“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”  Albert Camus

One of life’s simple pleasures is fall color. As the days grow shorter and the weather brings a crisp coolness, nature is begging us to slow down and enjoy the Technicolor beauty of the season.

My favorite fall memories date back to my childhood in Minnesota. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, family road trips were common. Before interstate highways, they meant long hours on two-lane state roads, my mother with map in hand driving North to explore.

Many childhood autumns included a trip to Minnesota’s pointed “Arrowhead” region along Lake Superior’s North Shore. Though famous for iron mining, the area is equally celebrated for its natural beauty.

From Image:Minnesota Locator Map.PNG

When our timing was right, red, yellow, and orange hardwoods formed a vivid patchwork against the pines’ varied shades of green.

The Shot

After a long absence, I finally returned for an Arrowhead fall in October of 2024. One of the photographic “must see” destinations is near Tofte, Minnesota.

The Oberg Mountain hike is a leaf peeper’s fall foliage wonderland. After a short but moderately challenging hike, the views in all directions are spectacular.

My “money shot” was the lead photo, a sunrise over Lake Superior illuminating the forest below us. But the view was spectacular in all directions. Oberg Lake was to our left and equally impressive.

And to our right, the colors were also alluring.

An hour and a half passed quickly. The rekindled fond memories of trips with my parents and the sheer joy of experiencing fall on a glorious morning made me appreciate how fortunate I truly am.

That is me in the middle wearing the black stocking cap reviewing an image with a fellow photographer.

Thanks for looking,

Chuck Derus Zenfolio | Chuck Derus