Silver Lining
With so much snow coating fall color in the Eastern Sierra (6 – 8″ fell yesterday), leave it to Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson to call it a “Silver Lining.”
In fact, he was referring to the Antelope Valley where black cottonwood from the West Walker River to Topaz along US 395 vary from Peak to Near Peak. “It’s last call for the walker canyon while the big cottonwood trees in the valley are still pretty green and should be good for another 10 days,” he wrote.
Overall, however, snow has changed the focus of Mono County toward welcoming winter visitors. So this was Mono County’s final fall color report.
The biggest news yesterday was from Mammoth Mountain which reported it will open early (Sat., Nov. 5) for skiing and riding. Also, the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area opens Dec. 3 and June Mountain will open on Dec. 17.
Presently, the only way to get to Mono County is from the north or south on U.S. 395, as Tioga Pass (CA 120), Sonora Pass (CA 10-8) and Monitor Pass CA 89 are closed due to snow. These passes will reopen if conditions allow. CLICK HERE to read current road conditions.
Jeff observed that Autumn 2022 “was a fantastic season with incredible conditions early in the year. The cold temperatures and storms pushed us past peak a little earlier than expected.” He recommends bookmarking Mono County’s Fall Colors Page, and noting dates on images to plan color spotting trips next year.
Yesterday, I drove I-80 to Lake Tahoe (6,225′), to be at our family cabin for the return of a tuned-up snowblower. On the way, I passed clusters of aspen in Truckee, along Martis Creek and on the North Shore that were still holding heavy loads of pumpkin-colored leaves. Photographers in search of snow-flocked aspen and cottonwood should search elevations between 5,000 and 6,000′ in the next five days.
- West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW! – Golden along the banks of the West Walker River but still greenish in the Antelope Valley and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz.
