When It Came to Fall Colors, New York’s Adirondack Park Was a Virtual Palette…

/ Curt Mekemson
In my last post, I whined a bit (or more?) about how our trip through the heart of Vermont following Highway 100 had been lacking in color because of drought and an early leaf fall. Following a recommendation, we headed over to Lake Champlain and its islands in hopes of having more luck. We took it a step further by finding a great cabin in Northeast New York near the Vermont and Canadian borders and driving into the Adirondacks.

Today, Peggy and I are going to feature our trip into the Adirondacks of New York. We have now explored northern Vermont, traveled across New Hampshire, and made our way to coastal Maine, which included a trip into Acadia National Park. We’ve found so much color that our cameras have become picky about what they will photograph. New England definitely has its fall mojo back. We’ve turned to other things, like stuffing ourselves on lobster rolls. It’s a quintessential Maine experience. Did you know that the state provides over 90% of America’s lobsters?

Would it be possible to pile more lobster on a lobster roll? And we bought the mini-sized ones! This is from the Must Be Nice Lobster restaurant in Belfast, Maine.
Shortly after we settled into our New York cabin, Peggy and I decided to venture into the Adirondack Mountains. We were looking for fall colors. Our journey would take us along the Saranac River to the town of Saranac Lake. (Not many fall colors here— but Peggy’s smile lights up the photo. And the colors are coming.)

First considered wild and inaccessible by the early European settlers, the Adirondacks later became a major logging area. The sign behind Peggy noted that some 200,000 logs were sent down the Saranac River behind her in 1846. By the early 1900s the Adirondacks had become a playground for the wealthy including the likes of the Vanderbilts, J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, and the Rockefellers.

Today, the Adirondacks Park is known for its size and who owns it. Not only is it larger than any national park in the contingent 48 states in the US, it is made up of a blending of public and private ownership. Another unique fact about the area is that its ancient mountains are actually rising, something that was considered long over among eastern US mountains. Like two hundred million years long over. Apparently, there is a bulging volcanic hot spot under the Adirondacks.

We soon discovered that fall color was alive and well in the park. The cloudy day and trees without leaves gave a water color painting look to the scene. There is another factor as well. I shoot lots of photos from our truck as it zooms along the road. It requires a different skillset than normal photography where you get to leisurely think about and compose your photos. I have about five seconds if the photo is out the the front window, or less if the photo is on the side. My camera sits in my lap with the lens cover off. I see an interesting photo, turn on the camera, and shoot. Due to the speed of modern cameras, my photos are normally clear, but they can be slightly fuzzy, adding to the water color effect. Peggy doesn’t like to take photos from a moving vehicle. She insists on thinking about and composing her photos. By the time she gets ready, the photo is a few hundred yards down the road. “I’ll drive. You take the photos, Curt,” she insists. Grin.
Another “water color” road shot. I really liked the color contrast here between the yellow, green and orange plus the ‘towering feel’ provided by the tall trees. Peggy likes the way the limbs on the conifers reach out. “Fingers,” she calls them.
It was the shape and dark color of the conifers in comparison to the deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves) that caught our attention here.
A few pull offs did allow us to get out and take clear photos. This one shows bright red maple leaves set off by white birch bark. The birch’s leaves turn bright yellow in fall.
These are young birch trees. We took this photo at the same stop we took the photo above.
A reflection shot on the Saranac River, managed to catch the full range of fall colors including the brilliant yellow of the beech trees. In addition to having a water color feel, I thought this photo was like an Impressionistic painting.
We like this shot because of the reds and oranges. The yellows and the greens provided emphasis.
We took this photo not far from the town of Saranac Lake. it shows that fall colors are about more than just trees!
In addition to its modern reputation as a tourist magnet, Saranac Lake once served as an early research center for TB and as a TB Sanatorium. For a brief period it also provided a home for Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of such classics as Treasure Island, one of the books I devoured as a child.
I rendered the above photo in black and white to create an ‘old time’ feel.
A pretty little lake sits on the edge of town. Peggy and I first assumed it was also Saranac Lake. Actually it is Flowers Lake named after a governor of New York. Before that it was named Mill Pond because the river had been dammed up to run a saw mill. We felt the small buoy made a nice addition.
I thought this made an interesting photo and reflection shot. Can you spot the overflow for the Flower Lake Dam? Check out the left end of the reflection.
The backup behind the overflow outlet was perfectly calm. The different perspective here provided an interesting reflection of its own. That’s it for today. Next up will by our annual Halloween Post. New England takes its decorating seriously.
As do I. My newest BFF… Best Friend Forever.
And Peggy. She decided to do a turn on the dance floor with Mr. Pumpkin Head.

26 thoughts on “When It Came to Fall Colors, New York’s Adirondack Park Was a Virtual Palette…”

    • I swear, they put a whole lobster on that small roll, Steve. It certainly shoed the bun who was boss! As for the colors, they just kept coming and coming. And, by the time we got back to Virginia (yesterday), the leaves on the trees here were spectacular. Ho-hum (not).

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  2. Oh the lovely colors! Fall must be so wonderful there. We do have our maples along Maple Park Drive which is just out my window! We had a little storm the other night and that really made the leaves fly. It also did a number of power outages which are unwelcome. I have had a problem leaving a comment a few times. I hope you get this one. Love to you and your travels…watch out for that spider. I am sure it is the one that lived in my closet when I was 10 or so.

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  6. Wow, you rocked it with the colors of NY.. sad I had to cancel my trip to see my kiddos.. soooo gorgeous and your new bestie is awesome but doesn’t replace Peggy ever of course.. lol. I’m sure she can bite you…. which would be a good thing… pretty in blue.. lol . Assuming the accommodation’s were a bit warmer.. hoping.. xo 🎃🍁

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    • The challenge is always arriving when the leaves are at their peak, especially if you have a limited amount of time Diana. But, as I noted, with or without the brilliant colors, upstate New York and New England make the trip worthwhile.

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  8. My fave photo is the red leaves in front of the white bark, but they are all so great. You are right about the popping colour over in northern New York. I love imagining that lobster is in front of me, too. 🙂

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    • The contrast was what caught our attention, Crystal. As it did for you, apparently. After our trip up through central Vernon where most of the leaves had fallen, we were delighted with New York, a delight that only grew as we continued to explore Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Yummy lobster. Each bite a mouthful and a treat! Thanks, Crystal.

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      • I really am delighted by hearing all these place names from a long ago time in my life. I am so pleased that you went and were able to engage so deeply with the region. I left a good portion of my heart there, and it seems I need to go back and spend some time. ❤

      • We loved our trip up there, Crystal. While we’ve been through New England a few times it was mainly passing through. We certainly haven’;t explored the area like we did this time.

  9. It’s funny, Curt, when I think of New York, I picture the city with its hustle and bustle. But you’ve provided a gorgeous and different vision! The colors are simply stunning! And the photo of Peggy is beautiful, but your newest BFF, even though he’s fake, would never be a BFF of mine. LOL I wouldn’t be able to hold him even though he is fake. Ahh, the fear of spiders. Oh, and I’ll take a lobster roll, please! Anyway, thanks for sharing! I love this season, and you made it pop even brighter! Happy Halloween! 🎃👻💀

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    • Much more to New York, Lauren than NYC! I’ve always enjoyed going to the City, however. It’s been far too long. Peggy and I keep promising ourselves we will return. Laughing about the spider. Seems to me I remember your feelings about them. And the lobster roll was delicious! Thanks!

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