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Winter Here & Autumn Gone

The Eastern Sierra bid farewell to a beautiful autumn on Sunday, when winter arrived.

  • West Walker River, Mono County (10/25/21) Gabby Tobar Balcunas
  • West Walker River, Mono County (10/25/21) Gabby Tobar Balcunas

Sunday’s storm filled streams and its snow pushed most Eastern Sierra locations past peak, leaving only lower elevations, principally: the West Walker River, US 395 through Topaz and Coleville, the Antelope Valley and in the Owens Valley, along the Owens River and near Bishop peaking.

A few groves of aspen remain at peak along the June Lake Loop at Upper Twin Lakes, Bridgeport and at Convict Lake, but they will fade quickly.

There were moments of absolute beauty this autumn and timing was everything. For the Eastern Sierra, it was here; now it’s gone. So, we report, “See you next autumn, dude.”

MONO COUNTY

WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ

  • West Walker River, Coleville and Topaz (5,200’) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! – This and Bishop are the last remaining hot spots in the Eastern Sierra. There’s great color along the Walker River and in the Antelope Valley. Towering Black cottonwood along US 395 and at Topaz Lake are perfect.

BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES

  • Twin Lakes (7,000’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.

JUNE LAKE LOOP

  • June Lake Loop (7,654’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.

CROWLEY LAKE / MCGEE CREEK / CONVICT LAKE /

  • Convict Lake (7,850’) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.

ROCK CREEK CANYON

  • Lower Rock Creek Canyon Rd (7,087’) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW! – The lower section of the road and trail is at full peak and is a great hiking/mountain biking route.

INYO COUNTY

Bishop

  • Bishop (4,150’) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW! – Groves of tall black cottonwood and oak at Buckley Ponds and along the Owens River are at peak.
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San Gabriel Glory

The San Gabriel Mountains surrounding Jackson Lake are near full glory, reports Gary Skipper.

Black oak, San Gabriel Mountains (10/23/21) Gary Skipper

Gary explored paths around the lake and past campgrounds finding the color to be vibrant and the weather inviting.

He found a particularly illuminated tree in Wrightwood, where desert Joshua Trees live beside Fremont cottonwood and was thrilled to encounter foxes, squirrels, chipmunks and deer out enjoying the autumn sun.

  • Black oak
  • Grey Fox
  • Joshua Tree and Fremont Cottonwood
  • Black oak, Jackson Lake
San Gabriel Mountains (10/23/21) Gary Skipper
  • San Gabriel Mountains (5,900’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.

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Spotting in the Rain

When it starts raining what does Vishal Mishra do? He goes out color spotting.

Spent Bigleaf maple, Stevens Creek Canyon (10/24/21) Vishal Mishra

Vishal spent Sunday outdoors, when many of us chose to be indoors and came away with these images of wet, though Near Peak bigleaf maple along Stevens Creek Canyon in the Bay Area.

Stevens Creek Canyon (10/24/21) Vishal Mishra
  • Stevens Creek Canyon (554’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.
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Tastes Like Chicken

Chicken of the Woods (10/23/21) Gabriel Leete

Joe Staton of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University once studied what plants and animals would taste like chicken (They must have a lot of time on their hands at Harvard).

He concluded that alligator, frog, quail, rabbit, rattlesnake, swordfish, kangaroo, Iguana, snapping turtle, goose, pigeon, swordfish, giant salamander and the 2-toed Amphiuma all taste like chicken. We’re unsure if he ate one of each to make that declaration, though we’re confident he never took a bite out of the last of his choices … Tyranosaurus Rex.

It’s pretty hard to prove your hypothesis when you have to eat an extinct dinosaur. It would be much easier to join Shasta Cascade color spotter Gabriel Leete and search of Laetiporus sulphureus. We are confident that they are much slower and easier to find.

Laetiporus are mushrooms, commonly known as chicken of the woods. With this past week’s storm, Gabriel says they’re sprouting prolifically across Northern California.

  • 10/23/21
  • 10/15/21
  • Harvested
Laetiporus sulphureus, Shasta Cascade – Gabriel Leete

Another similar edible polypore, the Grifola frondosa or Hen of the Woods is also known for its distinct chicken flavor and texture.

Gabriel says that although the rain has encouraged the growth of all kinds of mushrooms, edible varieties are often scared by being harvested.

Also called sulphur shelfs, the mushrooms have a moist, rubbery sulphur-yellow to orange body with protruding lips at maturity.

As with any mushroom, caution is advised before consuming it. Make sure a mushroom expert has identified it as edible. Common advice is that if the mushroom cannot be identified positively, it should not be eaten, even when you think it just might taste like chicken.

  • Laetiporus sulphureus hunting, Shasta Cascade – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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Chinese Pistache

Chinese pistache (pistacia chinensis), El Dorado Hills (10/27/21) John Poimiroo

One of the more ornamental of autumn trees is the Chinese pistache (pistacia chinensis).

Popular as a shade tree due to its height at maturity (30 to 60’), drought tolerance, non-invasive roots and broad canopy, its dark green foliage changes to a dramatic profusion of lime, yellow, orange, pink and red fluttering leaves in autumn.

Chinese pistache, El Dorado Hills (10/27/21) John Poimiroo

What’s different about Chinese pistache is the iridescence of its color. The trees look absolutely luminous in sunlight.

Although the tree is related to pistacio, it does not produce nuts. Gardeningknowhow.com explains that when male varieties are present, female trees bloom in April with inconspicuous green blossoms that develop into clumps of brilliant red berries in fall, changing to blue-purple in winter.

Mature Chinese pistache, Moddison Ave., Sacramento (10/27/21) John Poimiroo

The website explains that “While the berries are inedible for human consumption, birds go nuts for them.” Though, the bright colored berries will drop and may stain or create a slippery walkway. The bark of growing Chinese pistache is grayish-brown and, if peeled from the tree, reveals a shocking salmon pink interior.

Presently, Chinese pistache are at glorious peak across California. The show varies from somber burgundy to fluorescent colors.

Chinese pistache, Los Gatos (10/23/21) Anson Davalos
  • El Dorado Hills (768’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.
  • Sacramento (30’) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
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Autumn to Winter

It happened in a day.

Mammoth Lakes, as seen on Saturday and Monday – Angie Plaisted

Autumn turned to winter at Mammoth Lakes on Sunday. Local color spotter Angie Plaisted knew the bomb cyclone was coming, but the brilliance of the color in advance of the storm was so compelling, she couldn’t ignore it.

Snowcreek, Mammoth Lakes (10/23/21) Angie Plaisted

The following day, similar locations were flocked upon peak, providing poignant punctuation to perfection in Mammoth Lakes.

Snowcreek, Mammoth Lakes (10/25/21) Angie Plaisted

Now, the ski lifts are running and thoughts have shifted from finding colorful leaves to finding available rooms.

It’s winter at Mammoth Lakes.

  • Mammoth Lakes (7,881’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
visitmammoth.com
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IRONMAN California

William Land Park, Sacramento (10/23/21) Steve Arita

IRONMAN came to Sacramento, today. Thousands of elite athletes planned to swim 2.4 miles down the American and Sacramento Rivers, bicycle 112 miles and run 26.2 miles through Sacramento and along the American River Parkway.

The route was to pass much of the most beautiful landscape in California, but due to a torrential storm called a bomb cyclone, the race was cancelled and the elite athletes missed seeing these beautiful places.

Local color spotter Steve Arita shares some of what they missed.

  • William Land Park, Sacramento (10/23/21) Steve Arita
  • William Land Park, Sacramento (10/23/21) Steve Arita
  • William Land Park, Sacramento (10/23/21) Steve Arita

At Sacramento’s great Land Park, Steve was surprised to find how far along the fall colors were around the park’s pond. Its gracious trees were beautiful, which combined with interesting cloud formations for fun picture taking.

  • Guy West Bridge (10/23/21) Steve Arita
  • American River near Guy West Bridge (10/23/21) Steve Arita
  • American River Parkway near Guy West Bridge (10/23/21) Steve Arita

Guy West Bridge at California State University Sacramento (Sac State to locals) is a mini version of the Golden Gate Bridge, but without the International Orange paint scheme. Trees along the banks of the American River are just starting (about 40%). However, on campus the trees are moving quickly to peak. 

American River Parkway (10/23/21) Steve Arita

Steve recommends including the American River Parkway next week as a place to see cottonwood and maple Near Peak.

Egret, Hagen Park, American River Parkway (10/23/21) Steve Arita

At Hagen Park, a large neighborhood park in Rancho Cordova beside the American River Parkway, sections upriver were beautiful with red, gold and yellow along the banks. Steve even managed to capture an egret sunbathing with what little sunlight poked through the clouds.

All this changed as the bomb cyclone exploded over Northern California. In Sacramento, the city’s record for rainfall that had stood since 1880 (5.28 inches), fell as 5.44 inches of rain also fell.

The storm was so extreme that it likely stripped fall color from areas at Peak, but these scenes in Sacramento will endure, just like IRONMAN California’s athletes.

  • American River Parkway (30′) – Patchy to Near Peak (10 – 75%) Go Now.
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Tahoe in Transition

Rose hips, Kings Beach (10/22/21) John Poimiroo

Upon arriving at North Lake Tahoe to winterize the family cabin, I was taken by the brilliance of the aspen along Martis Creek and the north shore. When sunlight kisses them, they blush like a middle schooler at a first dance.

Only, the dance is about to end. Tahoe is in transition. Strong winds are expected to strip these leaves on Sunday, so you only have Saturday to get there and enjoy it while it lasts.

  • Aspen, Carnelian Bay (10/22/21) John Poimiroo
  • Mountain maple, Carnelian Bay (10/22/21) John Poimiroo
Aspen, Martis Creek, Truckee (10/22/21) John Poimiroo

On the return drive, cottonwood along the Truckee River and S. Yuba River were laden with golden leaves.

  • Gould Park, Cisco Grove, S. Yuba River (10/22/21) John Poimiroo
  • Gould Park, Cisco Grove, S. Yuba River (10/22/21) John Poimiroo
  • Gould Park, Cisco Grove, S. Yuba River (10/22/21) John Poimiroo
  • Gould Park, Cisco Grove, S. Yuba River (10/22/21) John Poimiroo

At Cisco Grove’s Gould Park that straddles the S. Yuba River, images of ruby shrubs and gilded cottonwood made I-80’s freeway sounds fade from memory.

  • Carnelian Bay (6,325′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Kings Beach (6,250′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Martis Creek, CA-267 (5,600′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Truckee River, Truckee (5,817′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Cisco Grove, I-80 (5,643′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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Weeping For Joy

Aspen, Meadow Valley, Plumas County (10/21/21) Michael Beatley

With drizzling rain and fog now finally drenching fire-scared Plumas County, Michael Beatley drove Bucks lake Rd along Spanish Creek in Meadow Valley, finding the aspen, oak and cottonwood at peak, with the aspen “weeping for joy.”

  • Black cottonwood, Spanish Creek (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Meadow Valley (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Spanish Creek (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Black cottonwood, Meadow Valley (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
Black oak, bigleaf maple, Meadow Valley (10/21/21) Michael Beatley

He continued to Quincy and beyond to the Thompson Valley on the edge of town, finding Greenhorn Creek and the valley at peak with oak and cottonwood and maple. Plumas County earned this week’s Peak of the Week.

  • Greenhorn Creek (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Thompson Valley (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Greenhorn Creek (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Thompson Valley (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
Spent Leaves, Plumas County (10/21/21) Michael Beatley
  • Meadow Valley (3,600′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Thompson Valley (5,462′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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North Gold Country Highway

Locust, Downieville (10/18/21) Jason Branz

California State Route 49 is one of the less-traveled byways for fall color. Why remains a mystery.

There’s plenty of autumn’s gold to be discovered along the North Gold Country Highway. Roseville color spotter Jason Branz was out prospecting for it this past Monday; he found these nuggets:

Below Downieville, it was Patchy, but Jason noted “nice pockets around the Indian Valley campground.  The town of Downieville is probably near peak and has lots of nice color.

  • Indian Rhubarb, North Yuba River (10/18/21) Jason Branz
  • Bigleaf Maple, North Yuba River (10/18/21) Jason Branz

“Between Downieville and Sierra City, there are several nice roadside pullout spots with colorful trees right along the river.

Near Waterfall, Sierra City (10/18/21) Jason Branz

“Just above Sierra City, there is a large roadside are with a small waterfall.  There is a nice stand of yellow trees on the far side of the road with lots of nice close-up possibilities in the parking area.

  • CA-49, Sierra City (10/18/21) Jason Branz
  • CA-49, Sierra City (10/18/21) Jason Branz
CA-49, Sierra City (10/18/21) Jason Branz

“The Gold Lake Highway, above Bassetts, has some nice aspen color in Salmon Creek campground and is probably peak or close to it.” he reported.

No one knows for sure how the torrential storm predicted to arrive Sunday will affect the color Jason found. The storm is expected to be what’s being termed “a cyclone bomb.” Considering its intensity, CaliforniaFallColor recommends staying at home on Sunday and feed your passion for fall color spotting on screen. Just go to CaliforniaFallColor.com … Oh, wait. You’re there already.

  • Downieville (2,966′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.
  • CA-49N – Near Peak to Peak (50 – 100%), GO NOW!
  • Sierra City (4,147′) – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
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