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Post by va3pinner on Sept 6, 2022 9:50:15 GMT -5
More trees turning on Chestnut Ridge/Coopers Rock. Unlike va3pinner we HAVE NOT had a dry period at all this year. July was very wet and then August went and was even wetter and Labor Day was a total washout with about 1.5" of rain. I was in Erie, PA a week ago and leaves up that way are changing even more. I feel an early fall approaching. Our dry spell was blasted with 2" of soaking rain here last night. Looking at the maps, I was hoping no one was on the "wrong side" of Red Creek by this morning! |
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Post by anfhiker on Sept 19, 2022 9:03:22 GMT -5
I took a long drive yesterday as I'd been sick all week and figured the woods would be a good tonic. I drove across Rt 59 and 6 to Coudy, down Rt 44 to the Pine Creek area, over as far as Hyner and back up to 44 and home. I can confirm that the maples are starting to change along the roadways at elevation, and much of the understory sassafras was also changed in Quehanna when I was there Friday. The one caveat is that the foliage seems dull compared to other years, but we will see if that changes. We've had some nights in the low-mid 40s already so if the transition is smooth and we keep getting rain, the colors may be good.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Sept 26, 2022 8:29:09 GMT -5
The current Maryland fall foliage report is available here. You can sign to receive weekly emails also. Locally we're seeing a smattering of colors even in Morgantown. I was in Garret Co., MD and Somerset Co., PA and the forest edges are just starting to show some color but we're a good two weeks out from the good stuff IMO. Asters have started blooming and goldenrod is in full display. Cool nights and coolish days are helping and we've had adequate rainfall to insure that leaves won't dry up prematurely. |
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Sept 26, 2022 8:35:38 GMT -5
Here's a nice chart of what colors different tree species' leaves turn. You can sign up for fall foliage reports from WV here
It looks like PA fall foliage reports are here. However, I don't see any reports for 2022 yet but based on last year they should add one soon. Check the sidebar on the right. Finally, let's not forget Virginia. .
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Post by virginiapine on Sept 26, 2022 10:44:07 GMT -5
I was out and about in the southern portion of the Monongahela NF for the past 4 days, enjoying the cool weather brought in by a front that cooincided with beginning of (astronomical) fall. A little bit of color noted up high in Watoga SP, and on Middle Mtn and Meadow Creek Mtn further south. Huge number of acorns and hickory nuts noted, big year for them - in fact, were you inattentive, it would be possible to slip on them as if you were on a floor covered in marbles...
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Post by va3pinner on Oct 2, 2022 20:26:42 GMT -5
Heading out this weekend, 10/7 - 10/10 either Spruce Knob or Roaring Plains areas. Hope to catch the high country at or near peak. I'll report back. Whats in hunting season about that time?.
Blaze orange rain cover for the pack for sure!
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Post by anfhiker on Oct 3, 2022 12:02:24 GMT -5
Things have changed rapidly here in just the last few days, with some very cool nights and not that warm days bringing the color out fast. The peak along the plateau north of 80 in PA is probably going to be this coming weekend, with mid next week looking likely on the lower areas closer to the lakes. It's pretty amazing how quickly the changes came on here this year.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 4, 2022 7:15:40 GMT -5
va3pinner,
From the WVDNR website:
"In season - Wild Boar (archery/crossbow), Deer (archery/crossbow), Bear (archery/crossbow). Squirrel (Gray, Black, Albino, and Fox), Mourning Dove, Sora and Virginia Rails, Wilson’s Snipe. Coyote, Skink, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling and Pigeon (hunting) are all year-round."
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Post by va3pinner on Oct 5, 2022 7:54:33 GMT -5
Good. Hikers aren't in season yet.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 8, 2022 9:32:14 GMT -5
I was out on Thursday and can say that this is the prime time to be out. I went to Parsons, WV, first to bike part of the Allegheny Highlands railtrail. Sycamores were yellow along Cheat River but otherwise it was low color at the lower elevations. Parsons was similar but you could see about 30% color on the hillsides. Afterwards I drove up Rt 219 to Thomas and at about the Tucker Co High School things started looking much better with leaves at 70%. Thomas and Davis were okay but after leaving Davis and heading for Canaan Heights the colors simply exploded and dropping into the Valley was incredible. Cabin Mountain is laid out before you and was totally red and the Valley and the State park were a panoply of colors. I haven't seen it this nice in years. I didn't have time to drive the Canaan loop road but suspect it is great as well. I did stop at Blackwater Falls and took a peek at the Pendleton Overlook and the Canyon is at least a week if not more from peak. The canyon is 50% green and 50% yellow. I plan to be hiking this coming week, hopefully before Thursday when it is supposed to rain. That might be the end of the peak fall foliage season in the high country but the lowlands will still be good for a few weeks.
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Post by trailnotfound on Oct 8, 2022 11:13:07 GMT -5
In Michaux yesterday. Most of the forest is still pretty green but the black gum are at peak, and the maples are starting to turn. Well before peak overall but it's looking great out there.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 15, 2022 18:26:47 GMT -5
I was in the Dolly Sods area yesterday. We hiked on Cabin Mt and out to the Bald Knob overlook and in that general area. 95%+ of the leaves at that elevation (4000' or more) are off of the trees. It's still nice but most of the trees are barren. It looked like Canaan Mt was the same on top. Canaan Valley still had color but today has been very windy. My suspicions are that the leaves are coming down fast. I figure that the lower elevations are still decent but you've got maybe two weeks max. The ridges and higher elevations are forecast to have snow on Tuesday and much colder temperatures.
On a postivie note, Chestnut Ridge (Coopers, Snake Hill, Quebec Run) are probably at peak or maybe a smidge past. Should still be some good hiking and colors but the ridge will likely get the Tuesday snow also.
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Post by va3pinner on Oct 16, 2022 6:51:59 GMT -5
They are coming down fast! I was in Rohrbaugh plains last week and you could not have asked for better colors. My wife and I are going to do an "old people drive through" starting at bear rocks and driving down through laneville today. She has not been able to hike for some time which is sad. We spent our honeymoon up there 40 years ago almost to the day. So she'll get to see some colors anyway! We have a lot of history up there.....
So it was a really nice drive! At Bear Rocks, most of the color is gone, but there are still some big splashes here and there, yellow Birches and fiery blueberry patches here and there. Picnic area was nice too,the Beeches were just past the brilliant yellow to a golden brown. we took a lot of photos. It was very good for my wife. Its been a long time since she's been there.
Looks like a new bridge at Laneville too.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 27, 2022 8:36:40 GMT -5
I was out on Tuesday for a bike ride on the C&O Canal Towpath from the Williamsport, MD area down to Harpers Ferry and back. On the way there we went by Green Ridge State Forest in MD. Colors appear to be at peak there - an option for those who missed them. The C&O was much greener. I would say it was 75 to 80% still green with some nice yellows mixed in.
Chestnut Ridge in WV/PA is just past peak with some decent leaf drop but still a nice destination if you want to get in a fall ramble.
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Post by va3pinner on Oct 28, 2022 5:09:23 GMT -5
Colors here in Fauquier county are just sliding past peak. Been a really spectacular fall this year!
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Post by virginiapine on Nov 2, 2022 14:47:41 GMT -5
A couple of weeks ago the east side of Spruce Mtn over to North Fork Mountain were absolutely spectacular - very glad I was there to behold it. Farther west over into the Laurel Fork Wilderness and even further west to Shavers Mtn, the leaves on the tall canopy were gone but the understory of young trees was in full glory - beeches, mostly. There is some very beautiful forest in that section of Shavers Mtn, mature hemlock and spruce north a few miles from the Johns Camp Run shelter. And very pleasant weather for hiking...
Just a touch past peak color here in Charlottesville, VA. I will get the chance to visit an old-growth grove along the AT east of Buena Vista this weekend - it's below 2000' so hopefully the leaves are hanging on in that area....
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Post by GaliWalker on Nov 7, 2022 12:59:32 GMT -5
I headed to Trout Pond and Rockcliff Lake in West Virginia (George Washington National Forest) on Saturday. I was hoping to get a bit of lingering fall colors. I did see some around Rockcliff Lake, but due to thick mist was unable to take any photos from the surrounding mountains and ridges, such as North and Long Mountain (Gusty Point, which is a great vista, was a total bust). I think fall is done.   |
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Nov 11, 2022 18:46:03 GMT -5
Fall is definitely done although we've had some warm weather. Raining from Nicole now and then the bottom is going drop out with much colder weather and some snow. It was a great fall but it ended a bit earlier than some years.
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