Watching the evening news on October 11, and the reporter showed a map of the autumn colors for New York with my Finger Lakes at peak. One can understand the motivation by state tourism interests to overstate the situation. Actually, we began to get widespread color ten days later. Hiking at the Houghton Preserve in Corning on October 21offered some nice red and gold colors.
The ground was becoming littered with clusters of leaves on a mossy stream bank. Th light rain was easily ignored when balanced with finding autumn colors. I met a nice couple from Baltimore who like to take a rest stop here on their way to Ontario. They reminded me how lucky I am to live here.
It is good to look for the unusual routes falling leaves take in their tumble to earth. This red and yellow maple leaf found rest on this low growing bush.
It's now twelve days since the claim of peak colors. The colors have spread more widely, so an excursion to Newtown Battlefield State Park near Elmira was promising.
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The park road passes through a variety of tree habitats. I've walked this road many times, but never before has the color been so golden. There is one section where Revolutionary War re-enactments are held each September. This rail fence lines the road to the re-enactment site.
At the end of the road, it was time for some hiking of the trails looking for more red and gold.
The autumn colors must be balanced with fall chores, so my morning foray started me towards home with a final stop at the rail fence where another visitor came along (to stop and share ideas for other favorite autumn locations in the Finger Lakes.)
I meet the nicest people when I am hiking.
Thanks for your interest.
Paul Schmitt
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