It seems everyone has their favorite season. If pressed, I’d have to say that fall is mine, thanks to the warm days and cool nights. During the autumnal decline one can still get outside with regularity for biking or hiking or whatever it is that draws you to the outdoors. And while the shortening of the day may bring a certain melancholy to one’s afternoon, it’ll also make you more appreciative of the milder temperatures and sunlit hours as the dark of winter approaches.

My nomination for fave comes with a caveat, however. In considering seasons, I think we in the mountain resort communities enjoy an advantage over other areas because we in fact have six. There’re of course the ones that everyone everywhere experiences, winter, spring, summer and fall. But up here, we also have shoulder seasons that bring added benefits of their own. These intervals come between late winter and spring and late summer and winter, the term “shoulder season” being more chronological than meteorological.

There’s a lot to appreciate about shoulder seasons. While the reduction in tourist crowds may be cherished by Summit County residents, it’s important to balance that with an appreciation for the economic contributions tourists make, contributions that help sustain our communities. This is especially true as city budgets start to look less rosy than they have previously.

When talking about shoulder seasons, it helps to have a memorable moniker for them. “Mud Season” is well established and appropriate for that period between winter and spring as late season snow melts and turns our hiking and mountain biking trails into sludgy paths that have been known to consume hiking boots and mountain bike rear derailleurs whole.

We could call the late summer early fall shoulder season “Peeper Season” given the increasing draw of the changing leaves during that period, but the term peeper has less wholesome connotations, so maybe not. Instead, I like “Golden Fade” (thanks ChatGPT!). It’s reflective of the changing leaves and fantastic views as the sun sets behind Buffalo Mountain, casting sheens of gold and silver on the waters of Dillon Reservoir. It also acknowledges the passage of time from warmer days to those less so.

Mud season is pretty cool, but not high on my list of our six seasons. I appreciate that while the ski hills are still open, the crowds have started to abate on the slopes, enabling me to keep playing outside while the trails are still too muddy for outdoor recreation. And, man, do the lengthening days and the increasing warmth of the sun feel good after a long cold winter. By the end of March or early April, I start looking forward to spending time outside without a parka on, no matter how good the ski season was. But unfortunately, those warming days can seem fleeting and few and far between during mud season, as cold temps all too frequently slip into the forecast. It can leave one feeling stuck in the middle, ready to move on from the thrill and chill of winter while the long days and heat of summer still seem just out of reach.

So, it’s the Golden Fade that I think is really my favorite season of all, knocking autumn out of the top spot. Kids, local and from afar, are back in school preoccupying them and their families with activities, leaving the roads and trails a little less crowded. There’s still music being played by great bands in incredible outdoor settings and the days are warm while the evenings hint at the crisp air and snow approaching right around the climatic corner. Football is on the tube, and if you want to hop on the kayak or the SUP board, that’s still an option. During this time of year, the sentimentality of “The Holidays” starts to creep into one’s thoughts, but those days being far enough away, the stress that comes with them hasn’t taken hold yet.

So, Summit County, be sure to take some time to truly enjoy and appreciate the rest of autumn this year. Because if you’re like me, your obsession with winter sports has you already starting to think of my second favorite season, winter.  

Tony Jones' column "Everything in Moderation" publishes biweekly on Thursdays in the Summit Daily News. Jones is a veteran of the IT industry and has worked in the public and private sectors. He lives part-time in Summit County and Denver. Contact him at eimsummit@gmail.com.