A Blaze of Fall Color by Kayak: A Photoessay

By Vladimir Brezina
Posted on October 22, 2011

In New York City, the leaves are only just starting to turn. But farther north along the Hudson the fall colors must be well advanced.

For a number of years I used to go by train with my folding kayak to see the fall colors in the stretch of the Hudson just south of Albany, near Catskill and the town of Hudson. In Ramshorn Creek, a little winding creek off the Hudson just south of Catskill, I saw, about this time in October one year, the best fall colors ever—a vivid profusion of yellows, oranges, reds, purples, reflected in the green-brown waters of the creek against a crystalline fall blue sky.

It doesn’t look like I’ll have time to go up there this year. So here are some photos from that memorable trip. Even though photos can’t do the real experience of such colors justice, they do give some idea…

That evening at my campsite on Stockport Middle Ground, I was treated to an equally colorful sunset… I’ll write about camping along that stretch of the Hudson River, my favorite area that I’ve returned to many times in all seasons, in a future post! (Update October 10, 2012: it’s here.)

These and other fall foliage photos from that area are here.

14 responses to “A Blaze of Fall Color by Kayak: A Photoessay”

thepetalpusher | October 22, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Reply

Gorgeous! Looks like the weather was perfect and the water still enough to get these great photos! Love paddling!

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- Vladimir Brezina | October 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm | Reply
  
  Thanks!
  
  Actually, as I recall, outside in the Hudson proper it was quite windy that day, but in the creek, under the trees, the air was perfectly still and the water like a mirror…
  
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Doug | October 22, 2011 at 7:59 pm | Reply

Just beautiful, thanks for sharing.

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- Vladimir Brezina | October 23, 2011 at 12:12 am | Reply
  
  Glad you like it!
  
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Philip Orton | October 23, 2011 at 9:04 am | Reply

Thanks for taking us there! Amazing shots. Breathtaking!

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- Vladimir Brezina | October 23, 2011 at 11:56 am | Reply
  
  Thanks, Philip! And the peak fall colors in the city are still to come…
  
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scott2608 | January 13, 2013 at 1:17 am | Reply

Great sunset!

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- Vladimir Brezina | January 13, 2013 at 1:32 am | Reply
  
  Thank you!
  
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blueribbonfair | August 24, 2013 at 10:29 am | Reply

Amazing and peaceful. It makes me see feel Fall in the air.

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- Vladimir Brezina | August 24, 2013 at 1:17 pm | Reply
  
  Thanks! But hopefully Summer will hold Fall off just a bit longer… :-)
  
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  - blueribbonfair | August 25, 2013 at 12:39 pm | Reply
    
    What I do not like about Fall is the days get shorter. If fall and winter still had light until at least 7 I would not dread it so much.
    
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    - Vladimir Brezina | August 27, 2013 at 10:32 am |
      
      We hate the shortening days of Fall too. Summer is clearly over and winter is coming. On the other hand, the water is still warm, and there is often an Indian summer… And before it gets really cold, the solstice has come and gone and the days are lengthening again. So it’s all balanced—some good goes with some bad ;-)
      
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