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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 13, 2022 9:22:59 GMT -8
Yellowstone or White Mountain NF in Northern New Hampshire?
ETA: oh, relevant details; I’ll be driving my 4Runner from SE PA.
ETA2: one facet of my thinking? Fall is a limited time event while the thermal features and to an extent, the wildlife, of Yellowstone aren’t.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 13, 2022 9:25:59 GMT -8
End of Sept? Yellowstone
Oct? Whites.
I say that because I've been snowed in at Y'stone in mid Sept, but it was generally good weather. Oct leaf peeping in the Whites is something I always enjoyed.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 13, 2022 10:03:23 GMT -8
Yah, I’ve been blizzarded out of Old Faithful Inn in early October, sort of fun actually.
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Post by absarokanaut on Sept 13, 2022 11:51:11 GMT -8
The greatest foliage I've ever seen has been in Nu Hampshuh. One hike of the Franconia ridge-Falling Waters Loop was simply seminal. Driving the Kancamagus can itself be the crown jewel of a trip in the fall. I obviously love Greater Yellowstone. I hardly ever get into Yellowstone National Park anymore but if that's where you're headed my two favorite dayhikes are Avalanche Peak and Slough Creek with Lake McBride. While many people are enthralled with geysers and other thermal features IMO the collection of waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife observation in the Lamar and Hayden Valleys are our first Park's greatest roadside glories. I've seen just a couple of waterfalls in the world that even begin to compete with being at the Brink of Yellowstone's Lower Falls. Foliage is arguably better in Grand Teton National Park and area National Forests.Granite Creek about 20 miles SE of Jackson in the BTNF is awesome for foliage and two of my favorite day hikes in the world are very close to Granite Hot Springs. The hippie dip at Granite Falls is in good shape this year. Granite Falls was in the movie "A River Runs Through It" because like Guthrie's "The Big sky" they couldn't find landscapes spectacular enough in Montana. The road beyond Slide Lake up the Gros Ventre River Valley is one of the most spectacularly varied landscapes you'll ever see, like going to Utah and California with a heaping helping of Wyoming all in one. HSF, If you decide on the GYE I can share dozens of the most spectacular boondocking sites you will ever enjoy in your first National Forest, the Shoshone, the Bridger-Teton NF [BTNf], and Cariboo-Targhee NF [CTNF] Some of these sites have multiple classic dayhikes right from your campsite you'll have much to yourself. Hunters rarely pose any kind of real problems and are of course way down the list of safety concerns any time of the year. If you decide on the Whites my favorite dayhike anywhere out East is Moosilaukee ["Moose hill ock] from Dartmouth's Ravine Lodge up the Asquam Ridge, over Blue, etc. to the main and south summits and then back down the Snapper/Gorge Brook. Add on some time on Beaver Brook from Kinsman Notch I'm not sure you'd ever do better when it comes to New England treasures. Whatever you do I hope you have an awesome trip!
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Post by Sleeping Bag Man! on Sept 13, 2022 11:55:59 GMT -8
Sigh...I wish I had decisions like this to make. If you decide on the GYE I can share dozens of the most spectacular boondocking sites you will ever enjoy in your first National Forest, the Shoshone, the Bridger-Teton NF [BTNf], and Cariboo-Targhee NF [CTNF] Some of these sites have multiple classic dayhikes right from your campsite you'll have much to yourself. If life ever lets me adventure again, I hope I can remember to PM you about this...
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Sept 13, 2022 12:58:49 GMT -8
FWIW... fall foliage predictor says peak color in the Whites around Sept 26. smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/It'll be interesting to see how the colors are after the dry hot summer.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 13, 2022 14:52:57 GMT -8
FWIW... fall foliage predictor says peak color in the Whites around Sept 26. smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/It'll be interesting to see how the colors are after the dry hot summer. The dry is supposed to push the peak early. I can believe it as on a last week visit to Rhode Island I was already seeing some turning!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 13, 2022 17:51:08 GMT -8
Dang, if the color peaks that early I’ll miss the best… heading to Maine mid-Oct.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 13, 2022 17:51:35 GMT -8
As for the OP’s choice, I think the relative drive times would decide me!
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 13, 2022 18:51:44 GMT -8
As for the OP’s choice, I think the relative drive times would decide me! That’s definitely in the mix: I just got back mid August from a swing out to California: 7,900 miles, six weeks.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Sept 14, 2022 9:34:37 GMT -8
A lot of the weather websites have foliage maps. During the change season a few miles in a different direction can mean much better leaves so it is worth consulting them when approaching your hikes dates. It might be a really good year this year. The trees are a little stressed from drought-y conditions but if it continues into the fall like it is now it will be a great leaf change. Its been warm days and cool dry nights recently with little rain and wind.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 14, 2022 10:24:06 GMT -8
but if it continues into the fall like it is now it will be a great leaf change. This is what I'm hoping for as I have 8/9 day hike planned for the shore of Lake Superior.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 14, 2022 10:39:03 GMT -8
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Post by cweston on Sept 14, 2022 11:20:42 GMT -8
If I were doing a long road trip to Yellowstone, I’d want to get extra bang for that time investment by also getting in some high country hiking elsewhere in the GY area, like the Winds or Beartooths, or John’s beloved Southern Absaroka. That, of course, would be super dicey in October, which is why I’d select the NH option if it were me driving from PA.
Now, if it were early to mid September? Go west, young man!
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 14, 2022 15:08:18 GMT -8
^thats a good point^
I was pairing it with some Grand Teton time but even so that late I was looking at running into weather. I think I’m largely reacting to my bad timing this summer where I drove though the area in a complete downpour with no flexibility in my schedule to extend into better weather. Otoh the following days in the Bighorn NF were glorious.
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