Atmosphere Comparison

[Jim]

The endless chatter of weather.

[big_load]

My son was canoeing Boundary Waters in 1999 during the huge blow-down there on the 4th of July. 600 square miles of forest blew down. He (who is relatively fearless) said it was amazing.

Some of my paddling buddies live up there and their pics of the damage were amazing. I'd really like to get back to Quetico.

[azbackpackr]

I would love to go there, never have been there. Would have to go in a group or have a very light kayak. Those big canoes weigh about 80 pounds, and I wouldn't be able to portage one on my shoulders like they do. My son went for 9 days, lots of portages. They crossed into Quetico the very first day and stayed in Canada most of the trip.

[big_load]

They crossed into Quetico the very first day and stayed in Canada most of the trip.

That's the way to do it; Quetico has much more solitude, especially if your trip is long enough to get in deep. We went for 11 days in '95. Our canoes only weighed 65 pounds, but that seemed heavy enough on the long portages, especially in calf-deep mud.

[jdcollard]

Old cycling friends have come to town, and we are hiking Escudilla on Sunday. So I can get you the tourist leaf report if you want it. It is going to be crowded up there, I would guess we will see 30 to 50 hikers. UGH!!! But I am mainly going because I need something steep to walk up. And to hang with my very fit friends.

We might see you up there too!

[azbackpackr]

Should I wear a funny hat?

[jdcollard]

We might push it off until Monday...you know football is on Sundays...and the darn Packers play at 10, so unless we go after the game, we are going to push it until Monday and go when it's less crowded

[azbackpackr]

Football? Is that the one where they use the funny shaped ball? ;)

[jdcollard]

was an awesome day up on Escudilla!!

[azbackpackr]

Dittos to that!

[Jim]

Don't know how it is on Elden. It didn't look like you had much color for the HAZ event, and with yesterday's wind the aspen leaves on Elden may have been blown off just as they came into color. I was going to hike it yesterday or today, but somehow I'm sore from Saturday. I wasn't sore the last two times I went down to the bottom and Phantom Ranch, so maybe it was from me getting sick two weeks ago and being out of shape. I have done Elden a number of times and I thought that would have kept me in shape, but I guess not. Either way, I may go up tomorrow or later in the week to check on the aspens. There will still be oaks and a few other species that have to change over the next couple of weeks at Elden's base and around town, but with all the rain and the continuation of mild temperatures, they may not be impressive. As Jake can confirm, once Elden is done, it's time to do Oak Creek Stuff, and that is where the impressive color is with the maples.

[chumley]

with yesterday's wind the aspen leaves on Elden may have been blown off

I don't know where it was windy yesterday, but in Hart Prairie, Abineau/Bear Jaw, there was never more than a 5mph breeze. And I didn't leave until sunset. I don't think that there were any leaves blown down this past weekend.

But if you haven't had a chance to see the tornado track up at the Nordic Center, its worth a visit. That's some wind!

[Jim]

I drove past that on Saturday. We had a ENE wind, so you must have been protected. Consult the NWS for details. Elden always gets it worse than town, so our 30 MPH gusts in the morning easily could have been 40+ up there, and that would rip the yellow leaves clean off.

[Jim]

Not that I expect a lot of people to hike Elden, or to hike it soon for the color, but this weekend may be the best time to see the aspens on Elden. They are near peak now, and will probably stick around until winds rip them off sometime during the storm which may come in Sunday. After the aspens, there are the oaks, but they're mostly lower in elevation and not always reliable on Elden. The base areas like on the Fat Man's Loop, the Sandy Seep Trail and by the Dry Lake Hills can be good, but often it seems they just turn brown on Elden.

[chumley]

Monday and Tuesday look especially stormy. It'll be nice to see how low the snow level gets. The top of the peaks may have a pretty impressive blanket of snow for October by the time next week is over.

[Jim]

Nah, I think most of the stuff from last week is gone, and this stuff isn't going to be much. I'm just wondering how this month may or may not play out as an indicator of the December -February period. In 2006, October was pretty wet and the winter dry, in 2007 I think September and November were wet and December very wet. I guess, in other words, you really can't tell. Still, I'd like to know what to plan for in 2 months. Snow, or none at all?

[Jim]

It was nasty up here yesterday, and we had some light rain after dark. Now its clear and we appear to be in a nice pocket of sun. Hopefully it will last and I can hike Elden to see some of that precious color we all rant and rave about. Ranting and raving, with delusions, paranoia, and occasional word salad, all for color.

Might get a good deal of rain in these parts during the week. I wonder if we will top 3 or even 4 inches for the month. They predicted drier than normal, where is this? Just keep it up to late December and everyone is happy. Last year, color on Elden peaked in late September and was pronounced in Oak Creek around the 23rd of October. I expect we still have a couple of weeks before the maples really open up down there. Anyone care to speculate as to how far I could get with boots on in West Fork? Might be nice to finally do that.

[chumley]

The maples were looking pretty nice Saturday up on the rim (7,500 ft), and I think they'll be at their peak there next weekend. So for Oak Creek, I'd think it'll be at least two weeks, maybe more for prime color. http://www.hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=12873
And we got a sprinkling of rain in the valley this morning too which is always a nice occurrence in October!

[azbackpackr]

If this rain keeps up in the desert areas there will be a better showing of wildflowers in March.

[hippiepunkpirate]

Anyone care to speculate as to how far I could get with boots on in West Fork? Might be nice to finally do that.

"The Subway" is about 3 miles in? It's basically water wall-to-wall. West Fork is an absolute zoo unless you get there at sunrise...

[skatchkins]

The west end of West Fork had only a few trees turning to yellow this past weekend of the 16th.
A small stand of aspen looked good on Casner and there was a little more orange going on but nothing bright or photo worthy yet.