John McLaughlin
Community Newsman
It was a taste of what’s to come.
As I walked outdoors from the Sept. 15 Hutchinson City Council meeting, an unexpectedly cool breeze hit my face, thanks to a recent kiss of rain, the pavement still wet.
“Daylight and cool,” I thought to myself. “It’s starting.”
Summer-like heat was quick to return, but not until after a second tease of pleasant coolness that next morning.
Then, a several-day run of high temperatures in the 70s and 80s was forecast this week. The news solidified that I need to enact plans to enjoy the outdoors—finally.
I don’t expect many objectors to my claim that fall and spring are the best times of the year, compared with the Midwest’s other two seasons: too hot and too cold.
Some 30 years ago, I happily coped with the latter, no problem.
But now—especially since I’m paying stiff bills to heat and cool a place—I’d prefer to bask in the fruits of heavy HVAC spending by relaxing indoors.
During these periods of estivation and hibernation, I cook favorite foods and try new recipes, read, watch old movies and otherwise plan for better weather.
Fall, my personal favorite, for example, shakes these daily habits.
I like to spend as much time outdoors as I can during this time of the year, with Hutchinson and the surrounding area offering plenty of recreational options, from golfing in town (disc and traditional) to quick hikes in the Sand Hills or longer excursions in the beautiful Flint Hills.
Roadtrip, anyone?
Kansas, home to the geographic center of the contiguous United States, offers excellent options to adventure elsewhere. And fall temperatures offer traveling without having to fret about vehicle breakdowns in overbearing heat.
That same overbearing heat also makes summers in desert environments deadly. That’s not the case come late fall and winter.
Several years ago, I took the opportunity to spend nearly three weeks hiking and camping with a good friend in the Sonoran Desert, just before the holidays.
Chilly nights and pleasant, sunny days among the saguaros of southern Arizona made this adventure one of my favorite trips yet.
But, overall, a favorite fall excursion of mine is seeing aspen leaves explode in color throughout the Rocky Mountains.
A Denver native, I’ve spent countless hours wandering the Rockies and fortunately, still have family throughout the Colorado Front Range, offering me easy access to some incredibly colorful fall hikes among snow-capped peaks.
Whatever strikes your fancy, this initial stretch of cool weather highlights the end of truly brutal summer heat. Enjoy. It’s well deserved.