My dilemma today was whether to head down to Pumphouse Wash or make one last trip up to the Peaks for the aspens. I'm heading to Sedona on Wednesday and Friday, so I figured I better "break up the monotony" and do the mountain. I wanted to hit Kachina but I have work tonight and a paleo exam tomorrow, so figured I better keep it short. Weatherford Canyon did not let me down.

I did the loop clock-wise (as usual). The first large stand of aspens I passed were already bare of leaves. No worry though, I knew there were some yellow aspens around here somewhere! Up at the Kachina Junction, the big stand above the meadow still had some color. Coming up through the dense woods by the wilderness sign, the trail had a nice carpet of leaves. The turn onto the loop section is where the real magic happened: the gusting wind was showering leaves down from the golden canopy above! I guess that's why it's called "Weather"-ford! The aspen tunnel was bare, but yet another golden carpet awaited. Man, I love Weatherford Canyon.