Published: October 06, 2009 12:00 am      

Fall foliage nearing its peak

Sunlight hitting the area's hillsides highlights intensifying colors, and sources in Delaware and Otsego counties said Monday that they expect the peak of color to be growing through the weekend.

``I'm noticing a lot more oranges and yellows and reds,'' Deb Taylor, Otsego County director of tourism, said. ``It looks very, very pretty.''

The Interstate 88 corridor is midpoint to near-peak, according to the state's most recent ``I Love NY'' foliage report, which is updated Wednesdays on the website www.iloveny.com. Shades in Delaware County are peaking, it said.

The state's foliage report since Wednesday called for the county to experience ``60 percent or more color transition and an abundance of bright red and orange leaves.''

Observers at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount predicted about 50 percent color change by this past weekend and midpoint to near-peak conditions.

Maples, oaks and other deciduous tree leaves will be offset by evergreen colors across the horizon. Taylor and two local business operators project that this week through Columbus Day weekend into next week will be busy with fall activities and leaf-peepers visiting the area.

``We're pretty much getting ready to peak this weekend,'' said Dave Riordan, executive director of the Catskill Revitalization Corp. that owns and operates the Delaware & Ulster Railroad. ``It looks like we are right on it.''

The rail ride wends through the Catskill Mountains along the East Branch of the Delaware River valley, giving passengers a ``spectacular'' view on a round trip between Arkville and Roxbury, Riordan said.

He said trains have been busy during the week for prearranged group rides _ from tour buses, for example _ and on weekends.

Rides for the general public are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and Columbus Day, which is Monday.

Riordan said about 440 white-linen midday dinners will be served on the train for guests this week and also next week. In addition to the 120 dining customers, the train can accommodate another 200 passengers, he said.

At the Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard in Otsego County, the leaf season coincides with the peak of apple harvesting, Vice President Bill Michaels said.

Honeycrisp apples are a new offering this year, Michaels said, but the most popular is the Macoun, a New York cross between McIntosh and Jersey Black types.

The mill in Fly Creek is pressing apples for cider during the weekend, and the mill has a schedule of autumn activities that includes its annual CiderFest on Saturday and Sunday.

``We are actually in peak fall mode here,'' Michaels said. ``This weekend is going to be peak.''

Michaels said the mill works closely with the Otsego County Department of Tourism to attract group bus tours. This week, the mill expects four buses, including groups from Clinton and Albany, he said, and next week, five buses are scheduled, with passengers from one bus staying overnight locally and another group passing through on the way to the state of Maryland.

Taylor said visitors and area businesses can package autumn events, leaf-peeping and tourist sites, such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

``We have so many awesome events in the fall,'' Taylor said. The draw of traditional autumn activities prompts people to get out, even during rainy weather forecasts, she said.

This weekend, Belleayre Mountain will have its 30th annual Fall Festival, presenting bands, vendors, outdoor activities and exhibits. The SkyRide will take guests to the top of the mountain to see peaking foliage and landscapes of the Catskill Mountains, according to a media release.

Rain with temperatures ranging from the 50s to 60s is part of the forecast for this week, according to the National Weather Service.

The colors of autumnal leaves are caused by chemical changes, said David Pysnik, a chemist who retired in June after 37 years teaching at Sidney High School. When leaves no longer get nutrients, chlorophyll in their cells goes through a chemical change and the compound that forms has a different color.

``The weather does tend to influence the brilliance of the colors,'' Pysnik said Monday. When more water is available, colors typically are more brilliant, he said, and a drier year will yield more muted colors.

Temperatures and the mineral content of leaves also are factors that have an impact on hues, Pysnik said. The process provides an awesome display that prompts a ``wow, look at that'' response when observing autumnal changes, he said.

``I've always enjoyed looking at it,'' Pysnik said.