Fall Photo Gallery

Here are a few more photographs from the Adirondack Mountains in New York.  The color was so incredible – we have never seen anything like it.  A fall trip to the northeast should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list.’

 

These sweeping views of fall leaves remind David of 'Pointillist' paintings
 

Magnificent Maples

 

Clouds beginning to lift near summit of Mt. Van Hoevenburg
 

 

Young spruce 'decorated' with fall leaves



Long Lake shoreline

 

Leaves and mushrooms on the forest floor

 

 

 

Leaving New York and on to Pennsylvania

 

Maple leaves on fallen paper birch
 

 

A storm rolled through upstate New York and New England bringing rain during the night then high winds for the next few days.  The perfectly peak leaves in the Adirondacks started tumbling down.  We were glad we had stayed and enjoyed a few more days but decided if we wanted to catch any more leaves we had better move on.  Much of Vermont and New Hampshire experienced this same storm system so rather than going east as originally planned, we decided to start heading south.  The government shut-down was also a factor as the national forests were closed making it much harder to visit and camp near the White and Green Mountains.



Keene Valley the day before the storm blew in...

View from Bald Mountain after the storm

Still pretty but so many leaves blew down

Fire tower on Bald Mountain

 

Maya is an excellent fire tower climber

 

We had not really planned on returning to the Catskills but since it was a state forest and "open" we camped there for three days.  The leaf colors were more muted and many had fallen, still we had a great time taking two long hikes in beautiful fall weather.  A cold morning with leaves both crunching under foot and floating down from above, the whole day ahead to wander by streams and waterfalls, then a mountain to climb – it doesn’t get much better than that.

 

Inspiration Point, Catskills

 

Katterskill Falls, Catskills

 

Sunset Rock, Catskills

 

 

 

 

We left the Catskills and New York for the Delaware Water Gap on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Here the Delaware River carved a ‘gap’ or path through the mountains.  The Appalachian Trail, plus I-80 and a few other roads take advantage of this passageway through the mountains.  On Columbus Day we hiked the AT through the water gap.  Again the leaf colors were subtle more in the yellow and rust hues, partly because of the lower elevation and types of trees native to the area and also because of the leaf drop.  The trail was almost crowded with hikers enjoying their holiday and the beautiful fall weather.  I suspect that many people were just like us - out enjoying state parks and other trails that were open since it wasn’t possible to visit a national park or monument. 

 

Delaware Water Gap

 

Searching for another open campground, we drove into southern Pennsylvania to the Michaux State Forest and Caledonia State Park.  We had thought of stopping in this area earlier in the summer as it was so near Gettysburg but it was just too hot then.  A few months and a new season can change everything.  With the holiday crowds gone, we practically had the park to ourselves.  We hiked two sections on the AT enjoying subtle fall colors on the cool overcast days.

Along the Appalachian Trail in Caledonia State Park

 

We were trying to decide what to do and where to go next when the great news came on Thursday morning that the government was back in business.  So we packed up and headed to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with plans to head to Williamsburg and Jamestown shortly thereafter.  Life is better when the government is functioning...

Underside of maple leaf

 

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked  8

Rain Days   2

Total Miles Hiked  43.84

Ave. Miles per Day      5.48
Total Elevation Gain       6,553
Ave. Elevation Gain per day   819
 

 

Witch-hobble, Maya-hobble



Maya tangled in witch-hobble

A fun thing about traveling in new places is learning about the plants that are native to the region.  Going east this year, the learning curve has been steep.  Sometimes as we hike along a trail with many unfamiliar plants, it is obvious that we are “not in Texas anymore.”   So we take some pictures and get out the guide books or go on-line and try to make an ID.  Sometimes a park ranger or an interpretive sign on a nature trail will help us out.  It may take a little time, but we usually find out what the ‘mystery’ plant is.

 

Witch-hobble blooming

 

One such interesting plant that has appeared on trails from northern Georgia to Maine is witch-hobble (Viburnum lantanoides) also called hobblebush.  We first noticed the beautiful blooms in early spring just as the plant was beginning to put on leaves.  Witch-hobble has very distinctive white blooms with smaller central blossoms surrounded by larger marginal flowers.  The blooms are located between opposite leaves that are heavily veined and can grow to 4 or more inches.  The leaves are usually green but some plants have more reddish leaves with green veins.

Witch-hobble with more reddish leaves

Besides the beautiful appearance, we were intrigued by the name.  A sign on a nature trail said that according to legend it was believed this plant kept witches away.   What was that all about?  After a little digging we discovered that witch-hobble grows long stems that can root when they touch the ground thus creating a bush with many ‘loops’ that could tangle or ‘hobble’ even a witch. 

 

Witch-hobble with berries and leaves starting to turn

 

As we traveled farther north we continued to notice witch-hobble growing in many shady and moist places and were able to observe its tangled growth habit.  Maya, though not a witch, managed to hobble herself in it quite often.  So we jokingly started referring to the plant as, “Maya-hobble.”

 

Fall leaf color

 

As summer progressed blooms faded and leaves grew large and lush with some plants growing to heights of 6 feet or more.  In August, the greenish berries became bright red.  And then as if all this weren’t spectacular enough, fall arrived and the leaves started turning a variety of stunning colors.  Some plants had mostly solid yellow or orange leaves.  Others were more red with green veins.  But many had almost checkered or paisley leaves of yellow, red, green, and magenta.  The variety and pattern of color was so unique and beautiful, seducing me to take way too many photos of witch-hobble leaves. With Halloween drawing near, maybe this would be a good plant to consider for ‘witch defense.’  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adirondack Fall...

Big Moose Lake near sunset

The fall leaf websites were not wrong.  We arrived at Indian Lake, New York in the center of the Adirondack Mountains Park after a breathtaking drive through some of the most gorgeous fall foliage we had ever seen.  What is it about colorful leaves?  We could not stop smiling or exclaiming how beautiful everything was. 
 

Driving into the park

What a big relief that the Adirondacks were a state-owned Forest Preserve and not run by our ‘shut-down’ national government.  We would have been very disappointed otherwise.  As it is, we will have to make new plans concerning the national parks, forests and historic sites we had planned to visit on our way back to Texas.  Unless a miracle occurs... 

View from the top of Mt. Van Hoevenberg near Placid Lake

 

Along the trail to Mt. Van Hoevenberg

 

Although we managed to see a great deal of the park when we were in the Adirondacks back in July, it was very hot and we cut our visit short and headed north for cooler weather.  It was so good to be back and get the chance to enjoy the park in a different season and visit the places we missed.

View of Long Lake from Castle Rock Mountain

 

We took hikes near Indian Lake, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, the Fulton Lakes Chain, Lake Placid and the Keene Valley.  Some days were sunny and many were cloudy, but it made no difference – the leaves were still beautiful.  After our fourth day, many of the leaves started dropping.  Our campsite and the trails were covered in multi-colored mounds.  I guess if the leaves covered your grass and had to be raked you might have a different perspective, but we could think of nothing more wonderful than heaps of leaves as far as the eye could see.

 

Out the window of our RV at the campground

  

Maya likes the leaves too...

 

Our picnic table disappears in the leaves...

 

 

The temperatures were perfect once we put on our down comforter (last year’s Christmas gift from David’s brother) to keep us warm at night.  Days were in the 60s to low 70s while the nights were in the low 40s and sometimes as warm as 50. 

 

Color as far as the eye can see

 

We met the nicest people out on the trails.  Many New Yorkers were taking advantage of the last few weeks of beautiful weather and enjoying ‘leaf hikes.’  One couple that we talked to on the summit of Rocky Mountain near Old Forge suggested a good restaurant.  Later on we ran into them at that restaurant, the Big Moose Lodge on Moose Lake, and we all had a lovely evening sitting outside by the lake having dinner.

Blue Mountain Lake from the Adirondack Museum grounds

 

Private railroad car taken by wealthy visitors to visit the Adirondacks

 

Towards the end of the week we began to get some light rains so we did more car touring and one day visited the Adirondack Museum. The museum overlooks Blue Mountain Lake and has many outdoor attractions on its 32 acres.  There are over 22 exhibit buildings plus an Adirondack fire tower, log cabins, lean-tos, rustic gazebos and gardens.  Quite by coincidence, we learned that we were visiting the museum on a “Furry Friday” which meant that Maya didn’t have to stay in the RV.  She was welcome at the museum and they even had dog sitters available so guests could tour the indoor exhibits. We all had a very fun day!

'Family' portrait from summit of Rocky Mountain with Fulton Lakes

 

As I think I mentioned in a previous post, the Adirondacks are truly a hiker’s paradise.  We've had so much fun this past week that we are going to stay a few more days even though there is rain predicted.  If it is not too rainy and the leaves don't all get 'rained' away, we will hike a few more days. 

 

 

  

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked  5

Rain Days    1

Total Miles Hiked   31.32

Ave. Miles per Day      6.06
Total Elevation Gain       7,082
Ave. Elevation Gain per day  1,396

 

 

Indian Summer - Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands

Hamlin State Park - Shoreline of Lake Ontario

We left Niagara Falls with plans to visit a few state parks on Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands Region of New York on the St. Lawrence Seaway.  What we didn’t know at the time was that we were also driving into a glorious week of Indian Summer.  The leaves were just beginning their fall performance and the weather was perfect – cool mornings and evenings with sun-drenched warm afternoons.

Wetland area at Hamlin State Park

 

For the first two nights we stayed at Hamlin State Park on the shores of Lake Ontario near Rochester.  We picked that state park because it was so close to Rochester, NY where the George Eastman House and Photography Museum is located.  I always wanted to visit that museum and we were just too close to pass it up. 

 

We spent the better part of a Sunday afternoon seeing the fine collection of vintage cameras and early photographs.  In addition, there was an exhibition in the galleries called ‘Gender,’ featuring photographs from the early days of photography to the present which represented or examined some aspect of gender.  We both enjoyed seeing photographs that we had only seen in books before and then some new photographs from artists we had never seen.  What a great afternoon!

Banner outside George Eastman House Museum

Monday we spent the day strolling along Lake Ontario watching flocks of birds, many beginning their migrations.  We marveled at the size of Lake Ontario, it’s huge!  Our first night at the park was a little windy and it sounded like we were at the ocean with the waves crashing on the shore all night. 

 

Chimney Bluffs State Park

 

 

 

 
Southwick State Park at the far eastern end of Lake Ontario was our next camping destination but on the way we stopped for a picnic at Chimney Bluff State Park. The main attractions of this park are the ‘chimney bluffs’ on the shores of Lake Ontario.  The bluffs are a result of erosion.  During the last ice age, glaciers moved clay, sand and boulders pushing them up into long mounds called drumlins.  Then the lake, wind and weather went to work on the mounds undercutting them and sculpting them into spires and other interesting shapes.  We hiked carefully near the bluffs as the erosion continues constantly and the sand and clay are none too stable.

 

Southwick State Park - Lake Ontario and dunes

 

Southwick State Park and the surrounding Lakeview Wildlife Management Area have low ‘barrier’ sand dunes along the shore that give protection to the land from Lake Ontario’s storms and waves.  The dunes shelter wetlands and protect habitat for rare and unusual wildlife and plant species including the Common Tern, Black Tern, Piping Plover and Sand Dune Willow.  We spent two nights at the park and enjoyed hiking along the Lake Ontario Dune Trail watching a variety of birds and getting sand in our shoes.

Wellesley Island State Park - Narrows Trail

Our last stop was Wellesley Island State Park located on one of the ‘thousand islands’ in the St. Lawrence Seaway.  The St. Lawrence River is dotted with islands from tens of yards across to many miles long.  We stayed 3 days taking long hikes around the island exploring Eel Bay and then hiking the island interior through wetlands and around beaver ponds.

 

Maple and Beaver Pond

 

 

The work of beavers - there were many trees like this near the pond

 

All in all it was an enchanting week of leisurely hikes in perfect weather with fall in the air and leaves promising us more to come.  We were considering staying a little longer as we weren’t anxious to leave these golden days behind but we checked our fall leaf forecast website and saw that many parts of the Adirondack Mountains were experiencing peak or near-peak fall color.   Time to move on, leaves are falling…

 

 

David’s Stats:

Days Hiked   5

Total Miles Hiked   32.29

Ave. Miles per Day      6.07
Total Elevation Gain       2,165
Ave. Elevation Gain per day   407