Shenandoah SunsetSunset from Skyline Drive This post is almost real-time. That is if a whole year does not count. I just had another opportunity to witness and photograph couple wonderful sunsets and a sunrise from the Skyline Drive of Shenandoah National Park. This photo, however, is from my 2013 visit. Since I did not have an opportunity yet to share this wonderful painting by Mother Nature with you I thought this was a great opportunity.

in 2013, fall was a little behind compared to 2014. The last week of October colors peaked and the difference between the beginning and end of the week was huge. This year, Shenandoah Valley and the lower parts of the mountain range are at or slightly past peak already and the first glimpse at the northern portion of the Skyline Drive clearly showed the peak was way past. Most of the oak trees in that area had very few leaves left and were almost bare.

The good news was that almost all hikes from Skyline Drive lead down the mountain side, and significantly. Our waterfall chasing hikes had us descending 1,200 feet or more. And that drop was enough to find plenty of color. The southern part of the park with lower elevations, and different trees, also still offers more color as well as the views down into the valleys. It's another great outdoors trip that I hope to share with you soon in photos. Since I have not managed sharing the 2013 expedition yet in full I am not sure when that will be though. In the meantime, enjoy this view and go check your back yard to see if there are any colors left. They won't be there for long!

And while I am totally enjoying this fall blast of color and warmth before they're gone for 6 long months, I am already plotting plans for winter additions to my Western New York gallery and the Winter Collection.

Have fun!

PS: Composed and published thanks to the wonders of technology. Ever since my camera got two SD card slots I stopped dragging the computer on our trips.