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ian corridor of the North Fork of the
Flathead. Photographers may want
to emphasize the distinctive compo-
sitions formed at this time near pock-
ets of grassland north of Polebridge.
Big Prairie, for example, is bordered
by an island of aspens which, at peak
color, contrasts sharply with adjoining
stands of lodgepole pines and the tow-
ering peaks of the Livingston Range to
the east. Enclaves of alpine larch also
punctuate portions of the high coun-
try, such as the Boulder and Siyeh
Pass areas, with brilliant displays of
color, ones that largely coincide with
the climax of lowland hardwoods.
Local weather conditions, unfortu-
nately, can quickly terminate an oth-
erwise promising fall-foliage season,
prevent it from achieving peak color,
or even accelerate its progression. To
illustrate these points, a winter storm
of historic magnitude, one preceded
by gale-force winds, bombarded the
northern Rocky Mountain Front and
east side of Glacier on September 27-
30, 2019, dumping 41-52 inches of
snow from Babb to East Glacier Park.
By contrast, 2021 was marked by a
prolonged, statewide drought, which
normally would adversely affect the
onset or intensity of fall color. In Gla-
cier, however, the heat abated in ear-
ly August and precipitation profiles
improved so much that 2021 was, by
all accounts, a banner year for leaf