High winds finished what was left of fall color in Mono County, reports color spotter Crys Black who visited Mammoth Lakes and June Lakes, this past weekend. Here’s her report:
Saturday, Oct 22
I started Saturday in the Mammoth Lakes Basin where almost all color was stripped with the exception of Old Mammoth Rd, between the ghost town and Sherwin Creek Rd. Hoping that lower elevations would be better, I headed towards Bishop. I stopped at Convict Lake and there is a little color left but it’s past peak. Thanks to last weekend’s report, I took Lower Creek Rd and it is Peak Go Now. At the lower elevations, Bishop and Big Pine were at Peak with great color especially at Round Valley. Aspendell was full peak but all areas around it were completely stripped and past peak.
Sunday, Oct 23
June Lake is almost completely past peak with some areas where color is clinging through the wind. Lundy Canyon was still peak, go now, with the color nicely contrasted against the snowcapped mountains. A huge surprise was Twin Lakes, Bridgeport. This was spectacular in most places so peak, go now! Antelope Valley color is getting worn but still great from Coleville to Topaz lake, peak, go now. There are splashes of color on 89 around 7000 ft and around Poor Boy Creek east of Markeeville, which is especially striking against the charred earth, and on 88, especially at Crystal Springs. Hope Valley is still ablaze but the color is getting muted. Still warrants a Peak but it’ll likely not survive the next storm.
Mammoth Lakes Basin – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
June Lakes – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
