The “Annual Fall Colors Hike” is always something of a guess: some years the trees haven’t turned yet, other years they’ve already turned and the trees are bare. This year, the timing was perfect.
Unfortunately, that didn’t make for quite the perfect hike. I spent the entire hike being surrounded by hundreds thousands billions gazillions of tiny little flies.
In all the years I’ve been doing this hike, I’ve never seen flies. Maybe a few late season ones, but hundreds of baby flies? That’s only something one usually sees in the spring. Where did they all come from? I have no idea. Maybe the late season heat wave or something.
I’m glad I took a lot of pictures, since I didn’t get to stand anywhere for very long enjoying the views of the trees. Heck, I spent most of the last half of the hike holding a piece of cloth I found in my pack up against my face, since they had a propensity to land there.
Oh well, at least they weren’t mosquitoes.
The main hike write-up from last year is here.
A couple of photos are below, but please do look at the full gallery on Flickr here.
Large maple tree near the start of the hike
Fall maple leaf
The view over the Antelope Valley was exceptionally clear Sunday
Full gallery from the hike here.
The GeekHiker 
I was just wondering where you had disappeared off to. Thought maybe you had met someone interesting enough that you couldn’t tell us the details. I’m going to watch CHUCK now. I know it’s late but I can’t help it 🙂
By: Mrs Chuck Bartowski on October 27, 2008
at 9:38 pm
Those are so pretty! Hiking with bugs always takes away from the experience for me. There’s nothing worse than having to wave your hand in front of your face the entire time you’re walking. Hopefully the heat will cease soon and the bugs will go with it!
By: Mel Heth on October 27, 2008
at 10:23 pm
The pictures are BEAUTIFUL. They make me wanna call in to work and go find some nature to commune with.
*sigh*
By: Ms. H on October 28, 2008
at 4:18 am
I love hiking in the fall…
By: kara on October 28, 2008
at 6:03 am
Great pictures GH. Leaves are turning here but I haven’t gone out to take pictures yet.
Bugs suck. ‘Cloth against face’ – sounds a lot like me on Topa Topa with the bag over my head.
By: Homer-Dog on October 28, 2008
at 6:34 am
Your photography skills always keep me coming back for more. Unfortunately, my fall ride got postponed till this coming weekend. It’s going to be COLD! 🙂
By: Aaron on October 28, 2008
at 7:39 am
Amazing…. sucks about the bugs…
might have to change the current GH picture on my desktop to one of these…. if you don’t mind of course. =]
By: brittanyruth on October 28, 2008
at 8:22 am
Pics are BEAUTIFUL!!
By: narami on October 28, 2008
at 1:41 pm
The pics are gorgeous! I haven’t gotten out on a hike yet to see the fall color up close because it keeps raining on the weekends.
By: Anya on October 28, 2008
at 2:39 pm
The picture of the maple leaf is stunning.
By: Dingo on October 28, 2008
at 4:55 pm
I was wondering where you’ve been… now I know – off hiking!
By: charlotte harris on October 29, 2008
at 7:02 am
I love Fall.
And as usual your eye got some great pics.
By: just a girl on October 29, 2008
at 8:56 am
I’m so jealous of your nice weather. It’s freezing here and frankly it makes me very sad.
By: cripkitty on October 30, 2008
at 8:22 am
I love your hiking posts. The pictures you take are wonderful. 🙂
By: Rachel on October 30, 2008
at 5:31 pm
Mrs Chuck Bartowski – No, no meeting.
Mel Heth – Yeah, the bugs usually go away in the winter. Thankfully.
Ms. H – Thank you. I’m sure you will.
Kara – It is a great season to hike in.
Homer-Dog – Thanks. I meant to link to that post, actually, but I, uh, completely forgot…
Aaron – You’re too kind. Cold hiking = no fun!
BrittanyRuth – Sure, go ahead!
Narami – Thanks!
Anya – So go hike in the rain!
Dingo – It did turn out nice, didn’t it?
Charlotte – On occasion…
Just A Girl – Thank you for the compliment!
CripKitty – I dunno, with temps still high, I’m starting to wonder if summer will ever end.
Rachel – Thanks!
By: geekhiker on October 30, 2008
at 10:19 pm
“I dunno, with temps still high, I’m starting to wonder if summer will ever end.”
I can’t tell you how that breaks my heart. Summer’s gone here. Gone gone.
*sigh* When’s school over again? 🙂
By: cripkitty on October 31, 2008
at 6:26 am