Entries by John Poimiroo

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Quincy – Peak of the Week


Feather Bed Inn, Quincy (10/22/22) Sharon Jiang

The Plumas County seat of Quincy is one of the prettiest small towns in California and California Fall Color’s Peak of the Week.

Sharon Jiang found Quincy to be a riot of fall color on a visit this past Friday when she drove the scenic Deer Creek Highway (CA-32) from Chico to Plumas County.

At the Elam Campground, Deer Creek is lined with peaking carnelian, honey, burnt-orange and amber Darmera (Indian paintbrush).

On arrival in Quincy, Sharon was greeted by a mix of exotic flowering plum and native cottonwood dressed in carmine and goldenrod. Historic downtown Quincy blends native and exotic trees in a showy display of orange, yellow, red and green tincts.

Quincy and its surrounding fall color spots are prime now and through the coming week. 

Darmera, Deer Creek (10/22/22) Sharon Jiang


Quincy Junction (10/22/22) Sharon Jiang

  • Elam Campground, Deer Creek, CA 32 (4,380′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Quincy (3,342′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!


October 24, 2022 by
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Yosemite Dogwood


Pacific Dogwood, Yosemite Valley (10/20/22) Legarlin Li

There are four types of dogwood native to California: Mountain or Pacific Dogwood, a tree, and three shrubs: brown, red osier and blackfruit dogwood.  They all grow on moist lower slopes and in riparian zones.

Cornus nutalli is the tree, best known in Yosemite Valley for its showy, white “flowers” that beautifully decorate the banks of the Merced River each May. These flowers are actually modified leaves, called bracts. Pacific dogwood’s fruit is bright orange-red.

C. glabrata (brown dogwood) is a shrub that forms a dense thicket, rising to 15′. C. sericea (red osier) is a multistemmed shrub similar in size to the brown dogwood, and also has white or blue fruit. C. sessilis (blackfruit dogwood) grows to 10′ and distinctively has brownish-yellow bracts and black fruit. It’s often overlooked because it blooms so early in spring.

On Legarlin Li’s recent visit to Yosemite Valley, the dogwood he captured had vermilion leaves, though Pacific dogwood often show rose, pink and auburn.

An eagle’s eye view of the Valley indicated little to no fall color change, but that’s expected as dogwood and bigleaf maple, which are showing now, are hidden beneath a canopy of conifers.


No fall color to be seen in this eagle-eye view of Yosemite Valley from Columbia Rock (10/20/22) Legarlin Li

  • Dogwood and Bigleaf Maple, Yosemite Valley (4,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

October 23, 2022 by
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Rush to Rush Creek


Rush Creek, June Lakes (10/21/22) Bill McFall

With peak occurring at June Lakes, color spotter Bill McFall is urging we rush to Rush Creek. Lee Vining Canyon is also peaking.

Rush Creek runs out of Angew Lake toward Silver Lake, west of the town of June Lakes, just beyond the Double Eagle Resort and Spa. The creek’s long, meandering course straightens out beside CA 158 for a short stretch before twisting again toward Silver Lake. 

Rush Creek, June Lakes (10/21/22) Bill McFall


Rush Creek, June Lakes (10/21/22) Bill McFall


Poole Power Plant Rd, Lee Vining Canyon (10/22/22) Bill McFall

Poole Power Plant Rd, Lee Vining Canyon (10/22/22) Bill McFall


Poole Power Plant Rd, Lee Vining Canyon (10/22/22) Bill McFall


Poole Power Plant Rd, Lee Vining Canyon (10/22/22) Bill McFall

  • Rush Creek, June Lakes (7,654′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!


October 23, 2022 by
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Yét Atwam Creek 


Yét Atwam Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy

As Philip Reedy and John, his fishing buddy, drove north along the Upper Sacramento River, Friday morning, they were disappointed to see that almost no color could yet be seen along its banks.
 
Phil wrote, “This is usually a perfect time for color along the Upper Sac from Castle Crags up to the town of Mt Shasta.” Though, he found “just one patch of Indian Rhubarb in the box canyon below Lake Siskiyou showing some red and orange.” Phil and John were “feeling pretty disappointed and not at all optimistic” about their second destination, south of the town of McCloud.


Alder leaf and moss, trail to Yét AtwamCreek (10/21/22) Philip Reedy

Yét Atwam Creek had recently been renamed in a national effort to purge some 650 geographical features across the country from the derogatory term ‘squaw’ which had been used widely in naming mountains, streams, valleys, with little care for the fact that it was insulting to native people.
 
After seeing the disappointing color along the Upper Sac, Phil and John anticipated that Yét Atwam Creek would have even less, since the creek is 200 feet lower.  “However, as we drove south from McCloud, we were encouraged to see patches of color.  After we turned on to FS Road 39-N21 for the last three miles to the creek, the colors steadily improved.”


Pasture, Mt Shasta in distance, FS Road 39-N21 (10/21/22) Philip Reedy

Along the road, trees flanked pastures with lemony, golden and grassy-green-colored leaves. In the distance a peek is seen of Mt Shasta’s peak. By the time they reached the creek, they realized that Indian rhubarb (Darmera) had already peaked and “were well on their way to brown.”

Odd. No color along the Upper Sac, past peak along this creek. Phil regretted not having planned his trip a week earlier, but then past experience led him to estimate he’d be there at peak. As seen in these photos, some green Darmera remain to peak beside the creeks, so getting there now is an absolute directive, if you want to see any of them at their bold best.

As for the Upper Sacramento River, it’s one to two weeks from peaking.

Upper Sacramento River Box Canyon (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy


Cabin Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy


Indian Rhubarb, Yét Atwam Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy


Indian Rhubarb, Yét Atwam Creek (10/21/22) Phiip Reedy

  • Yét Atwam Creek (2,500′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Cabin Creek (2,658′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Upper Sacramento River (2,700′) – Patchy (10-50%)

October 22, 2022 by
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California Grape


California wild grape (r), American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo

To most of the world, California grape means wine, but along the American River Parkway in Sacramento, it means vintage fall color.

California wild grape (Vitaceae) is a vine that grows up to 50′ in height. It certainly achieves that lofty goal along the Parkway where wild grape extends for two miles from Discovery park east, past Northgate Boulevard.

Presently, the grape is Just Starting to show color, though at peak it will ornament Fremont Cottonwood and maple with philamont, sauterne, rose and claret-colored grape leaves. 

American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo


Poison oak, American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo


California wild grape, American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo


California grape, American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo


Bike Patroller Rick Bollinger, American River Parkway, Sacramento (10/22/22) John Poimiroo

  • Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, American River Parkway, Sacramento (30′) – Just Starting (0-10%)

October 22, 2022 by

TikTok Take

Here’s a funny TikTok by Betsy Forsyth, @visitbishop.ca, with commentary by comedian Jim Gaffigan about our obsession with fall color.

C’mon, stop whining Jim and get a life!

October 21, 2022 by
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June is Busting Out!


June Lakes Mountain Bike Trail (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson could hardly contain his excitement, when he reported today that the June Lake Loop is now peaking. He called it, in a moment of understandable hyperbole, “The moment most of you have been waiting for.”

He continued, “Throw a rock in any direction (in Mono County) and you’re likely to hit a grove of peaking aspen,” noting that this year’s display “is vibrant and has stuck around for longer than any other in recent memory.” Agreed on all counts.


June Lake (10/19/22) Jeff Simpson

June Lakes Loop (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


Rush Creek, June Lakes (11/18/22) Patrick Griley


June Lakes Loop (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


June Lake (10/19/22) Jeff Simpson

The June Lake Loop is one of the most anticipated peaks in California because of its jaw-dropping combination of deeply golden and orange aspen, ringing blue lakes, and at the base of towering mountains.

Until now, California’s autumn show benefitted from a warm start that gradually cooled resulting in an everlasting display. However, there’s cause for concern in the Eastern Sierra and Jeff voiced it, reporting, “A storm is forecast to enter … this weekend.” 20 to 30 mph winds are predicted.


Aspen, Little Walker Lake (10/15/22) Donna Mercer

June Lakes Mountain Bike Trail (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


Summers Meadow Rd (10/19/22) Jeff Simpson


Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

The storm is forecast to arrive late Friday. One to two inches of snow might fall on mountain passes (Tioga, Sonora and Monitor), which could close temporarily.

He cautioned Mono County color spotters to bring jackets if visiting this weekend. What this means for fall color there is that the highest elevations are likely to be past peak by next week. That means this is probably the last weekend to see peak at Conway Summit, Sonora Pass, Monitor Pass and on Lobdell Lake Rd.

However, the show will continue at Convict Lake, June Lakes and Lundy Lake Rd, which, while peaking, have enough freshly turned leaves to survive a pelting. Further, as the storm clears, stunning autumn color sunset photographs will be possible on Sunday, particularly at Twin Lakes, near Bridgeport.

So, if ever there was a time to GO NOW, this is it!


Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

Little Walker Lake (10/15/22) Donna Mercer


Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


Mammoth Lakes (10/19/22) Patrick Griley


Conway Summit (10/19/22) Jeff Simpson


Parker Lake Rd (10/19/22) Patrick Griley

Rock Creek Canyon

  • Middle Rock Creek Road (8,500′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.
  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The best color is found around Tom’s Plaxe and US 395

Crowley Lake/Mcgee Creek, Convict Lake

  • Crowley Community (6,949′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The community of Crowley is dressed in its autumn best. Great color is seen everywhere.
  • McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – There is a mix of color in McGee Creek Canyon, with Peak at the campground near US 395 and a blend of Peak and Past Peak groves all the way to the top.
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – This is the week to visit Convict Lake. There’s beautiful color all around the lake.

Mammoth Lakes

  • Mammoth Lakes (7,881′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – The Town is gorgeous, with lots of color along Snow Creek.
  • Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

June Lake Loop

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – June is busting out all over! The June Lake Loop is one of the most appreciated fall color peaks in California. It’s now prime. It will remain good for two weeks, but go now, as colder weather is arriving and anything can happen to spoil the beauty. June Lake is declared PEAK OF THE WEEK and DRIVE OF THE WEEK.

Lee Vining / Lundy

  • Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Brilliant colors are appearing in the canyon, presently. There are peaking aspen everywhere to be seen.
  • Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!  –

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes / Dunderberg / Summers

  • Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. – This should be a fabulous location for dramatic sky photography, as the weekend storm clears.
  • Bodie Hills (9,419′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
  • Conway Summit (8,143) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – A lot of Conway Summit is past peak, but there’s still so much deep orange color that it’s a stunner. Only a few days remain at this location.
  • Summers Meadow (7,200′) PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! –  Summers Meadow is incredible from top to bottom. Go Now, as this is the last weekend of peak at this location. It should be past peak by Wednesday of next week.

Lobdell / Sonora Pass/ Walker / Coleville / Topaz 

  • Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.   – Only a few groves remain from what was two weeks of spectacular peak.
  • Molybdenite Creek Trail (7,865′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.
  • Sonora Pass (9,623′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.  – Last call.
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – Last call.
  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.– As predicted, the Antelope Valley is nearing peak.. The best colors are found along the West Walker River, north of Sonora Junction. Cottonwood leaves in Walker and Coleville will easily survive the coming weekend storm and should be peaking the first week of November. This is a beautiful boulevard of native color.


October 19, 2022 by
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Bishop Creek and Beyond


S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

“Layered” is a term one color spotter used to describe groves that peak in succession at a given elevation. The same term can be used to describe what’s happening in Bishop Creek Canyon. Though a given location is mostly past peak, some groves which had remained green are now peaking, creating an odd situation where beautiful peak color appears in a forest that is mostly bare branches.

This is happening above Parchers, at Table Mountain and the Mist Falls, at the Groves above Cardinal Village and Sabrina Approach. Once you get up[ to Lake Sabrina, only remnants of past peak can be seen, and it’s gone at North Lake.

Peak in the Bishop Creek Canyon is now found mostly between 8,000′ and 8,500′ presently, and it will soon be down to 7,500′. The best fall color is found in the lower South Fork, up to Mountain Glen Campground. In the Middle Fork, Intake II remains good, though Aspendell is where it’s best.

Temperatures are dropping this weekend, and the colder temps will speed the color process, so do not delay a last look at Bishop Creek Canyon. This is typical for Bishop Creek Canyon. In fact, one could argue this was the best early fall in years. The only negative was that it was warm which didn’t generate many reds.

Pine Creek Pack Station (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Table Mountain Group Camp, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


South Lake Rd, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Mountain Glen, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Mist Falls, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


S Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Groves Above Cardinal Village, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Lake Sabrina, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

Groves Above Cardinal Village, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth


Intake II, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

Elsewhere in Inyo County, Onion Valley (west of Independence) is now past peak. North of Bishop, Lower Rock Creek – an exceptional mountain biking trail – is Near Peak.


Pine Creek (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

Pine Creek Canyon (also north of Bishop) is approaching peak. This is one of the most beautiful canyons in the Eastern Sierra. It features the most impressive stand of Black cottonwood in the state and possibly anywhere in North America.

At peak (two weeks), its trees will form a ribbon of gold bending beside the creek to the foot of a sawtooth range that soars above the canyon.

Driving into Pine Creek Canyon for the first time is one of those, “OMG, I can’t believe I just found this” experiences. As breathtaking as this scene is, few color spotters ever submit photographs from Pine Creek (7,400′), possibly because the June Lake Loop (7,654′) has just peaked.

Aspen at Pine Creek Pack Station at the top of the valley are now Near Peak, the Black Cottonwood in the valley are still Patchy, but in a week to two, they will be stunning.


Black cottonwood, Round Valley (10/18/22) Betsy Forsyth

The Round Valley – passed through on the drive to Pine Creek Canyon – is still Patchy, though its tall cottonwood are gilded in the morning light.

Southern Inyo County

  • Onion Valley (9,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork, Bishop Creek

  • South Lake (9,768′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Weir Pond (9,650′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Willow Campground (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Four Jeffries (8,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

  • Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) — Peak to Past Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW, you almost missed it.
  • Aspendell (8,400′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Intake II (8,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

North Fork, Bishop Creek

  • North Lake (9,225′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
  • North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed it. 

Bishop

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Northern Inyo County

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,400′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.


graphic

October 19, 2022 by
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A Long and Winding Road

June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha


Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, the long and winding road that is US 395 is leading us back again to June and Convict Lakes.

Color spotters Tim Zahala and Bethany Anderson were there this week and share these images that will never disappear.


Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha

Rush Creek, June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha


June Lake Loop (10/16/22) Tim Zalaha


Convict Lake (10/15/22) Bethany Anderson

  • June Lake (7,654′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW!
  • Convict Lake (7,850′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW!


October 19, 2022 by
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Caffein Inspired


Red Lake CreekCabin, Hope Valley (10/18/22) Peter Robbins

Occasionally, I have the great pleasure of meeting some of you who read this blog. Some weeks ago, Peter Robbins – who’d contributed to the site – called to say he’d retired from nuclear medicine, loved photography, loved fall color and could we chat?

So, we arranged to meet yesterday at Karen’s Bakery in Folsom for a cup of Joe and one of their sinfully good pastries. We chatted about photography, this website, fall color and all things in between. Off he went, and so did I.

Fortified with caffein Peter set off only to learn that his wife had a busy afternoon that day, and he was free to explore. Perhaps this would be the moment to begin that coffee table book about fire-scarred landscapes he’d considered creating. He even had a working title for it … “Burnscapes.”

His random exploration led him over Luther Pass and through the Hope Valley where he thought, “John would kill me if I didn’t grab a few shots.” He found the valley to be mostly past peak, but there were bright spots that will last through the weekend, so that inspired him to coin a headline, “Still Hope for Hope Valley.”

Hope Valley (10/18/22) Peter Robbins


West of Picketts Junction, Hope Valley (10/18/22) Peter Robbins

Peter decided to shoot the trees blurred in an opposite way than Vishal Mishra did a few days ago. In Vishal’s shot, a red sports car was sharp and the trees a blur. In Peter’s capture, a red truck is blurred and the trees sharp. One approach focuses on the car, the other on the trees. Both make me smile.

As seen, the Hope Valley has “nice yellow to rich orange,” though lime groves still remain here and there, indicating that peak will last at least another week along CA 88.

Peak color now climbs the hillside behind Red Lake Creek Cabin, though here too there’s a stand of limey aspen still to peak.

All in all, the Hope Valley is about as good as it gets right now and is a definite GO NOW!

Peter and I plan to have another cup when we meet early one November morn to drive up to Colusa to shoot birds (photographically) and the breeze. Perhaps he’ll add a few wildlife shots to his collection of Burnscape images. Sure hope so.


Luther Pass, Hope Valley (10/18/22) Peter Robbins

  • Hope Valley (7,300′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

October 19, 2022 by