HIKING -- I'm not the only one who's noticed that October often is a premium month for backpacking.

The weather is clear and crisp and the autumn colors are brilliant.

Check out this photo by Ken Vanden Heuvel from his recent trek into Little Ibex Lake in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness of Western Montana. There's no official trail to the little lake, which is snug in a notch of broken granite.  

So many places to find your autumn niche.

• See what the Washington Trails Association is recommending for larch lovers.
• See offerings from Day Hiking Eastern Washington.