John Poimiroo – Page 9 – California Fall Color

First Frost

On Friday (Oct. 28), Philip Reedy drove east from Davis on I-80 to explore a favorite and little-traveled route from Truckee north to Sierraville, then west along CA 49 over Yuba Pass and back down to the Central Valley.

Phil reports that it is Past Peak in Truckee and for most of 89, though it brightens approaching Sierraville at Cold Creek. There, he captured the first frost seen this autumn, a harbinger of a winter storm that is predicted to arrive on Tuesday.

Cold Creek Campground, Sierraville (10/28/22) Philip Reedy

Cold Creek, Sierraville (10/28/22) Philip Reedy

Cold Creek Campground had a mix of Peak and Past Peak color. Lurid yellow blended with chartreuse and chestnut among the aspen and cottonwood.

From Cold Creek, Phil and John, a fellow angler, headed to Packer Lake in the Lakes Basin and “hit it just at the right time.” Reedy cautions about its aspen, “but even those will be gone very soon.” If you want to get there to see/photograph peak, pack and drive up this weekend, at latest by Monday, as a week from now it’ll all be laid out, looking up at the sky.

Phil combines fall color with fly fishing photography. He grinned when saying “luckily there was a fly fisherman already on the water, just where I needed him to be.” Now, if working with models was as easy or as inexpensive.

Usually at this time in October, the Golden Chain Highway (49) from Yuba Pass to Downieville is peaking, but this year the trees were Just Starting to appear along the North Fork of the Yuba.

That means, it should be prime by the end of the coming week. Though rain and snow are forecast midweek, they won’t ruin the leaves and may “precipitate” some change, Phil suggests.

Lavezzola Creek, Downieville (10/28/22) Philip Reedy

Frequent visitors to this site might recall that last year Lavezzola Creek, a few miles north of Downieville, had its glorious line of Indian rhubarb (Darmera) devastated by a late October snowstorm and its runoff. Phil reminds us, “The flows on the Yuba are currently around 100 cfs, but a year ago they hit 9,000 cfs!”

Phil last visited the area in August, finding that rhubarb “had come back with a vengeance.”

Some of their large fan-shaped leaves are irridescent, cadmium yellow and, Should Zeus be kind and they survive this week’s downpour, those leaves will be magically tinted mustard, magenta, mango, mocha, mint and maroon mats by the end of the coming week … a sight to behold.

Color spotters: head to Lavezzola Creek next weekend!

Truckee (5,817′) – Past Peak, You missed it.
Upper Little Truckee (6,200′) – Past Peak, You missed it.
Cold Stream (5,817′) – Past Peak, You missed it.
Cold Creek (5,680′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.
Sierraville (4,957′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Packer Lake, Sierra City (6,234′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Yuba Pass (6,709′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sierra City (4,147′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Lavezzola Creek (3,113′) – Just Starting (10-50%)
Downieville (2,966′) – Just Starting (10-50%)

October 29, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Last Call at Convict

California Fall Color rated Convict Lake as PEAK to Past Peak this week, but that didn’t stop Mammoth Lakes spotter Angie Plaisted from heading there on Friday to see for herself.

Her camera phone images confirm the rating, but also that visiting a location transitioning toward Past Peak, still has its rewards.

Convict Lake remains a “Go Now” recommendation for this weekend, though hurry, as snow arrives on Tuesday.

Convict Lake (10/28/22) Angie Plaisted

Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

October 28, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Shasta Cascade

A Passion for Lassen

Shanda Ochs has a passion for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As it is, I do too.

Lassen Volcanic is a truly fascinating place. Because it is the southernmost peak in the Cascades, it attracts different animals and plants than are found on Dyer Mountain, the northernmost peak in the Sierra Nevada, a few miles to its southeast.

Lassen Peak is now past peak, as is most of Lassen Volcanic. Though Shanda found Near Peak color along the Manzanita Lake trail, on Thursday.

She wrote, “It was late afternoon, so there were some long shadows. The plants are primarily Pacific willow, mountain alder (many alder are still fully green), and black cottonwood. The cottonwood were peaking, as were the willow.

Willow and Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

Black cottonwood, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs

At an elevation of 5,900′, Manzanita lake is lower than most of the other fall color locations in the national park and, thus the last to peak in Lassen Volcanic.

The Manzanita Lake Trail is a loop of only 1.8 miles but full of entertaining vistas. Reflected in the lake’s mirror surface from the west end is Lassen Peak, southernmost of the Cascades. To its north, the scraggly Chaos Crags lava dome volcanoes loom.

Moving across the lake in a slow-motion ballet are coot, mallards and Canada geese. A lone Great Blue heron can be found standing sentinel near shore, while an osprey surveys the surface from his eyrie for signs of rising “bows.”

No bald eagle was seen on Shanda’s walk, though a convocation of them will gather near Lava Beds National Monument to overwinter, and the park’s American eagles may have already flown there, or south, for the party.

The Manzanita Lake Trail is such a wonderful walk, that California Fall Color has designated it as next week’s Hike of the Week. If traveling to Lassen Volcanic, lodging is now found in Redding (CA-44).

Manzanita Lake (5,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

October 28, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Eastern Sierra, Fall Color Report

Mono – Winding Down

The intense and beautiful display of Eastern Sierra autumn color that first peaked in Mono County is now winding down, but is not done, yet.

A few locations still offer brilliant displays, but they will be short lived. The coming week will likely be the last chance to capture High Sierra gold in 2022.

The combination of last weekend’s storm and a sudden drop in temperatures, pushed many locations past peak.

Mono County’s Jeff Simpson reports, “Anything over the 7,200′ elevation level will have to wait until next year. This includes Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Bodie Hills, Virginia Lakes, Conway Summit, Summers Meadows, Tioga Pass, Sagehen Summit, Mammoth Lakes Basin, McGee Creek, and Rock Creek Road.”

Those aspen unscathed by the storm, still carry tawny and titian leaves, though most have a mix of leaves that vary from vibrant peak, to bare, to those that took the brunt of the cold snap and are now dressed in drab brown.

Mono County spotters are predicting a week at most before all remaining aspen are denuded. Hold outs remain: Twin Lakes, Bridgeport, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, June Lake Loop, Crowley Lake and Convict Lake. Of them, Twin Lakes has the best color.

While aspen are declining, cottonwood are improving. There is fall brilliance to be appreciated along the banks of the West Walker River (US 395) and in the Antelope Valley of northern Mono County. The Walker River Canyon should be perfection through the weekend.

To its north, a gorgeous boulevard of Black cottonwood lines 395 through the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. These are just now nearing peak and should remain good for two weeks.

Rock Creek Canyon

Lower Rock Creek Road (7,500′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Crowley Lake/McGee Creek, Convict Lake

Crowley Community (6,949′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – A mixed bag of peak aspen, past peak stands and some areas with muted brown leaves follows the recent storm.
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Convict Lake (7,850′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – It’s a mix of peak, past peak and muted brown leaves.

Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes (7,881′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

June Lake Loop

June Lake Loop (7,654′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it. – Last week, the June Lake Loop was peak of the week, now it’s mostly gone.

Lee Vining / Lundy

Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – PEAK to Past Peak, Go now, you almost missed it.

Bridgeport / Virginia Lakes / Dunderberg / Summers

Twin Lakes (7,000′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Surprisingly great color is still to be found around both lakes. Visit before 11 a.m. for the best lighting.
Conway Summit (8,143) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

Lobdell / Sonora Pass/ Walker / Coleville / Topaz

Lobdell Lake Road (9,274′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Molybdenite Creek Trail (7,865′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW! – It’s golden along the West Walker River, but still greenish in the Antelope Valley. The towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz will peak in the coming week.

October 26, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Eastern Sierra, Video, Western Sierra

Reminiscence

Peak has passed in the Eastern Sierra and is approaching to the west. Ken Robesky sends this video reminiscence of what was seen a week ago as he traveled both sides in a search for fall color.

October 26, 2022 /1 Comment/by John Poimiroo

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October 26, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Drive of the Week, Eastern Sierra, Fall Color Report

Up The Creek

As far as fall color goes, well, Bishop Creek is now up the creek.

Bishop color spotter Betsy Forsyth reports Bishop Creek Canyon as being largely past peak, though spots of bright color are still found at lower elevations.

As seen in the above image of Intake II in the lower Middle Fork of Bishop Creek, peak color remains along shore, though many stripped trees are seen in the distance. That’s typical of what fall color remains in Bishop Creek Canyon.

Elsewhere in Inyo County, peak continues with reports of beautiful color at Big Pine Canyon and developing in Pine Creek Canyon and at Lower Rock Creek.

Four Jeffrey, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

S Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Mountain Glen Camp, S Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Aspendell, M Fork Bishop Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Lower Rock Creek Canyon, (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Lower Rock Creek (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Lower Rock Creek Canyon, (10/25/22) Betsy Forsyth

Big Pine Creek (10/20/22) Marianne Brettell Vaughn

Scenes like the following of North Lake, captured on Oct. 19, are long gone.

Peak is now found in the lower canyons, Pine Creek, Lower Rock Creek and Big Pine which earns the distinction of being named “Drive of the Week.”

Moving toward peak are Bishop and the Owens Valley. They are still patchy but very close to Near Peak.

Southern Inyo County

Big Pine Creek (7,660′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

Bishop Creek Canyon is past peak. There are a few colors still lingering around in the lower South and Middle Forks, so still pretty, but past peak. The best colors are at Aspendell.

South Fork, Bishop Creek

Mountain Glen Camp (8,850′) – Past Peak, You Missed it.
Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Four Jeffries (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

Middle Fork, Bishop Creek

Aspendell (8,400′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Intake II (8,000′) – PEAK/Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

Bishop

Bishop has yellows scattered throughout. There are still LOTS of green trees, so the colors are still to come.

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%) Closer to 50%

Northern Inyo County

Both Lower Rock Creek Rd. and Lower Pine Creek Station are at Peak up canyon and Near Peak lower in the canyons. Round Valley has numerous trees crested with yellow and gold.

Lower Rock Creek Rd ((7,087′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
Round Valley (4,692′) – Patchy (10-50%) Closer to 50%
Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
Pine Creek Pack Station (7,.400′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

October 25, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Northern Sierra

Plumas Keeps Going and Going and …

Bucks Lake and Spanish Creek in Plumas County keep going and going. Though, this is the moment to go, as peak has crested.

Color spotter Jeff Luke Titcomb reported dense stands of peaking aspen at Buck’s Lake and pastelian Indian Paintbrush (Darmera) lining Spanish Creek near Keddie on the Old Highway Road, six miles from Quincy.

There, Indian Paintbrush and golden yellow bigleaf maple dominate. Black oak throughout Plumas County are now showing their orange, red and yellow in bold contrast to their starkly black limbs.

Darmera, Spanish Creek, Keddie (10/23/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Aspen, Bucks Lake (10/23/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Spanish Creek, Keddie (10/23/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Spanish Creek, Keddie (5,817′) PEAK (75-10%) GO NOW!
Bucks Lake (5,167′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

October 25, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Inland Empire, Southern California

Bear Hunting

It’s illegal to go bear hunting with a dog in California, but don’t tell that to Paco who led Soyoung Kim on a hunt for fall color at Big Bear Lake.

Soyoung reported, “In talking to some locals, it seems we arrived just past peak, but still found some lovely color,” walking along the town’s main street, then to the Happy Hills Trail for a hike, that Paco relished, especially the smells.

After a stop at Ben and Jerry’s for Coffee, Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz! ice cream (Funny, my dogs prefer vanilla), Soyoung was powered for another hike up the Castle Rock Trail, leaving Paco to rest his weary 14-year-old bones and wonder why he didn’t get a taste of the ice cream.

With the Sun now on the other side of the San Bernardinos, Soyoung’s photos began to darken as light lessened, telling her it was time to turn back.

She found Paco secure and dreaming of fall color, bears and of licking an ice cream cone.

Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.

October 25, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, High Sierra

Bare Limbs at Tahoe

Bare limbs at Martis Creek Cabin (CA 267 near Brockway Summit) declare emphatically, “You missed it.”

A brief visit to North Lake Tahoe to winterize the family cabin included stops along the north shore, which varies between Peak and Past peak. There are spots of peak color, though it’s mostly gone.

Still, there’s a lovely visual warmth provided by the remaining gamboge, copper and scarlet foliage found lingering in Kings Beach, Carnelian Bay and Tahoe City as the chill days of November approach.

Martis Creek Cabin, CA 267, Brockway Summit (10/24/22) John Poimiroo

Martis Creek Meadow, Brockway Summit (10/24/22) John Poimiroo

Onyx St., Carnelian Bay (10/25/22) John Poimiroo

Rose Hips, Carnelian Bay (10/25/22) John Poimiroo

Interstate 80’s fall color is seen only briefly at Cisco Grove, when heading west in the afternoon. Otherwise, nothing stands out.

Martis Creek Cabin (5,925′) – Past Peak, you missed it.
North Lake Tahoe (6,225′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
Cisco Grove (I-80) (5,643′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now,

October 25, 2022 by John Poimiroo

About John Poimiroo

Entries by John Poimiroo

First Frost

Last Call at Convict

A Passion for Lassen

Mono – Winding Down

Reminiscence

Win $1,000 in Gear

Up The Creek

Plumas Keeps Going and Going and …

Bear Hunting

Bare Limbs at Tahoe

Destination

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