Posts Tagged ‘fall foliage’

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Hiking with Grandma Beth: A roundup of fall hikes & walkabouts

Believe it or not, Spooky Season is upon us, which means fall foliage in the Adirondacks is past peak with many of those vibrant leaves now crunching under the feet of those who enjoy hiking during the gorgeous, yet fleeting of seasons. One such hiking enthusiast, Old Forge resident, Beth Pashley, has embarked on several hikes and walkabouts in the Adirondack region this fall, capturing this year’s spectacular fall color in various stages throughout the month of October.
The Adirondack Almanack featured Pashley a few times previously, documenting her hiking progress over the last several months, and sharing her serene, eye-catching photographs. In this piece, Pashley shares a roundup of photographs depicting walkabouts and hikes from this month and clues us in on goals she has set to keep motivated while closing out one of her most successful and eventful hiking years to date.

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Saturday, October 22, 2022

Reuniting with friends at Adirondack Wild meeting, Old Ranger Tales Lecture Series

I put some miles on the truck (and some on the ground) this week as I [traveled to] Paul Smith’s VIC three times, went brook trout fishing a couple times, and watched Loons on Lake Clear. [I also] photographed fall leaves, did some leaf blowing for several days, caught songbirds when the wind didn’t blow, and caught saw whet owls for four nights. Everyone asks [me] when I get the time to sleep and do all these things. I say, “I nap a lot.” I don’t know if I will get into all these [items in my column] as I must add a few politics this week, which I know you all like to hear just before Election Day.

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Thursday, October 20, 2022

Fall foliage update: Past peak but still colorful

fall foliage update

This is the sixth 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Bright, spectacular peak foliage will be found throughout much of the Capital-Saratoga, Finger Lakes, and Greater Niagara regions this weekend, as well as in the middle and upper portions of Central New York. Additionally, gorgeous near-peak leaves will be appearing throughout the Hudson Valley, based on reports from field observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

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Sunday, October 16, 2022

A Peek at Peak in The Peaks

All inadequate photos captured by the author

The mountains of Adirondack Park in northern New York are the high ground. Due to elevation and temperature, the fall change from green to multi-hued occurs prior to that in most other parts of the state. And the thinly-settled park provides opportunities to enjoy natural beauty unspoiled by the hand of man.

Lows lake calm day autumn colors captured by Author.
Yes, all of them were captured by the author, including this one on Lows Lake.

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Saturday, October 15, 2022

Congratulations to son, Jason, two-time World Grand Champion in Kuk Sool

The beautiful Hunter’s full moon is bright outside my window tonight [October 9] after a day of wind and rain showers that took lots of leaves off the trees. There was still lots of color in the sunny patches as I drove home from The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation annual celebration at the Paul Smith’s VIC. Events were held indoors, as it was pouring outside most of the day. Coming home, I hit showers and then sunny patches along the way. I saw lots of shutter bugs out taking advantage of the sunny spots.

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Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Peak week (or just past) for fall colors

peak colorThis is the fifth 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Beautiful and vibrant peak and near-peak fall foliage will arrive throughout much of Upstate New York this weekend, with gorgeous peak leaves in parts of eight regions, according to field observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

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Thursday, October 6, 2022

Fall foliage report: Peak (or near-peak) conditions

foliage map week 4This is the fourth 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Gorgeous peak fall colors are expected in the Adirondacks this weekend, with beautiful near-peak leaves to be found throughout most of the Catskills, plus parts of the Chautauqua-Allegheny, Thousand Islands-Seaway, and Finger Lakes regions, according to field observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

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Saturday, October 1, 2022

Leaf-peeping, fringed gentians, and lobster dinners

The leaves are changing, and may peak this week if they aren’t all put on the ground with the wind and rain. I watched from my window as many leaves fell on the pond most of the day today, September 25. That was better than the snow that fell on Friday morning [September 23]. Some say that Blue Mountain wasn’t blue, but white on top, that morning as were several of the High Peaks. About this time of  year, Karen and I go on a leaf-peeping trip through Vermont and New Hampshire into Maine to get a lobster dinner.

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Thursday, September 29, 2022

Fall foliage: Rain seems to have boosted the color change

foliage report wk 3

This is the third 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.  

In the Adirondacks, Franklin County foliage spotters in Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab expect 55-60% color change this weekend with muted to average fall colors of carmine, beet, cranberry, marmalade, marigold, apricot, daffodil, pineapple, banana, amber, and auburn. Recent precipitation seems to have invigorated leaf transition, which is expected to be at midpoint of change. Foliage should also be at midpoint of change in Saranac Lake, with around 50% leaf transition and a good mix of fall colors including pops of red, orange, and shades of purple. In the northern portion of the county, spotters in Malone predict 30% leaf change with red, orange, and yellow leaves of average brilliance.

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Tuesday, September 27, 2022

DEC: New fall foliage shuttle begins this weekend, October 1 & 2

fall foliage courtesy roostOctober Shuttle Promotes Public Safety by Providing Free, Convenient Access from North Hudson to Popular Adirondack High Peaks Trailheads

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminds visitors to the Adirondacks of the new fall foliage shuttle program starting in October from Frontier Town Gateway in North Hudson to popular trailheads in the High Peaks region. To accommodate visitors seeking fall foliage hikes and views, no-cost shuttles will run the first two weekends in October from the Frontier Town Gateway to the Giant Mountain, Roaring Brook Falls, and Rooster Comb trailheads, as well as the Marcy Field Parking Area.

First announced in July, the new program is a partnership between DEC, Essex County, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), the towns of Keene and North Hudson, and the private owner of Frontier Town Gateway. The shuttle offers hikers the opportunity to experience fall foliage from its best vantage point – on the trail – without the hassle of driving to and parking at busy trailheads.

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Saturday, September 24, 2022

Time has come for the protection of Monarch Butterflies

Another year has passed for me, and only one more for the “Big 80,” but things are looking good on this end. For others on this side of the globe, things aren’t looking so good this morning [Sept. 20]. Hurricane Fiona has clobbered Puerto Rico with over thirty inches of rain and strong winds that have again devastated their power grid five years to the day when they were hit by Hurricane Maria. They had just about recovered from that one and everything got laid flat again. The hurricane heading north hit the Dominican Republic and will end up in the Canada Maritimes. This will also push high tides all along the east coast while going north.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Fall foliage report: Franklin County, Old Forge lead color change

fall foliage week 2

This is the second 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Beautiful fall foliage continues to appear across New York State, with some significant early color changes expected in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks and Catskills, according to field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, September 17, 2022

DEC Recreation Highlight: Plan a Fall Foliage Hike from Frontier Town Gateway

The colors are coming soon, and hiking is one of the best ways to experience fall foliage in the Adirondacks. Enjoy the hikes and views without the hassle of driving and parking. No-cost shuttles will run during peak foliage weekends on Oct. 1 and 2 and again over Indigenous Peoples’/Columbus Day weekend on Oct. 8, 9, and 10 from the Frontier Town Gateway to the Giant Mountain, Roaring Brook Falls, and Rooster Comb trailheads and the Marcy Field Parking Area. These are the same drop-off locations currently offered by the Route 73 Hiker Shuttle (PDF) from Marcy Field, but from an alternate starting point.

The October shuttle will operate in a loop from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. Dogs are not permitted on the shuttle, and masks are required. The gateway shuttle stop is conveniently located near the DEC Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian, and Day Use Area.

For more information on planning fall foliage hikes in the Adirondacks, including a list of family-friendly trails ideal for hiking in the spring, summer, and fall, click here. Due to their lower elevation, these hikes are great alternatives during transitions between seasons like mud season in the spring and colder, shorter days in the fall.

Photo at top: DEC photo.


Thursday, September 15, 2022

Fall foliage report: First signs of color

2022 foliage map week 1

This is the first 2022 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend.

New York State’s 2022 fall foliage season is underway, with the first signs of the spectacular seasonal colors to come appearing in several regions, including the Adirondacks, Thousand Islands-Seaway, Catskills, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Greater Niagara, and Hudson Valley. This is according to the field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.

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Thursday, September 1, 2022

Tree Sign Language: Early Fall Color

Deciduous trees, ice-cream stands, and marinas close each fall for the same reason: as daylight dwindles and cold creeps in, they become less profitable. When income dips down to equal the cost of doing business, a wise proprietor will turn out the lights and lock the doors until spring. Some enterprising holdouts stay open longer. Perhaps they have less competition, or a better location. Conversely, a few close shop at the first whiff of autumn. Those are the ventures which just scrape by at the height of summer. I’m talking about trees here, of course. Trees whose leaves show color ahead of their same-species peers are doing so because they are barely breaking even.

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