This past month I had the opportunity to travel all over the state of Maryland, and even PA. From the eastern shore of MD to the south west corner of Pennsylvania, I experienced the best that this amazingly short season has to offer, and of course I brought my camera with me so I could share it here.
My first taste of fall this year was on a drive from to my brother's house in Pennsylvania at Kooser State Park. Sloane and I were on our way to meet our newest niece Amelia, and help celebrate her sisters second birthday with the family. The sun was rising behind us as we drove west, and with stormy skies way off in the distance, the show was fantastic. I first noticed some color as we approached the foothill mountains, near Hagerstown MD. The colors became more vibrant as we headed north into Pennsylvania. We pulled into to my brother's place just as it began to snow.
Snow and fall colors in early october at Kooser Lake state park, PA
Kooser Lake's lone goose resident.
Snow through the pines at Kooser Lake.
Freshly fallen maple leaves.
PA wildflowers and snow.
Big ol' snowflakes and fall colors at Kooser Lake.
The foot bridge over Kooser Run, covered with freshly fallen leaves and a light dusting of snow.
I had an assignment for a client early in morning in Cumberland MD, so I decided to drive out the night before and camp at Rocky Gap State Park for the night, which was about 5 miles away from where I was needed in the AM. This park has a huge camping area, 279 campsites and cabins. It was almost completely empty, aside from a few RV's and travel trailers. I had an entire loop to myself, and grabbed a spot down near the shore of lake Habeeb.
Home sweet home for the evening.
Evening hike up Evitt's mountain trail to watch the sunset.
I had never been here before, but I read that there was a great view from the top of the ridge behind the campsite. So I packed the some dinner and my camera and set out to find it.
I made it to what I thought would be the overlook to find it was actually another 1.2 miles up the mountain - and that someone at the park service forgot to spell check... So I sucked it up and hiked the last mile quickly to get to my dinner spot before the sun went down.
Just before the overlook, I crossed the Mason Dixon line, and had surprisingly hiked to my home state of Pennsylvania.
Fall colors in the valley below Evitt's mountain.
Dinner with a view.
Dusk at the Mason Dixon Line.
After I had eaten, I packed up the gear, turned on the flashlights, and headed back down the mountain. 3.5 miles in the dark takes some time, but it was worth it as always.
I was up early the following morning to catch the sunrise from an overlook a few miles away, this one I was able to drive to. Dan's Rock overlook is part of Dan's Mountain State Park and has an incredible view of the mountains in western Maryland.
Sunrise from Dan's Rock Overlook
Unfortunately, since it is so accessible, this spot is also quite popular for cell towers, as well as jerks with spray paint....
Fall colors from Dan's Rock Overlook.
On my way back, I stopped at Green Ridge State Forest, to check out some camping spots and see the colors from an overlook on the Potomac river.
Overlooking the potomac river, this is part of the Paw Paw Bends area.
The following day I was in Cambridge, MD on the eastern shore to photograph another event. I brought along the Folbot and was able to get a few hours of paddling in on some tidal water. It was fantastic to be in a small, snaking estuary again. It was very reminiscent of paddling around Charleston, although a bit colder.
Fall colors on the eastern shore of MD.
Almost low tide on the Transquaking River in eastern MD.
A man made channel on the Transquaking river, the water was really moving through here, the wrong way....
These two guys were on their way back from hunting water fowl, I wished I had a motor on my boat at this point, by the time I put my camera down, I had floated backwards at least 20 yards.
The last weekend in October, Sloane and I took a ride to northern Maryland to hike at Rocks State Park, and see some more fall colors. We stopped at Killgore falls, the second highest free falling waterfall in MD, which is only 17ft. This park is very accessible, so of course there were lots of people, but I was able to get some shots with out any folks in them.
View of Killgore falls from the bottom.
Killgore falls, on Falling Branch creek.
Afterwards we took a hike up a small mountain to an overlook that had a pretty spectacular view.
A great view from the top of Queen and King seat in Rocks State Park.