Autumn scenery already colorful — and crispy

HIKING — The first day of autumn 2015 is Sept. 23, but fall colors already are brightening the mountain landscapes.

However, a close-up look on Sunday near Stevens Lakes up from Mullan, Idaho, was like crunching through a dry bowl of corn flakes.

It’s been a rough summer for native plants. They’re giving us their best shot at fall colors, but the stress is there as though we’re looking into the wrinkled face of a disaster survivor.