Back from Baxter State Park
Ardie and I returned from our visit to Baxter State Park on Saturday. We began the 8 hour drive to the park on Wednesday at about 6:30 in the morning. After checking in at the park entrance and arranging for a drive-up lean-to for our first two nights, we headed directly to Stump Pond to check out the moose scene. It rained heavily for most of our drive to Baxter and was raining at Stump Pond when we pulled in. We did see one lone cow in the middle of the pond but between heavy rain and poor light, we didn’t even pull out our camera gear.
We turned around and headed back down the six miles of the Tote Road to pick up the road to the Roaring Brook camp site where we had lean-to #4. On arriving, we were advised that there was a bear that had a habit of entering the camp ground and to keep all foods locked in the car. After an early dinner we turned in in anticipation of a hike to Sandy Stream Pond before dawn.
Fall Foliage at Baxter's Sandy Stream Pond
We awoke on Thursday to a very cool and extremely windy morning. At first we were encouraged by the light of a very bright moon, but the clear sky quickly gave way to a heavy overcast and very flat lighting. After about 5 hours of waiting we finally gave up on any moose visiting the pond. There was a break or two in the weather and I enjoyed turning my lens onto the foliage which was about at its peak.
After leaving Sandy Stream Pond, we revisited Stump Pond and then rode along the Golden Road checking out moose hot spots from other years. There were no moose to be seen. Fall foliage was plentiful and I satisfied my urge to press the shutter release by capturing more fall images.
Baxter State Park Foliage
All-in-all Thursday was a disappointing day. After all, I was there to photograph moose. Friday is another story but I will have to continue that after my return from New Mexico next week.