Archive for category: Fall Color Report

There are probably a thousand words in this report, but a picture – particularly one taken by Krisdina Karady – is worth all of them.

As her photos show, Bishop Creek has moved to Near Peak in the past week.  Here’s the analysis by Jared Smith, with photos from Karady’s Kustom Art.

Overall Conditions Above 8500ft Elevation – Near Peak (50% – 75%) – The color has really come on since last week in the higher elevations with many of the popular fall color areas quickly nearing peak fall color. There are still plenty of areas and groves that are mostly green, but we’re certainly in the “Go Now!” zone with enough spectacular color to keep most photographers entertained. We have a bit of wind forecasted to come through this week but only time will tell if there is any affect on the color.

Overall Conditions Between 7500ft & 8500ft Elevation – Just Starting (0% – 10%) – Slightly more yellow is popping off lower down in the canyon but overall, things are still just starting down there.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – The canyon wall above the pond is mostly yellow now and a few of the aspen around the shoreline are now showing excellent color as well. We’re not quite to peak yet as many of the lower lying aspen are still a mix of green and yellow but things are currently gorgeous.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Sabrina Campground Area (9000ft) – The aspen along Hwy 168 are going off in a big way right now and are at or near peak. There’s still lots of green within the campground itself and along the stream, hence my “near peak” rating.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – The canyon walls to the east and west of the resort are beaming with yellow, orange and rosy hues, as are many of the aspen on the resort grounds.

Patchy (10 – 50%)  – Willow Campground (9000ft) – This area is holding onto the green surprisingly long, which is out of the ordinary for this location and elevation. Views up canyon from the campground are beautiful but the campground and the aspen lining the road and the beaver pond or mostly lime green still. I would expect things to be much different next week.

Near Peak (50-75%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – The mountainside just down canyon from the campground is gorgeous exhibiting brilliant yellow and a touch of orange. The aspen along the creek are still mostly green but that should change within the next week.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – There is a lot of color showing here, but there’s plenty of green too so this area is closer to 50% than 75%. Still, there are some plenty of photo-worthy views right now. Look for this to really go off in the next week to 10 days.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Lots of color showing at the lake, especially towards the back of the lake and all along the eastern shoreline.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Approach (9100ft) – The approach to Sabrina and the small ponds below the dam are still mostly green with just touchy yellow. This is one of my favorite areas so I’m hopeful that things will pick up here over the next week.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – North Lake (9255ft) – We’re nearing peak color on the approach to the lake and the groves on the mountainside above the lake are nearing peak as well. There is still a lot of green along the road, but things have really progressed quickly over the past week.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – Still not much color happening just yet.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Just a touch of yellow here and there in this neighborhood.

Near Peak (50 – 75%)  – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – The canyon slope from above Cardinal Village up to Cardinal Pinnacle has tons of color and is nearing peak color. Still, even though the hillside aspen are glowing, there is a lot of green down near the middle fork of Bishop Creek and surrounding Cardinal Village so this area will be extremely scenic for a couple weeks at least if the weather holds out.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.

Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The aspen surrounding the lake are turning to a light lime green but aside from that, just a few scrub aspen on the hillside have turned.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.

 

Spots of bright yellow have begun to appear in a few aspen and willows at high elevations in the Eastern Sierra (U.S. 395) from Bishop Creek to Carson Pass (CA-88).

This is normal and does not indicate an early autumn show, though the overall health and robust green color of the aspen forest is encouraging. Conditions permitting, the fall color display in the Eastern Sierra should be as good as ever.

The Eastern Sierra aspen forest is mostly devoid of black leaf spot fungus, as was prevalent in the Northern Sierra last autumn. Though, willows, particularly at higher elevations, are dusted with yellow-orange rust fungus, and some aspen leaves carry nipple galls (small cream-colored bulges that contain insect larvae). The rust and galls will have inconsequential effect on the show, however.

More of a threat to California fall color has been the decline of native lady bugs (replaced by imported foreign varieties), as lady bugs are voracious consumers of aphids which can destroy aspen leaves and their color.

Aphids do not kill aspen, but they do reduce their autumn beauty. An Alpine County resident said she’s noticed a larger than normal number of aphids, as evidenced by the honeydew they drip on cars and deck furniture.

0-10% – Just Starting – Bishop Creek Canyon and the Owens Valley – At Parcher’s Resort near South Lake, Jared Smith was encouraged by the high lake levels, which will provide brightly colored reflections at South, Sabrina and North Lake.

He reported that bright spots of yellow began appearing this week high up along the east canyon wall and among the willow.

In Bishop, towering cottonwood flanking the Owens River are verdant and seemingly unaware that autumn is approaching.

0-10% – Just Starting – Mammoth Lakes Basin – Similar spots of color are seen in the Lakes Basin at Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes’ many paved bike paths were full of families out for a ride through green groves of aspen. Mammoth Lakes Tourism is putting heightened emphasis on fall events, activities, festivals, programs and fall color reporting, this year, including locals recommending their favorite fall color hikes and rides. Mammoth Lakes Tourism has dedicated a page on their website to fall with new features and special offers.

0-10% – Just Starting – June Lake, Conway Summit, Virginia Lakes – No color is yet evident near June Lake or Conway Summit, where aspen are uniformly green. However, up toward Virginia Lakes, the change has started. Carolyn Webb of the Virginia Lakes Resort said “a burn (quick freeze) came through this past week, followed by spots of yellow appearing along the road.”

The color isn’t evident driving to the Virginia Lakes, but it is on the return when leaves are backlit by the sun.

Golden rabbit brush are beginning to bloom beside purple lupine beside the Virginia Lakes Road. For the coming month, the combination of early fall color and late blooming wildflowers can be seen at high elevations in the Eastern Sierra.

0-10% – Just Starting – Walker River and Antelope Valley – At Meadowcliff Lodge, north of Walker, Tim Fesko is still in summer season mode, too busy to notice early emerging fall color, though he is optimistic about the potential for this autumn’s display, noting how much rain and snow fell last winter.

0-10% – Just Starting – Monitor Pass – Hints of yellow are emerging as aspen lose their chlorophyll are seen in groves on the east side of Monitor Pass (CA-89) and beside the upper forks of the Carson River.

0-10% – Just Starting – Markleeville – Black cottonwood at the Markleeville Heritage and Nature Park are dark green, healthy and ready to reveal their golden color.

0-10% – Just Starting – Hope Valley and Carson Pass – Continuing north, the Hope Valley and Carson Pass (CA-88) have a mix of stressed (light green) to robust (dark green) aspen, though overall the forest is doing better. John Brissenden at Sorensen’s Resort near the junction of CA-88 and CA-89, was encouraged by the improved vitality of Hope Valley’s aspen groves.  Again, this area should expect a strong show of color this autumn.

The take away from this scouting trip is that Eastern Sierra deciduous trees and shrubs are healthy, robust and prime for a great show this fall.