Great news: the road into Locket Meadow is open to vehicular travel for day use (sorry, no overnight camping in Locket Meadow). No longer do you have to hike 3+3=6 miles farther to do the Inner Basin Trail.

We did this hike on Monday of this week. The aspen color rush depends on where the aspen are in the inner basin. Those groves in the lower and protected parts are at their peak autumn colors. Those in the higher reaches must have gotten their leaves frozen in the 1st storm of the season two weeks ago (Oct 5th); most of their leaves have dropped without the normal fall maturation process. These latter groves were pretty bleak in appearance. So it's not the best of years for full colors in this high country. But the lower groves still made it a worthwhile hike.

A good bit of snow still remains above 10,000 ft, also left from the storm on Oct. 5th. I have posted pictures that will confirm.