So. Much. Color!

When the White Mountains aren’t so white.

It’s pretty obvious that when the early European settlers who arrived in New Hampshire first laid eyes on what are now known as the White Mountains, it wasn’t during the fall. Had they arrived during late September or early October, they would probably have been named the Red, Golden, or perhaps Fiery Mountains. Because during this time of year they are anything but white.

Words really can’t convey how beautiful New Hampshire is during autumn, nor can these images do it justice. To really appreciate the amazing display of color that blankets the state, one has to see it with their own eyes.

Starting from the northern most reaches of the state, and slowly working its way south, the state becomes blanketed in brilliant warm hues of red, yellow, and orange. The intensity of the color varies from year to year, depending on a variety of weather factors, with some years the sugar maples providing the vibrant reds New Hampshire and the rest of New England is known for. Some years, not so much.

This year the colors were truly amazing, one for the record books.

Back roads and mountain views.

During the peak of the fall foliage season in the White Mountains, even the back roads are beautuful. Take the road less traveled and let the color overwhelm you.

How could I not pull over for this majestic view of the Presidential Range?

The Wonalancet Union Church, yet another of New Hampshire’s back road hidden gems.

One of my favorite spots to snap a photo no matter the season, is this cascade just above Upper Ammonoosuc Falls. There’s just something about the way the water flows over the rocks in the foreground that inspires me to capture them no matter how many times I visit. Add a few fall foliage accents to the scene and you’ve got a winner in my book.

Speaking of little white churches, The Little White Church nestled along the shore of Crystal Lake in Eaton Center, NH is a well known, yet somewhat off the beaten path treasure.

Race against time.

The best and brightest of the foliage season lasts perhaps 2-3 weeks(if we’re lucky) before we enter what we New Englanders affectionately refer to as “Stick Season.” So it is with some sadness that as I sit here putting the finishing touches on this post, the spectacular color display is all but over with, with only a few local hot spots showing much in the way of color.

Luckily, there’s always next year…

Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday

Photography 101: Pop of Color

Early Autumn, a flash of gold, reflections on Stonehouse Pond.

Autumn Hues

A cold wind blows, bringing a chill to the morning air.

Summer’s warmth becomes a pleasant memory as green becomes red and gold. 

The days are crisp, the air is clear, the hillsides dressed in brilliant Autumn Hues.

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The question posed on the Daily Post, 

“Changing colors, dropping temperatures, pumpkin spice lattes: do these mainstays of Fall fill your heart with warmth — or with dread?”

My answer.

Warmth, anticipation, excitement, and joy.

Autumn is the most beautiful season. The awakenings of Spring and the comforting warmth and long days of Summer pale in comparison to Fall as the land adorns itself in its colorful best one last time before Winter’s sleep falls across the landscape.

A Room With A View Revisited

 

One evening last fall I had the pleasure of staying in a most spectacular and spacious room.

A room like no other.

Its walls beautifully decorated in shades of evergreen and autumn gold, with well placed splashes of crimson.

The finishing touch, a border of distant mountains under a nearly cloudless blue sky.

The cost of this room, merely miles underfoot, the reward for a nights stay, immeasurable.

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For a look at some more equally wonderful rooms, click Here

One Last Glance

Mid Stream, Mid Leap, By The Light Of The Moon

With time to kill one evening this past week, I stopped by a small stream near where I work to capture a few long exposures of fallen leaves swirling on the water’s surface.

Two of my favorites from my experiments with leaves, water, and time, can be seen HERE, and HERE.

Ready to leave, as even under the light of the rising full moon it was getting too dark to see and safely navigate the stream side rocks and boulders, I started back to my car.

One fortuitous glance as I leapt from one boulder to the next nearly stopped me in my tracks.

As I glanced downstream I could see the most beautiful light reflecting on the water. The rising full moon, casting its wonderful glow on the jet black surface of the water, and on the dark, wet, leaf littered rocks, was rising in perfect alignment with the stream.

Surely I had time for one last 60 second exposure.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Infinite

The mountains seemed to go on and on…

From my bedroom window.

Over the weekend I went on my first solo wilderness overnight in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

This spectacular view from the top of Stairs Mountain, the reward for a long hike carrying a fully loaded pack, awaited me as I reached my camp for the evening.

As the sun was setting to the west, the pastel glow cast over the landscape to the south-east was breathtaking.

The mountains receding into the distance seemed to go on forever.

The fire in the sky over the mountains to the west, especially about 15 minutes after the sun went down, was better still.

(If you just can’t wait to see that fiery sky western sky, you can see it HERE! While you’re there, become a fan!)

I had hoped for an equally glorious sunrise view in the morning, however the weather had other plans.

Here is the same cliff face from the above photo the following morning.

Not the sunrise view I was hoping for, but still an outstanding trip into the wilderness.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Good Morning!

Yes it was!

Many of you who read my blog regularly know how I often enjoy spending my mornings.

The morning usually starts out with a pre-dawn hike, often several miles through the still dark mountains,  just as often alone, racing the rising sun in search of a spectacular view.

 This past Sunday was no exception.

With autumn in full swing here in New Hampshire, I chose to welcome the new day atop Mt. Crawford in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.

Yes indeed, with this view before me not long after sunrise, it was a Good Morning!

And here I am taking it all in.

And yes it will be!

In one weeks time, this view will be the first thing I see as I poke my head out of my tent.

THAT will be a good morning!

Autumn On Baxter Lake

On the shore there is fire, and that fire is beautiful.

As I eagerly await this years first autumn visit to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I’ve looked to autumns past for inspiration. Here’s an image from “our” lake captured a few years ago.

Edit: I just realized that this is my 200th post 😀