View Full Version : Best time for Autumn color in NH/ME/VT
meatball
08-25-2006, 02:23
When is the best time to be on the AT in New England (100 mile wilderness etc...) for the fall colors?
Mid Sept to early Oct?
Although with this year going to be an extended summer do you feel that would have any bearing on when the peaks are this year?
TIA
fiddlehead
08-25-2006, 02:45
mid to late october a lot of years. It's not something written in stone. It stays flexible. It's nature. I think it is more determined by how wet the fall season is rather than an extended summer. But of course, i've been wrong before.
I know in 2001, when i did a winter SOBO, it peaked around Oct 20 to oct 25 that year. We were in the wilderness at the time. very nice.
The Solemates
08-25-2006, 08:16
we'll be there in 2 weeks. sure would be nice if it was early this year, but i doubt it.
When is the best time to be on the AT in New England (100 mile wilderness etc...) for the fall colors?
My wife and I hiked through New Hampshire last year in the 3rd week of October. The locals said that the colors had peaked about 2 weeks before that. Although, it still looked really nice as most of the folliage was still on the trees. The locals also mentioned that last year was generally lack-luster due to the dry summer.
Have fun! We will be up there the 1st week of October this year! Can't wait to get out of the Florida heat.
Hi:
Over the last several years, foliage peaks in the Whites & Green Mtns from about Sept. 20 to about Oct. 10. The foliage in the Whites remains, but is usually past peak by Columbus weekend. All it takes is one wind storm with driving rain...
Ed
There are quite a few websites that will give you average foliage information as well as show progress. These are just a few...
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/fallfoliage/index_large.html
http://www.visitnewengland.com/current_category.77/current_advcategory.290/companies_list.html
http://www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/northeast_us/
Here in the Whites the earliest signs of fall started over a week ago. Some cold nights in the last two weeks set it off and now the mountainsides have an obvious fall look. The birches look a little more brown and a less yellow than usual. Some of the old and sickly maples are turning red. There is a maple at Pinkham Notch that is in full autumn red. This all seems early to me but Its still too early to tell if its going to be a good year.
It took me a while to find this Katahdin Gallery image (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=1100&c=574) I recalled, but I knew I'd find it if I persisted long enough.