Cooler nights, heavy fog and the vibrant colors of autumn are signaling the change of the season. Rich hues of red, gold and orange can be seen along the Los Pinos River, and throughout the Southern Ute Reservation. Deer and elk can be found grazing in the early morning light, bears shuffling through wooded areas in search of food before their long winter hibernation. The occasional hawk keeps a sharp lookout from its perch. Horses laze about, enjoying the last rays of sunshine each afternoon; the days are getting shorter. Hunters don their blaze orange jackets to harvest game; the sound of woodcutting resonates across Ute lands. Snow frosted peaks can be seen to the north, as the first winter storms make their way into the Weminuche.