to get some gorgeous fall photos.

A trip just west of us through the Rockies yielded lots of calendar-worthy photography. It was so close to home, I never even blogged about it. 

On that trip, we traveled to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Ridgway, Ouray and down Highway 149 through a slice of the mountains I had not seen.

I just love living in Colorado. You can't throw a rock without hitting something spectacular. And, we have lots of rocks you can throw.

This shot is on the main page; Photo: Scott Stevens

These aren't; but they could be; Photos: Scott Stevens

The minerals give an autumn look even when there are no leaves: Photo: Scott Stevens

Lots of pretty shots along the Million dollar Highway and Black Canyon of the Gunnison; All photos but upper left: Scott Stevens

Every now and again you grab just one photo of a place and it turns out to be a winner. In fall 2022, I accompanied Caty to Midway, Utah, so that she could get SCUBA certified before our Thanksgiving trip to Maui. While she was being tested, I drove around town.

Just one photo that we used on the calendar page! Just one!

I also got one nice fall photo when I went Great Basin National Park, which was also featured on the March calendar page.

As pretty as it is, it is not a vibrant as others, so we passed on it

Ditto with this shot from near Ouray, Colorado

I featured some historic building in October. Colorado has some, too.

An old mine near Silverton, Colorado; we used the left photo on the back cover

I mentioned animals above. Sometimes fall delivers in droves. Last year, we had just a few.

This Wolf shot photographed in Denali is on the calendar page

Bull Moose in Alaska, left, and Colorado; the one on the right is on the calendar page; Left photo: Scott Stevens

Without antlers, the ladies don't get as much love; Left photo: Scott Stevens

I am not implying that there aren't fall animals. It's just that, this year, we didn't find great ones where we went looking and we didn't go out looking in places where we often find great ones, such as herds of Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. But, we've done that before.

Fall leaves; Photo: Scott Stevens

So, what's the bottom line on putting together a fall calendar page?

First, fall occurs at different times in different places, so you can get lots of photos if you time it right.  

Second, you don't have to travel all over the world when there is a beautiful fall landscape right outside your door.

But, it certainly doesn't hurt.

One last look at Denali with "terminal dust" (Alaskan slang for the season's first snowfall)
on the distant mountains; Photo: Scott Stevens

Just one more to go for 2024.

Next month, it's winter! This is in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Photo: Scott Stevens