It warmed up over the next few days, and the ice and snow melted from the peaks, or Mt. Madison at least. Nance and Mark left for Vermont and Patti decided to sit one out, so I headed up Mt. Madison by myself. The weather really was perfect, perhaps the finest I've ever seen it. The fall colors on the peaks were near their peak, accentuated by the brownish-orange smog oozing through the valleys. But up in the air it was almost warm with a slight breeze, with the exquisite low light of fall. There were few other hikers on the peaks, nothing like the hoards of summer. I did a whole lota lolly-gagging, and got some nice photos.