I recently caught up with nearly a year's worth of photo downloads, and one set in particular is worth sharing here. For years it's been an informal tradition of mine to hike into the low peaks of BC's Manning Provincial Park during the fall season to witness a unique and humbling scene - the turning shades of the alpine larch.

Like cedar, spruce or pine, larches are coniferous. But unlike their evergreen cousins, each autumn the needles of Larix lyallii turn from green, to bright gold and red, and fall to the ground in advance of the winter snows. It's a stunning sight, and Manning represents the western most extent of the species' range, which is most abundant in the Rockies of Idaho, Montana, Alberta and BC.

The hike is a 16km round trip that will take you from Lightning Lake on the valley floor up to 1800m where the larch's range begins. The adventurous of spirit can email me for information about the trailhead and best times to make the trip.