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Contoocook River in New Hamphire (left) vs. the Enchantments. Both are awfully pretty.

When it comes to fall colors, the Northeast is considered the country’s Holy Grail. I just returned from those far-off forests on a trip that took me across northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, southern Ontario and Quebec, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The deciduous show of yellow, red, and orange certainly kindled the senses. While driving, hiking, and canoeing, my camera sucked up so many electronic images it put-on a few pounds.

I was jazzed about what I had seen in the mixed forests of maples, oaks, and beeches – until I returned home and opened up my email queue. There, amongst the endless messages, were a wide variety of photos local hikers and mountaineers had submitted to document the fall colors. It struck me then that the Northeast may do a better job of marketing their wares, but they certainly hold no monopoly on golden glades, scarlet shrubbery, kaleidoscoping colors, and autumnal awesomeness.

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The Green Mountains of Vermont taken from the Long Trail.

 The pictures sent by Marc Dilley, Kyle Flick, Brad Blackburn, Larry Glickfeld, Ken Longley, Team Gaylord and more all had me lamenting the climate-changing-carbon footprints I had stamped upon the American landscape while enjoying autumn. As I told the Gaylords, “your pictures of the Enchantment’s with their golden larches, white granite peaks, cobalt skies, and emerald lakes surpassed the beauty of anything I saw on a 3,000-mile drive. Thanks for making me jealous… and reminding me that I should just stay home if I’m looking for the best places.”

Photo by Drew Gaylord. Perfection Lake in the Enchantments.

Photo by Drew Gaylord. Perfection Lake in the Enchantments.

In this post, I’ve exhibited pictures taken on both sides of the country. Weigh-in. Which autumn  images most inspire you to flee the house (or the office) to walk, climb, or paddle?

 

 

Lakes and autumn colors somewhere in Michigan.

Lakes and autumn colors somewhere in Michigan.

 

Photo by Brad Blackburn: lakes and autumn colors somewhere in the Chiwaukums.

Photo by Brad Blackburn: lakes and autumn colors somewhere in the Chiwaukums.

 

Photo by Ken Longley: trees and shrubbery along the White River in Washington. Photo below by Ken Longley: trees and shrubbery along the White River in Washington.

Photo: trees and rocks in Michigan.

 

Photo by Ken Longley: trees and shrubbery along the White River in Washington.

Photo by Ken Longley: trees and shrubbery along the White River in Washington.

Canoeing scenery in New Hampshire.

Canoeing scenery in New Hampshire.

Local hiking views from the Chiwaukums.

Local hiking views from the Chiwaukums.

 

Chutes Provincial Park in Ontario.

Chutes Provincial Park in Ontario.

 

Chiwaukums

Chiwaukums

 

Colorful waterways in New Hamsphire.

Colorful waterways in New Hamsphire.

Colorful waterways in the Enchantments. Photo by Gaylord.

Colorful waterways in the Enchantments. Photo by Gaylord.

 

Spinning gold in Wisconsin.

Spinning gold in Wisconsin.

 

Spinning gold in the Chiwaukums.

Spinning gold in the Chiwaukums.

Leaf details from the East.

Leaf details from the East.

 

Leaf details from the West.

Leaf details from the West.

 

Larry Glickfeld (in red) on his Fall Foliage tour of the Lake Wenatchee area.

Larry Glickfeld (in red) on his Fall Foliage tour of the Lake Wenatchee area.

 

 

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