We did East Side Fall Colors late October last year and seemed to be there at a good time.
Yeah, I was over there about the same time last year -- right after the October Pork Rally, in fact, and there was lots of color in Upper Summer Meadows.
But as you say, it depends on the year...and elevation. When I went up to 10,000+ feet in the Whites that same week the aspens were already done.
Perhaps Black Rock sooner and East Side later?
That's what I was leaning towards, too.