PHOTOS: Chasing autumn down the Middle Fork
Kerry Nickou composes an autumn landscape above Coal Creek and the Middle Fork Flathead River with the snow-dusted peaks of Glacier National Park's Mount Doody, back left, and Mount Saint Nicholas, right, in view along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larches color a hillside above the Middle Fork Flathead River in John F. Stevens Canyon. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted peak of Glacier National Park's Mount Saint Nicholas rises behind a larch-covered hillside along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Milan Mena casts a line into the Middle Fork Flathead River below Loneman Mountain. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larches color a mountainside in John F. Stevens Canyon along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larch needles along the Middle Fork Flathead River and U.S. Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Fall colors and low clouds between Deerlick Creek and the shoulder of Mount Penrose along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larches color a hillside above the Middle Fork Flathead River in John F. Stevens Canyon. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted peaks of Glacier National Park's Mount Doody, left, and Battlement Mountain behind a larch-covered hillside along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted flank of Mount Penrose is seen behind a larch-covered mountainside along U.S Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larches along the Middle Fork Flathead River and U.S. Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Larches color a mountainside over the Middle Fork Flathead River. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Milan Mena casts a line into the Middle Fork Flathead River below Loneman Mountain. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Snow-dusted summits rise up to fill the sky above hillsides covered in a vibrant tapestry of bright orange and yellow larches as the Middle Fork Flathead River weaves its way through John Stevens Canyon.
A fly fisherman’s rod slings beads of water into an arc as he snaps his looping line back and forth across the surface of the river. A photographer grins as he crunches down a path of fallen leaves to a sweeping view of fiery foliage and freshly-frosted craggy peaks.
Don’t blink, shoulder season is fleeting. A single night will transform this palette of warmth into a canvas of white as the prevailing winds whip up a frenzy of fresh snow, leaching the landscape of the last traces of autumnal glow.
Larches color a hillside above the Middle Fork Flathead River in John F. Stevens Canyon. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted peak of Glacier National Park's Mount Saint Nicholas rises behind a larch-covered hillside along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Milan Mena casts a line into the Middle Fork Flathead River below Loneman Mountain. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Larches color a mountainside in John F. Stevens Canyon along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Larch needles along the Middle Fork Flathead River and U.S. Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Fall colors and low clouds between Deerlick Creek and the shoulder of Mount Penrose along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Larches color a hillside above the Middle Fork Flathead River in John F. Stevens Canyon. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted peaks of Glacier National Park's Mount Doody, left, and Battlement Mountain behind a larch-covered hillside along U.S. Highway 2 on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
The snow-dusted flank of Mount Penrose is seen behind a larch-covered mountainside along U.S Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Larches along the Middle Fork Flathead River and U.S. Highway 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Larches color a mountainside over the Middle Fork Flathead River. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Milan Mena casts a line into the Middle Fork Flathead River below Loneman Mountain. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider