Last week, color spotter Michael Oliver and his dad caught what was most likely the tail end of a spectacular fall color season in the Eastern Sierra. A season that stretched longer than most, but is coming to an end with the wind and snow the area received yesterday (10/28/24).
On Sunday, Oct. 27, Oliver sent the following report.
“Just got back from a week in the Eastern Sierra. Drove up to Mammoth Monday night [10/21/24].”
Tuesday the father/son pair spent the day exploring McGee Creek and Rock Creek with a short hike up at the top from Mack -> Marsh -> Heart Lakes. They found colors down by the 395 and Lower Rock/McGee Creek but the upper elevations had trees with leaves that were falling off or already bare.
Wednesday they spent the morning at the Mammoth Lakes Basin around lakes Mary, George, Mamie, and Twin. While the Lakes Basin was beautiful there was not much color left to be seen. There was a lot of color in town, however, along the walking path and the Snowcreek golf course.
That afternoon they headed down to Convict Lake, which still had some yellow but was starting to fade.
Thursday they went to Aspendell and explored South Lake, Sabrina, North Lake, and a bunch of the creeks and campgrounds in between. The weather was amazing but North Lake was bare. Cardinal Village Resort still had some yellow in the grove behind the resort leading to the gold mine but was on the downward trend from prime.
As they drove out 395 through Bishop there was some beautiful golden foliage, Oliver said, “especially when the sun hit it right.”
Eastern Sierra – Peak to Past Peak. You almost missed it.