Where to go in autumn: the most stable trekking season of the year

Ask experienced walkers and most will name autumn as the best season. The reasons are practical.

The four advantages of autumn

1. The weather is stable. The summer storms are over and winter has not started. September and October are the most predictable months.

2. Visibility is clear. Summer heat creates a shimmer that "softens" distant peaks. In autumn the air is clean — Shahdag is at its clearest from the Mikhtoken plateau in autumn.

3. The forest has colour. Especially the Hirkan and Ismayilli forests.

4. There are fewer people. The summer holidays end and numbers on the routes drop.

Autumn routes

Summits:

• Niyaldag (2053 m)
• Sulut, Fit mountain
• Mucu–Lahij — the forest section is at its best in autumn

Forest and lakes:

• Shabran, Lake Ambil
• Ismayilli, Lake Qaranohur

Mushrooms:

• Mushroom foraging and camping tour (Khanbulan) — autumn is the main season, in detail

Sheki–Qakh:

• Sheki, Khan plateau
• Qakh, Qochyataq waterfall

Autumn's one drawback: shorter days

In October it is dark by 18:00. The consequences:

• A headlamp is no longer "spare", it is essential
• A delay on the route can mean descending in the dark
• Take the morning departure time seriously

Clothing

Autumn brings big temperature swings: 8 °C in the morning, 22 °C at midday, 10 °C again in the evening. This is the season in which the layering principle works hardest.

Walk a spring route again in autumn. The same path looks like a completely different place.