X-Acknowledge-To: <JAS@RICVM>
Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 92 14:44:34 GMT
From:         James A Schaefer <JAS@RICVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Autumn in New England
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.travel-l

On Mon, 28 Sep 92 10:26:00 CDT <E10JBH1@NIU> said:
>Hello!
>
>I'll be in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine for 5 days starting
>this Friday, October 2nd.  I'm wondering where are some of the best
>places to go for viewing the autumn colors in these 3 states.  Have
>the leaves started to change or will my trip be too soon?  Thanks
>for your advice!
>
>John H.
>E10JBH1@NIU

Since I don't know where you're starting, I'll just mention a few places
that might fall into some line of your travels.

Western Massachusetts:  Route 7 from Great Barrington to North Adams.  Comes
very close to the Appalacian Trail which has some easy grades or some very
steep ones depending on your condition.  There's Bear Mountain State Park
and Housatonic Meadows for camping.

New Hampshire:  I'd go from Plymouth to Littleton, north on I-93 or state
                Route 3 which parallels the newer 93.  Take a left in
North Woodstock (go West) on 112 (114?) for about 5 miles and you'll
cross the Appalacian Trail again.  I believe this trail head goes up
to Mount Mousilakee (sp.?) which requires some strenuous climbing.
Continuing on Rt.3/I-93 will take you past Franconia Notch & the
Old Man in the Mountain, Franconia State Park.  Near Littleton, I've
stayed at Franstead Campground, a private one, which doesn't fill
up quite as fast as Franconia.  Call ahead for both.  To reach
Mt. Washington, I'd continue North and East on Rt. 302 which turns
south toward North Conway.  Along the way, you pass an excellent campground
whose name escapes me (Dolly Copp?) but is north of the Appalacian
Mountain Club (AMC) center.  The AMC also is located at the trail head
to Tuckermann's Ravine.   the first hut is about 1 1/2 hours up, but to
go the the summit of Mt. Washington from there is about another 2 1/2.
OR, you could drive up from the Eastern side (Rt.302), or take the
train up from the Littleton side (about $30-35 /each, AAA discount)

I have an aversion for North Conway, but if you like crowds and traffic
jams and upscale shopping with "discount" outlets, then this is the place.
It's also at the eastern terminus of the Kancamangus Highway that runs
to N. Woodstock at the western end.

Maine:  Bar Harbor (bah haw-bah) and Acadia National Park.  North of
        Bangor and Old Town (as in canoe) is Baxter State Park and
Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak.

Even little Rhody (Rhode Island) has some great foliage but it won't be
ready for this weekend.  If you try hiking near Mt. Washington or Katahdin,
prepare for the worst and stay near experienced hikers.  At the summit of
Washington, the reports have been roughly 45 high, 20 low (Fahrenheit), and
fog, rain, or snow can blow up any time.  Be prepared.

A short hike of a mile or more will leave many of the crowds
behind.  An especially easy, 45 minute to 1 hr hike is up to Lonesome
Lake from Franconia State Park.  With a bit more effort you can continue
up to Cannon Mt. for a view.  Don't overlook the ski trams that will also
get you to a summit for viewing, Loon, Cannon.

Enjoy your foliage trip, but know also that many will be out looking
with you!
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