In case you were away during the month of October, as in Hawaii or the Caribbean, you missed a month that will probably go down in history as one that is best forgotten. Rather than living up to expectations that included blue skies, brilliant foliage, crisp nights and comfortably warm days, October in our region turned out to be a total disaster – much to the general disappointment of many avid outdoors people.
The month started out innocently enough, with foliage beginning to take on its usual brilliance, and we actually enjoyed a short burst of sunny days with no rain. But then the rains and winds came, cleaning the near-peak foliage from the trees and turning the woodlands into drab shades of brown and gray. And just for good measure, temperatures began to take on a decidedly November-like feel, and it basically stayed that way for the rest of the month. I think we could count the days on one hand that we didn't have rain or overcast skies last month, with perhaps an extra digit or two thrown in just so as not to be overly pessimistic.
To say that bad weather plays a major role in outdoor recreation would probably be an understatement. Even with the latest raingear, people tend to recreate far less when there are prolonged periods of abnormally bad weather. Regardless of it being hiking, upland hunting, bowhunting, fishing or, for that matter, outdoor home maintenance, this year's edition of October certainly failed miserably to live up to even modest expectations. Ironically, the best weather all month occurred while this writer was in Plattsburgh for four days attending an outdoor writers' conference.
Our part of the state was not alone. On the drive through the heart of the Adirondacks en route to Plattsburgh, what should have been the peak foliage period in the mountains had been wiped out by heavy rain and high winds on Oct. 3 that removed more than half of the clinging foliage. The armies of leaf peepers who make the annual pilgrimage there had to be content with a landscape that resembled a half-finished scenic watercolor by a colorblind artist. Weather also has a major effect on fish and wildlife and those that pursue them. Cold fronts tend to make fish lethargic and less apt to feed. Of course, in the case of our local rivers, the abundant rainfall kept them high and roiled throughout most of the month. The consistent rain and showers also created standing water and mud holes in the woodland trails, mandating that hikers and birders either wear high boots or skirt the water and mud holes by going to higher ground. Brisk winds make grouse extremely skittish, usually causing them to flush far ahead and out of range of any approaching bird dog and/or hunter. Winds also cause deer to become extra nervous due to all the movement of limbs and leaves, prompting them to find a secure spot and bed down. For bowhunters in treestands, brisk wind not only makes the tree sway but also lowers chill factors, making for uncomfortable hunting sessions.
This last weekend, with its gale-force winds and snow, pretty much typified the entire month of October. A friend who was hunting waterfowl in the Northeastern Zone said it was the first time he'd ever seen geese and ducks flying backwards. Another buddy was hunting deer in the Tug Hill area and had to slog through wet snow that was a foot deep, while also avoiding falling branches that were being sheared off by the high winds. Those types of conditions really motivate a person to be outdoors recreating, eh? Unfortunately, what with our fall hunting seasons' limited spans, most sportsmen and women's available time to hunt is limited, so each period of bad weather during these times means days lost unless they brave the elements.
If the National Weather Service's seasonal forecast for the Northeast proves accurate, our winter season may be milder than normal, but with above-normal precipitation. Considering the amount of rain we've received this year, I'd say that last part would be a safe bet. But if November follows October's conditions, expect early and abundant snow and below-normal temperatures. Come to think of it, when was the last time the Weather Service got a seasonal forecast for our area right? So there's still hope.
State Forest Use a Topic at Meetings
