Blinding Reds in the Zealand Valley

[grouseking]

The theme for Saturday's hike should have been unseasonable warmth, humidity, rain, fog, mosquitoes and even yellow jackets (something I have never seen in the whites before). But for me, it was all about the red...well the yellow and the orange too....but especially the red. My fav hike in the whites during fall is thru Zealand Valley and notch, and yesterday DID NOT disappoint. And despite the cloudiness, it was the most vibrant display from the swamp maples that I have ever seen. Pictures don't even do it justice.

So we were off...a litlte bit a peek a boo sun shining thru the Zealand Rain forest...

this struck me, because on Zealand Mtn, the birches are already past peak.

Not sure if this was caused by a nearby beaver dam, Irene, or both...but there is a small section of flooded trail, right by the "Z" bridge. It can be kind of skirted around.

contemplating the never ending beauty

getin towards Zealand Pond, can you tell it was pouring? I can't

I'm not a fan of Zealand Falls, but these yellows prettied it up quite a bit

Up at the hut, lookin around

More where that came from in a few...

 

[grouseking]

Continuing on into Zealand Notch

In zealand notch, looking at a lower arm of the Zeacliff mtn

such a steep SOB

Spot the hut

Ethan Pond Trail with its Sunday best on

Thoreau Falls area

Bonds shrouded thanks to upslope rain showers

prob my fav leaf of the day

the only thing that might be as red as the swamp maples

man....

Check out that brookie, out of Zealand Pond

If you like foliage, get into the Zealand area ASAP. We might be having mild weather and light winds now, but the fact that the birches are already almost done on the side of Zeacliff leads me to believe the leaves will be past peak in another week or so. Hope you liked the pics. They are some of my favs I've taken.

 

[TrishandAlex]

Gorgeous photos!! Guess autumn has arrived in the Whites -- beautiful!

 

[--M.]

Wow, that is incredible! I was following along, knowing each vantage, looking at the water, thinking "yeah, you could fish it, there's probably a few in there," and then WHAM! you put that trout in there! Wow, what pics! Thanks a ton, I'm gearing up to try soon!

I really noticed the mix of hardwoods and evergreens. The forest is definitely midway to softwood dominance, huh?

Great stuff!

 

[Summerset]

Amazing! The colors are so vibrant. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Guthook]

Oh jeez, I've gotta get out there quick! I don't know if I'll have time until just over a week from now, but those pictures are going to make it awfully hard to wait.

 

[audrey]

Wow! I'm usually too late for the Zeacliff panorama and only yellows are left. Thanks!

 

[surf88]

Wow, what did you shoot those reds with. I cant seem to get the red green contrast to come out that vibrant. It doesnt look like you used a filter, or PSed em.

 

[MichaelJ]

His EXIF info says a Canon Powershot S3.

Gorgeous photos! I can't believe how quickly the colors appears (last weekend's cold snap?) and that we're already peaking up there. Time to grab the good camera, for sure!

 

[DougPaul]

Wow, what did you shoot those reds with. I cant seem to get the red green contrast to come out that vibrant. It doesnt look like you used a filter, or PSed em.

I had a similar question for GK:
Was any post-processing done or is the camera set to enhance the color saturation?

Doug

 

[Kevin Judy and Emma]

Nice!

Some truly great shots GK! Nice work! Thanks for taking us there with you!

KDT

 

[grouseking]

Gorgeous photos!! Guess autumn has arrived in the Whites -- beautiful!

Thanks Trish! It has...better in some areas (like Zealand), but the other regions will be catching up soon.

Wow, that is incredible! I was following along, knowing each vantage, looking at the water, thinking "yeah, you could fish it, there's probably a few in there," and then WHAM! you put that trout in there! Wow, what pics! Thanks a ton, I'm gearing up to try soon!

I really noticed the mix of hardwoods and evergreens. The forest is definitely midway to softwood dominance, huh?

Great stuff!

Yeah I do think so. I read that most of the whites were all spruce and fir before the major logging took place, so in an odd way, we can thank master Logger Henry. Weird to think, isn't it? Thanks for the comments too!! It has been my fav foliage hike thus far.

Amazing! The colors are so vibrant. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks!

Oh jeez, I've gotta get out there quick! I don't know if I'll have time until just over a week from now, but those pictures are going to make it awfully hard to wait.

The more I think about it, it will prob be peaking next week, though there might not be as many reds since leaves tend to fall pretty quickly, with rain or wind. Good luck!

Wow! I'm usually too late for the Zeacliff panorama and only yellows are left. Thanks!

Hope you can get out there!

 

[The Unstrung Harp]

Breathtaking! Wow!

 

[grouseking]

Wow, what did you shoot those reds with. I cant seem to get the red green contrast to come out that vibrant. It doesnt look like you used a filter, or PSed em.

His EXIF info says a Canon Powershot S3.

Gorgeous photos! I can't believe how quickly the colors appears (last weekend's cold snap?) and that we're already peaking up there. Time to grab the good camera, for sure!

I had a similar question for GK:
Was any post-processing done or is the camera set to enhance the color saturation?

Doug

Very little editing took place. Honestly, if I had brightened up the trees, it would have been a crappy blur. Some I "helped" along a little bit because the forest was just so dark on Saturday during the downpours. I used a UV filter for a lot of the shots, and then towards late afternoon I said screw it, and took it off for most pics. The only thing that was used was a foliage setting on the camera, though it really didn't make that much of a difference. I was in awe of the color display saturday, like usual when I am in the Zealand area.

Some truly great shots GK! Nice work! Thanks for taking us there with you!

KDT

Thanks Kevin! Glad you liked.