NorCal Colors
We received great reports from Plumas and Siskiyou counties over the weekend from color spotters Jeff Titcomb, Phil Reedy and Ruth Hartman.
Phil reported that in his tenth year of visiting the area along Highway 88 between the famous cabin on down to the Desolation Hotel (formerly Sorenson’s Resort), it is changing like clockwork.
“The aspens behind the cabin seem to peak right about October 8 every year,” he says. “The same is true along Red Lake Creek just across the highway. As usual, the aspens on the mountainside above the cabin are still green and will catch up in a week or two.”
“On to the east many of the aspens are at peak as well, although there are plenty yet to turn across the pasture just east of Blue Lakes Road. Continuing on east between Picketts Junction (highways 88 and 89) and Desolation Hotel, the trees are definitely at peak right now, so don’t wait on that area [he had recommended visiting this past weekend so definitely GO NOW]. Heading toward Tahoe along highway 89, those trees are still green as is normal,” Reedy explains.
The trees above the valley always turn well after those in the valley floor.
Titcomb shared that the trees at the Plumas County Airport are just getting started with the tree on the east changing faster than the tree right next to it on the west. He also sent photos from Taylorsville, Genesee, Quincy and Graeagle all of which are showing some beautiful yellows and even a few reds.
Hartman reported that fall color can be found in and around Etna and driving down Highway 3.
“If people take a drive north or south from Etna to Weaverville they will see lots of fall color right now” she says. “The dogwoods are very muted right now and will probably stay that way as Etna will not hit 32 degrees until Nov 30 and Trinity Center will not have a 32 until sometime in December. The colder the weather the more vibrant the colors!”
