Welcome to the fall color show! Part 1 - Rockefeller State Park

LongIslandPiney

Explorer
Jan 11, 2006
484
0
Decided to get out of the pine barrens, and off Long Island entirely this week a couple of times. I was amazed at how much more land has been preserved up in Westchester county, and how the development has been confined to towns and cities, leaving the lands around them mostly untouched. There are lots of large preserves. The trails are in very good shape and wide, unlike many of those in the pine barrens which are overgrown and narrow. I can see doing Westchester more in the summer as I wont have to worry about ticks on the wide trails that were old carriage paths.
Managed to get a nice hike in, on Friday in Rockefeller State Park which is near Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County. I was really impressed with the place.
Started off on the Old Croton Aquaduct trail, on the west side of the park.
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Now heading east on the Witch's Spring Creek trail.
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Heading toward the Pocantico River.
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The Pocantico River. We definately dont have anything like this on Long Island, as our rivers are flat and slow moving.
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Sun went over a cloud as I continued to head east.
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Intense yellow even without sunshine!
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Good thing the skies cleared out abit as I headed into the meadow. Some real intense color here, with the palisades in the background looking west across the Hudson.
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After the meadows I crossed Sleepy Hollow road and continued east toward Swan Lake. More color awaited!
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Finally arriving at Swan Lake.
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My favorite photo of the lake.
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Back into the woods heading east toward Pleasantville.
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Definately will be back next year! No place on Long Island, not even Connetquot, can come close when it comes to the autumnal colors up in Rockefeller State Park!
 

whippoorbill

Explorer
Jul 29, 2003
675
121
65
Bridgeton
Very nice, indeed!

Does anybody else remember enjoying fall colors this late in the season before? It's nearly Thanksgiving, for crying out loud.

Times are a changin' ...

Bill
 

LARGO

Piney
Sep 7, 2005
1,552
132
53
Pestletown
Wow,
I just don't think I can find the right words.
A couple shots actually took my breath away. Thanks man!!

g.
 

LongIslandPiney

Explorer
Jan 11, 2006
484
0
The leaves changed late this year due to having one of the warmest Octobers on record. It seems the summers are long and the winters are short. I believe it is another sign of global warming. They say polar sea ice forms a month later and breaks up a month sooner than 100 years ago. This has an effect on the cold air masses, which form over the ice. Less ice means less cold air masses.
 

LARGO

Piney
Sep 7, 2005
1,552
132
53
Pestletown
The lateness of the leaf turn is highly noticable.
I expected explosive color on my October canoe run and it was moderate at best. I should have been out this past weekend. I concur that there is something to it.
Thanks all the same for replacing my missed views with your incredible, and yes, calender worthy images.

g.
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,341
327
Near Mt. Misery
Great photos! Definitely late fall colors this year but I would be hesitant to blame it entirely on global warming. I've noticed the swamp maples are particularly nice with deep red hues right now.

Jeff
 
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