When I had climbed up through the forest early in the morning it had been dark and cold. But now it was sun-soaked and warm.
It was a treat to wander slowly back down the trail. One of the benefits of fall hikes in the Rocky Mountains is that you rarely get the thunderstorms that are a daily occurrence in the summer.
This means that in the fall you can take your time getting back down the trail rather than dashing back with lighting at your heels.