Snow, Rain and Wind Set Bishop Creek Back a Week

Willow Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Plenty of color is showing at elevations above 8,500′ in the Eastern Sierra’s Bishop Creek Canyon, though a dusting of snow, light rain and wind early this week, set the show back a week, reports color spotter Jared Smith.  The light storm knocked aspen leaves that had already turned from their branches, though “thankfully most of the color has yet to peak,” says Jared, and there’s “some great stuff to look forward to.”

Below 8,500′, the show is just starting with lots of deep green, some lime and a few small patches of yellow.  Jared says it will still be a week to two before the lower elevations are approaching peak.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – The road is still open all the way to Weir Pond and the color is looking quite good on the hillside above the pond. The aspen surrounding the pond are still lime green so things will likely look much more impressive next week.

Sabrina Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Campground (9000ft) – The aspen along the road are still brilliant yellow, orange and a touch of red, but some of the trees in were stripped of their color by the wind. The campground itself is still mostly green with just a few hints of yellow.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – Quite a bit of yellow is blanketing the hillsides around the resort, but some of the scrub aspen here was stripped by the wind. Plenty of green still around and we’re looking forward to more change before the next report.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Willow Campground (9000ft) – The canyon walls above the campground are looking pretty impressive but the lower lying aspen within the campground have only touches of color and lime green hues. The granite wall across from the beaver pond just below the campground has some gorgeous color.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – Some color is showing above the campground and a few aspen along the stream have started to turn but we’ve still got a ways to go.

Surveyor’s Meadow (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – This area is probably the furthest along but hasn’t changed much since Sunday…in fact its actually displaying a bit less color thanks to the wind. It will be interesting to see how the cooler weather will affect the transformation.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Some great color on the east side of the lake with some color starting to develop near the back of the lake as well. I’m predicting some very nice color here by next weekend if not before.

North Lake Road (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – North Lake (9255ft) – Some gorgeous yellow, orange and red is showing along the road as you approach North Lake. Not much going on around the lake itself though. Look for this area to go off next week.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft) – Some yellow along the stream but mostly green hues dominating at present.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – One yellow tree and the rest is all green. This tends to pop later in the season, probably around the first week of October if I had to guess.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Very few signs of color here right now.

Groves above Cardinal Village (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%)  – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – There is a lot of color still above Cardinal Village but some of the aspen are unfortunately naked already from the wind. Tons of green still around so we’ve got plenty of color yet to develop in this area.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.

Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The aspen surrounding the lake are still hosting their summer shade of green although the scrub aspen growing up the mountainside are showing some yellow….at least the ones who still have their leaves are.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.