by hatfield13

Smells Like Fall in the Mountains

With just a week left before the kids and I head back to school, we’ve been getting in our "one lasts" this week.  One last bike ride to get Italian ice at the stand downtown. One last walk to the beach with friends visiting their grandparents across the street.  And one last trip to Copperas Pond, one of our favorite short hikes in the Adirondacks, ending with a gorgeous, clear mountain swimming hole.  But it turns out, the mountain started autumn already, while nobody was looking…

Quick-moving clouds and a chilly breeze meant only the brave went swimming!  (I was happy reading an ARC of Megan Crewe’s GIVING UP THE GHOST on a rock.)

We looked for frogs — this pond is usually hopping with them — but only saw one, tucked in between some rocks and looking like he was ready to call it a summer.  The air even smelled different than it did last time we were here, just a couple warmer weeks ago.  Crisper, and with that mix of earth and leaves crushed under hiking boots.

I know for many of you reading this, it’s still summery-warm, still bathing suit and cookout weather. But this week, we saw sure signs that fall is just about here.  The mountains always know first….

15 Replies on “Smells Like Fall in the Mountains”

  1. Yep, we’re doing our ‘one last’ camping trip this weekend; next weekend, our ‘one last’ day trip (well, over-nighter) to Aspen…isn’t it interesting how you can almost smell fall? Today was hot, but underneath it, I could sense that autumn scent…

  2. Wow, living in SoCal now, I feel like I don’t know what season it is. Can it really be almost fall? Seems impossible somehow. Oh and btw, if you see some of those frogs again, get a pic! I *heart* frogs.

  7. It was 100 degrees here in SoCal today–not exactly fall-like yet!…

    That leaf picture could be used in your school visits for Gianna Z. :>)

  10. I don’t want to hear the F word yet! But yes, it’s here in the air too. Freezing cold nights this week and some of the trees are looking yellow at the top. I’m not ready…

    🙂

  11. You know, I love fall but August is just too early for it! Here in NY, it’s still in the 80s, but I’ve seen some leaves turning color and the acorns started dropping already too. What a short summer!

  12. No, I am clinging to every last shred of summer I can hold onto! I will ignore the red leaves and the quickly moving clouds! I will not notice the nights dipping into the 40s. And I will continue to go swimming in the lake!

  13. I’ve been to Copperas Pond!
    Usually I dread the fall. But this year I’m glad to see time passing quickly.
    And I’m sure it will be a Brilliant Fall, so to speak. 🙂

  14. The signs are definitely there. BD and I went for one last walk together before she flies to the Emerald Isle and we noticed a few golden trees on the opposite hill.

    I love fall, but I’m not sure I’m ready for the change of season.

  15. Missing the south even in “summer”

    Yesterday, the high was 61F here. In July, the temp never rose over 83F. I’m not in the mountains, but the trees are already starting to change. Hardly a summer at all…

    I love October in October and August in August and January in Florida.