East vs. West-Fall Colors | Wenatchee Outdoors

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.

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.

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?