Leaf Peep IV
The mountains of western Maine are relatively low and broad. Like a series of undulations across the landscape. The result is wide, rounded ridges with very wide valleys (miles wide) between. The roads between locations tend to follow the ridges much of the time. The colors we saw yesterday were amazing but often what we saw were vast vistas and much of the color was blended and muted because of the distance.
The White Mountains of north central New Hampshire are true mountains. They stick up out of the landscape. Highest things in New England. They are not a range with individual peaks in a row but are more cluster like. The result is mountains coming together to form deep narrow valleys (canyons) with small rivers and creeks flowing through them. The roads tend to follow the course of the rivers. Yesterday we saw spectacular color mostly from above and looking over vast landscapes. Today we were down right in the middle of it. And the first part of the drive was in 100% color change with little leaf drop. Two lane road with dense tree cover on the sides and hanging over the road – colors of all kinds. When there was a break in the trees you looked over a small river to a hillside washed in colors. On the other side of the road was the hillside/mountain slope. Right there, not some distance away, and densely covered with trees. So close you could see the individual leaves. Much of the time there were no evergreens mixed in, just a mountain of color that rose hundreds of feet from the canyon floor.
After parking the carbus we drove a loop that included a stretch that is designated an official American Scenic Drive. This road is on the south of the White Mountains and a couple thousand feet lower than what we drove earlier in the day. Saw the whole gamut of color change here. Many trees still green or just lightening, trees in mixed change, trees in full color change, and a new element, trees past prime. A number of trees with half their leaves already fallen (starts at the top first). Drove through numerous flurries of falling leaves. Kinda neat. The falling leaves were bone dry and crackled as you drove over them on the road. Also kinda neat.
Below is a sampling of things we saw today. Photos do not come near to true intensity of colors.
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