What Does Past Peak Mean in Fall Foliage Terms?
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24I was asked this week about, my opinion on past peak colors, and was it still beautiful? (I get asked these questions a lot)
First, early color, peak color, and past peak color are ALL subjective and in the eye of the beholder. Someone who has never seen peak fall color is usually blown away by the early colors. It’s only after they hear from old and jaded leaf peepers like you and me that they start wanting more.
Next, I want to once again try to explain the process of fall color progression. Imagine if you will, a giant tidal wave flowing down from Canada. This is real, sort of. It’s a wave of cool to cold air flowing into the Northeastern US from Canada. It’s also known as the jet stream.
Generally, it starts out at higher elevations and if it continues to push southward, it will start to move into the lower elevations, but just as I’ve said before, it’s always different.
Basically, this can be caused by a wave of cold air moving down into a valley and then for many different reasons it stays there and the weatherman will tell folks to cover their more sensitive plants till morning. This frosty valley could start developing well before all the valleys around it. It may not happen again for years. Remember, I said, it always arrives differently every year!
Cold and Frosty Nights
Even though the weatherman is calling for slightly above temps in New England in a given fall, it doesn’t mean autumn will be canceled, far from it. The shortening of the days with less sunlight has already started the fall color-turning process. Warm air only slows this process.
What is Jeff’s “perfect” transition into fall?
My perfect summer with a transition into fall would have a hot August 80-90s and then near the end of August the heat will break and the daytime temps suddenly hit the low 80s to upper 70s. As we get into the first half of September we spend our days in the 60s-70s and we would have lows in the 50s to upper 40s.
At mid-Sept, our daytime highs flirt with the low 60s with a few lower 70s with our lows steadily in the 40s with some lows around freezing.
Hard freeze versus gentle freeze
Generally, there is a differing opinion as to whether a hard freeze is bad or good. My opinion is that getting down into the 20s is bad. I have no proof but take it for what it is, my opinion.
Generally, foliage experts (anyone who has lived in New England for a period of years will consider themselves experts), agree that sunny days with daytime temps in the low 70s and nights that border on the frosty side (35ish) are perfect for the New England fall foliage colors to develop.
So, is past peak fall color, still beautiful?
So, “past peak” means many things to many people. Most time, as the leaves lose their “peak” color and brightness, they will get duller and darker and they will either still be on the tree or they will be on the ground. Especially after a windy or stormy day.
All of this “past peak fall color” can be just as glorious as the mystical and highly elusive “peak” so many will look for. To me, the definition of “peak” is more of a state of mind than an actual event.
Here is an example. If you look at a small hill on ANY given day, none of the trees will be in fall color all the same. In mid-Sept, there may be one or more trees that for some reason are feeling stressed, so on this fine day they are bright red, but the rest of the hill is mostly green.
In a week or two, half the trees on this small hill are yellow, orange, or red while the early ones are past peak or even bare. But if you are in the state of mind that takes in the whole hill, you are ecstatic that you found “peak” when in reality the trees at the bottom are well past “peak” so by MY literal definition (Jeff’s peak definition) All trees and all branches have to be turning or turned by at least 75% or more, but NOT past peak yet.
Basically, it doesn’t happen for everyone, every year. You literally have to be in the right place at the right time.
- To me, if 50% of the trees have turned it’s great to see.
- To actually see 75% of all the trees in full color in one area is enough to cause heart failure.
- if I was to see 100%, then that would probably mean I’m on my way to fall foliage heaven. I’m not in a hurry for that.
Generally, just as the fall colors come in at different speeds it goes away at differing speeds. So for some of you, past peak can be just as thrilling as early fall colors. If you keep waiting for the mythical “peak” then you are not enjoying what you have in front of you.
I don’t intend to sound too philosophical here, but isn’t this also the secret to happiness in life? So Peak or past peak, whatever you call it, we all want to see it and hold on to it. The best way to do that is to take lots of pictures. I look at all my pictures all winter long, as I’m either writing or thinking about articles. Whether the image is early fall color, peak color, or past fall color, I’m enjoying them all.
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
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Coming to Kancamagus on October 14; we will, as best you can tell, be “on time?”
AS of right now you should be close, might be a bit past, but should still be nice. But if you can come earlier next year maybe 10 Oct… If you don’t see what you want you will only have to go south 20-40 miles into the lakes region (Conway and Tamworth) google them on my site. Your get some ideas.
Coming to Kancamagus on October 14; we will, as best you can tell, be “on time?”
AS of right now you should be close, might be a bit past, but should still be nice. But if you can come earlier next year maybe 10 Oct… If you don’t see what you want you will only have to go south 20-40 miles into the lakes region (Conway and Tamworth) google them on my site. Your get some ideas.
Love, Love, Love the following statement: To me, if 50% of the trees have turned it’s great to see.
To actually see 75% of all the trees in full color in one area is enough to cause heart failure.
if I was to see 100%, then that would probably mean I’m on my way to fall foliage heaven. I’m not in a hurry for that.
I also imagine my pathway to Heaven will be peak fall foliage lined! Great post, yet again!
🙂 thank You…
Love, Love, Love the following statement: To me, if 50% of the trees have turned it’s great to see.
To actually see 75% of all the trees in full color in one area is enough to cause heart failure.
if I was to see 100%, then that would probably mean I’m on my way to fall foliage heaven. I’m not in a hurry for that.
I also imagine my pathway to Heaven will be peak fall foliage lined! Great post, yet again!
🙂 thank You…
I remember 1997 foliage season – everything ! was peak in most of White Mtns. New Hampshire and in a large part of Vermont – all red, red, red. It was gorgeous and that was foliage Heaven for us. Our 2 week vacation was a spectacular time.
Wish I was here then, 2013 was the best year of reds that I’ve seen so far
I remember 1997 foliage season – everything ! was peak in most of White Mtns. New Hampshire and in a large part of Vermont – all red, red, red. It was gorgeous and that was foliage Heaven for us. Our 2 week vacation was a spectacular time.
Wish I was here then, 2013 was the best year of reds that I’ve seen so far
Great article and so true!!!
Great article and so true!!!
Hi, Just found your great info and awesome photos. Heading to North Conway on October 13-20. Will i be lucky? Sole purpose is photography. Any location suggestions? From SoCal so no idea on the area. If i was to go somewhere else 17-20- where would you suggest that is within a few hours? Portland? Can’t wait.. Love your photos.
you should be there about right but you also could also need to explore south from there. Conway to Tamworth should be very nice. for location check out my page in New Hampshire to get you started. https://jeff-foliage.com/foliage-articles/locations-state/new-hampshire/
Hi, Just found your great info and awesome photos. Heading to North Conway on October 13-20. Will i be lucky? Sole purpose is photography. Any location suggestions? From SoCal so no idea on the area. If i was to go somewhere else 17-20- where would you suggest that is within a few hours? Portland? Can’t wait.. Love your photos.
you should be there about right but you also could also need to explore south from there. Conway to Tamworth should be very nice. for location check out my page in New Hampshire to get you started. https://jeff-foliage.com/foliage-articles/locations-state/new-hampshire/
How can I sent you an e-mail picture?
How can I sent you an e-mail picture?
I left a comment yesterday however, I’m unable to find it to add. Anyway, peek and past, an area of beautiful peek is so warming, but a little of past peek I find shows movement of the season.
I left a comment yesterday however, I’m unable to find it to add. Anyway, peek and past, an area of beautiful peek is so warming, but a little of past peek I find shows movement of the season.
I love getting back on your blog every August when the first pre-season NFL games start! Living in New Orleans, we rarely have any trees that turn any colors at all, so I live vicariously through your posts all fall. Peak, past peak, turning–they’re all beautiful to me. Thanks for the great work, and fingers crossed for a beautiful foliage season!
I love getting back on your blog every August when the first pre-season NFL games start! Living in New Orleans, we rarely have any trees that turn any colors at all, so I live vicariously through your posts all fall. Peak, past peak, turning–they’re all beautiful to me. Thanks for the great work, and fingers crossed for a beautiful foliage season!