Editor’s note: We run a tweaked version of this post every fall to help you avoid crowded trails in this, the most popular hiking season.
Astronomically, fall doesn’t start until Sept. 22 at 2:19 p.m. EST. Culturally, most of us associate the handoff of summer to fall with Labor Day weekend (this weekend). This year, however, it feels like fall is already well underway: for the past week or so morning temperatures here on the North Carolina/Virginia line have been in the low 50s, daytime highs in the upper 70s. If that doesn’t scream call in sick and grab your pack, I don’t know what does.