Happy October everyone! As I mentioned before, I’m going to be highlighting some of my favorite Autumn photographs throughout this glorious season!🍁
“Before I really discovered Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, when I first started making yearly Autumnal pilgrimages up here, my favorite backpacking stretch became a section of the Appalachian/Long Trail that you can access from and/or near Gifford Woods State Park basically right in the center (or heart) of Vermont.
The trail (packed full with rocks and roots as is typical of the Northeast!), takes you through a magnificent forest of Beech, Birch and towering old Sugar Maples as you climb your way towards both Pico and Killington summits. The higher you go, more coniferous forest begins to dominate and you truly enter a different world from the one below.
I haven’t hiked it in the Fall that recently, although I did enjoy a Winter Solstice backpack there a few years ago which you may or may not see a result of in my portfolio’s future!😉… But of the few years of early October backpacks I did there in the mid-to-late 2010’s, my experiences were always magical.
From crisp sunny days with glowing oranges and reds to damp, fog, mist and rain creating otherworldly realms in these ancient mountains, I have experienced a lot of what Mother Nature can throw at you in this relatively short stretch of mileage.
And not to mention wildlife sights and sounds - I remember one evening hiking past an abundance of packs of glowing eyes in the dark wondering what exactly what it was watching me. Only later to hear wild yips and howls of coyotes echoing in the night. I’ve experienced this a few times here, as well as the hoots and howls of owls, both of which add a wonderful touch to the October ambiance if you ask me!🎃
I guess what all of this boils down to is this - ever since I have begun exploring New England, Vermont in particular, I have strongly felt that if a Season (in this case Autumn) has a heart and that heart has a Place, it is buried deep in the Green Mountains of Vermont, protected by the ancient forest that surrounds it…
On this particular morning, I awoke pre-dawn from my deep forest backcountry site and hiked close to a mile up to this lovely overlook I’ve always admired in the damp, yet crisp, cool October air to await full early sunlight highlighting the brilliant blanket of Autumn foliage. From the glowing Maples in the hills and valleys below, to the central Fir, to the bordering Birch trees acting skeletal, if you will - all of it encompassing the beating heart of the Place and the Season.”
All my best,
Brandon
P.S. - And in case you missed yesterday’s email, here’s a quick link to go back to the post to find out about a special offering for a limited time…
www.brandonklinewnp.com/trailblog/2025/9/30/greetings-from-the-northeast-kingdom-and-a-special-autumn-offering