We received so many photographs and reports from Mono County this past week, that I’ve just now pulled them together.
So, apologies for the delay in posting these.
Conditions have advanced since these were taken. So, look at the date, to make your own assessment of what it might look like, now.
In everyone’s favor, so far this autumn, is that conditions have never been better in California for the development and viewing of fall color with cold nights and warm days, and a few interesting skies, as well.
A dusting of snow fell above 10,000′ last week, but that only improved the color.
Frankly, I’m dazzled by what California’s color spotters have captured. Let’s look at a collection of shots from this past weekend:
East Bay color spotter Darrell Sano scored a First Report for his photograph of Sotcher Lake. Sotcher wha!? Never heard of it previously, though the Patchy to Near Peak color tells me, it’s gotta be flaming hot, right now.
Dunderberg Rd was the hot spot last week with gorgeous deep orange color among the aspen, and always worth visiting is Bodie State Historic Park. Though there is no fall color to be seen there, it is a must-see destination for anyone who wants to experience the “real” wild west.
Darrell was avoiding rain and hail on his drive, noting that many trees are now bare upslope as winds were clearly doing damage. Though advises to stay out during changing weather, as dramatic, structured clouds and moody skies do their best to make the scene a photographer’s fantasy.
Jeff Hemming also found glory and destruction at Dunderberg Meadow, then continued down the east side. I’ll split his photos into a later report about conditions in Inyo County. He suggests, however that the June Lake Loop is looking luscious.
Peter Chun and MingLo separately found Virginia Lakes Rd. mostly past peak on Saturday, with spots of color along the road. Ming sends an angle, rarely seen of Mono Lake in the distance beyond a crest of orange-red peaking aspen.
At Rock Creek Lake, Peter found the color to be about the same as at Virginia Lakes … stripped in many places though with pockets of bright color. 
