Wild Weekend
So far, this fall is a wild one. Not only are areas changing at different rates and times, but a blast of cold weather this past weekend made for extremely interesting photo compositions. Many believe that the huge winter we had and the extra water content may be the reason behind this phenomenon.
Color spotters from the Eastern Sierra to Eastern Shasta County and Meadow Valley are seeing rapid color changes.
In the Eastern Sierra, color spotter Angie Plaisted even got to enjoy the beautiful contrast of fresh snow against the fall colors as a storm rolled through the region on Saturday and Sunday. This was after finding exceptional color at Parker Lake on Friday.
I, myself, was traveling from the Eastside to the West and back again this weekend and went from being in awe of the fall colors really starting to show in June Lake and even on Hwy 120 into Yosemite on Friday to being in shock at the snowfall through Yosemite on Sunday (check our Instagram page for a short video).
Peter Robbins in Eastern Shasta County sent in the following.
“Although it seems too early to expect much between 3000 and 6000 feet, I DID notice a few exotics starting to turn on my way from Redding out east on Highway 44 through Shingletown to my cabin near Lassen Park. So I decided to take a couple hours and document what is to be seen this weekend.”
“First stop was a couple of maples planted in or near Shingletown. My travels then took me about 5 miles or so beyond the north entrance to Lassen park, first to a lovely little impromptu campsite along lost creek, just off 44, and on to a lovely little stand of aspen in the Twin Bridges area about a mile off 44 on forest service roads. In my humble opinion, these guys had no business looking so nice so early at only 5,000 feet. But who am I to argue? Then on my way back to my cabin, I could not help but notice a few aspen saplings arising out of a pile of lava rock.”
Last but definitely not least, we heard from color spotter Michael Beatley out of the Plumas County area.
“Today I shot this photo of Spanish Peak (above) from Meadow Valley, which is just 6 miles west of Quincy. Cottonwoods, aspens and Big leaf maples are showing their color from 70-80%. At just under 3800 feet Meadow Valley is rich in California’s gold mining history. Black Bart robbed a stage coach here at Tollgate. Spanish Peak is a sacred Maidu mountain and the PCT crosses the summit. The road through Meadow Valley to Oroville was a main route for the early gold miners.”
Beatley agreed that the colors are arriving early in his area.
“Yes. It is unusual. I went to Thompson Lake above Bucks Lake and the Aspens had a faint yellow beginning. The Mountain Ash was full red, but at 5420’ not much color. In Meadow Valley at 3800’ nice color in the cottonwoods, maples and aspens. Quincy is early also. Living here for 40 years, October 15 has always been the peak time. We still had snow late May, 205” of rain, way way above normal. Bucks Lake had snow at the end of June. Not sure if this had any effect.”
So it seems we are going from 0 to 100 very quickly this season. If you haven’t already, start making your plans to visit your favorite colors spots!
I concur. The previous wet winter has delayed the show by a week in the Eastern Sierra, but keep watch. It’s about to explode there, and when it does it will be spectacular. The early show in the Shasta Cascade is surprising, though it is limited to a few locations. In total, my estimate would be that California will still peak within a week of previous years.
Wonderful insight, thanks John!