Photographer’s notebook: Residents around Lake Tahoe call this shoulder season, the time between summer tourist gridlock and snowy ski play and shoveling. Most of the visitors are at their urban dwellings now as the Alpine folks gather wood and prepare for winter. This week is ideal to take a drive and explore the changing colors of aspen trees. Pull over to the shoulder, get out and take a walk through the woods. The leaves will be gone soon as winds pick up and rain is in the forecast. These photos were taken in Hope Valley and Highway 88 east toward Woodfords.
— Tim Parsons