Many people have their favorite month and I suspect that most naturalists would pick October; it is certainly my choice! With its mild, sunny days, cool nights and colorful foliage, October is the ideal month for hiking. Linking summer and winter, October brings a tide of migration as elk, songbirds, whales and waterfowl head for wintering grounds; hibernators, stirred by the autumn chill, also become more active and visible as they feast on a bounty of nuts, berries and salmon.
In the western mountains, the first significant snowfalls brighten the peaks while a dropping jet stream brings regular cold fronts to the Midwest and Northeast. By the middle of the month, wetlands fill with ducks and geese and the hooting of owls greets the night. And, as humidity, insects and yard chores fade away, it is hard to resist those nature trails. October is the outdoors month!
