Posted by James Walley on October 6, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Has anyone else tried the fall foliage hotline at (800) 354-4595 (ext. 6 for PNW)? I notice that the recording still mentions that it's "for the year 2008." Have they decided it's too early to put up a report for this year, or have they simply stopped offering the service? Does anyone know any other sources for foliage reports, particularly for Washington? (I know there are some Oregon-specific sources.) Thanks.
Posted by Mark Windom on October 6, 2009 at 9:46 PM
I think your best bet is to call the local Ranger station(s) for the area you are interested in....and talk to a ranger or naturalist, if possible. And follow the posts here as well. Also check out NW Hikers.
Posted by Austin Booth on October 6, 2009 at 10:52 PM
The Oregon fall foliage website I posted a link to a few posts back lists a hotline number (800) 547-5445. I haven't called it yet so I'm not sure if that number is Oregon specific or if you can get Washington specific info too.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on October 7, 2009 at 12:26 AM
I'll second Mark W's advice. When you call the local USFS office, CofC, Visitors Bureau or whatever, tell them you're a photographer and ask for suggestions about where and when the best conditions for fall color are. Also check the Washington Trails Assocation website for trail reports, http://www.wta.org.
That said, the best and most current photo-specific info can be had by asking here at PNWNP for the locations you're most interested in.
Posted by James Walley on October 10, 2009 at 5:45 AM
A follow-up: I called the Forest Service region 6 headquarters about the fact that their reports were still stuck in 2008. They must have had a big turnover there, because no one I talked to was even aware that there was such a national Forest Service hotline, let alone that they were supposed to have been contributing updates to it. (That "no one" includes the main receptionist, to whom I had to explain the whole thing at least three times, and whose reaction was -- I kid you not -- "Foil-age? I don't even know what foil-age is." ) It sounds like the last person I spoke to is going to get on the case, so maybe we'll get something before 2010.
Meanwhile, I'm not sure where to try this weekend. Apparently, both Rainier and the North Cascades highway portion of the park are not yet at peak. Similarly, the word out of Leavenworth is that there is color, but it's about a week away from being really good. The ranger at Olympic didn't seem to have any idea (he recommended Hoh if, by "autumn color," I meant green), but then quickly agreed with me that the Sol Duc road must be good right now, even though he didn't know anything about it himself; but a look at a couple of webcams indicates that color change hasn't really come there as well. It got to the point where I was ready to just shoot sunset on the Pacific Coast instead, except that I notice it will be a pretty high tide at that point. I guess I'll just check the webcams and weather report tomorrow morning and make a best guess at that time.
FWIW, I found this map which seems to give regularly-updated overall information. Based on what they're reporting, it seems that just about everywhere in Washington and Oregon is still patchy at best.
Posted by Marcy Ugstad on October 10, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Getting some very nice color on the Willamette National Forest (Santiam Pass, Clear Lake Cutoff, Hwy 58) with Vine Maple (good oranges/reds) and Big leaf Maple (Yellows), also Huckleberry plants are getting very red now, and several other trees and shrubs are adding their colorful reds to the mix. Storms predicted to come in late Monday (Columbus Day) through Wednesday with rain, cool temps and some wind.
*Just a tip - last fall we made a trip up the narrow dirt road to Indian Ridge Fire Lookout on the Willamette National Forest. Awesome views of the Three Sisters and great fall color!!!
Posted by James Walley on October 10, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, Oregon is a long drive for me from up here in the Seattle area. I was looking for places in Washington, but it seems that this board is far more slanted toward Oregon photographers, and the one place I know of with more Washington members (NWPhotographers.net) is practically dead -- you can post a similar query there, and maybe get a response or two within a month.
Discussion
6 repliesThat said, the best and most current photo-specific info can be had by asking here at PNWNP for the locations you're most interested in.
Meanwhile, I'm not sure where to try this weekend. Apparently, both Rainier and the North Cascades highway portion of the park are not yet at peak. Similarly, the word out of Leavenworth is that there is color, but it's about a week away from being really good. The ranger at Olympic didn't seem to have any idea (he recommended Hoh if, by "autumn color," I meant green), but then quickly agreed with me that the Sol Duc road must be good right now, even though he didn't know anything about it himself; but a look at a couple of webcams indicates that color change hasn't really come there as well. It got to the point where I was ready to just shoot sunset on the Pacific Coast instead, except that I notice it will be a pretty high tide at that point. I guess I'll just check the webcams and weather report tomorrow morning and make a best guess at that time.
FWIW, I found this map which seems to give regularly-updated overall information. Based on what they're reporting, it seems that just about everywhere in Washington and Oregon is still patchy at best.
*Just a tip - last fall we made a trip up the narrow dirt road to Indian Ridge Fire Lookout on the Willamette National Forest. Awesome views of the Three Sisters and great fall color!!!