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Goin’ to Jackson

Jackson Lake, Angeles National Forest (11/5/19) Lance Pifer

Johnny Cash and June Carter would surely be “talkin’ ’bout Jackson,” ’cause the fire there’s not gone out. Black oak at Jackson Lake in the Angeles National Forest are aflame with color.

Lance Pifer visited Jackson Lake this past weekend, to find the Wrightwood/Valyermo areas displaying bright yellow and deep orange leaves.

  • Black oak, Angeles National Forest (11/5/19) Lance Pifer
  • Jackson Lake Cabin, Angeles National Forest (11/5/19) Lance Pifer
  • Rabbitbrush, black oak, Jackson Lake (11/5/19) Lance Pifer
  • Black oak, Angeles National Forest (11/5/19) Lance Pifer
  • Jackson Lake trail, Angeles National Forest (11/5/19) Lance Pifer

Lance went for a run through the color along a Jackson Lake trail and enjoyed the color near Mountain High ski area near Wrightwood along CA-2. 

  • Valyermo Ranch (11/5/19) Lance Pifer

Indian summer weather is providing a short-sleeved extension to warm days and late autumn color in and around the lake, Wrightwood and Valyermo. And, it’s not just the weather that’s hotter’n a pepper sprout. So is the fall color. Lance figures it varies from 50 to 80% turned. Considering the late date, we’re classifying it as Peak and recommend to GO NOW!

As, snow will soon blanket the San Gabriel Mountains, and then, big-talkin’ man, you’re gonna snowball Jackson, kinda like the song says.

  • Jackson Lake, Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains (6,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Chico’s Chinese Color

Chico Seed Orchard (11/3/19) Robert Kermen

Growing throughout Chico in the Northern Sacramento Valley are hundreds of Chinese Pistache trees, pistachia chenensis, and their nut variety, pistachia vera.

That has happened due to the efforts of the Mendocino National Forest’s Genetic Resource Center, commonly known as the Chico Seed Orchard, where new plants from all over the world are observed as to how they will fare in this climate.

  • Chico Seed Orchard (11/3/19) Robert Kermen
  • Chinese pistache, Chico (11/3/19) Robert Kermen

The result of all that experimentation has been to introduce farm products such as kiwis, almonds, cherries and pistachios to California agriculture.

It also has made Chico one of the most colorful urban forests in California.

Chinese pistache, Chico (11/3/19) Robert Kermen

The Chinese pistache is one of the most appreciated landscape trees because of its fluorescent fall color, its summer shade, hardiness and deep rooting, which means they don’t raise sidewalks like many other ornamental trees.

Chinese pistache are now at all stages of color throughout Chico, reports Chico area color spotter Robert Kermen. Though, he adds that this year is different – a common theme experienced not just in California, but nationwide – with deciduous plants showing fall color early, late and inconsistently.

In some areas, this has resulted in longer displays (e.g., Bishop Creek). In other areas, much abbreviated ones (e.g., June Lake Loop). That Chico’s Chinese Color now varies from Just Starting to Peak, indicates this could be a long-lasting show for Chico.

Currently, Chico’s urban forest, overall, is transitioning from Patchy to Near Peak with vibrant color appearing throughout the city’s downtown and along The Esplanade, a boulevard that is canopied with landmark trees (Chinese pistache, red maple, dogwood, Western Sycamore, various oaks and London plane trees).

A visit to Chico in autumn is a delight, particularly with stops to tour the Sierra Nevada Brewery, to dine in its excellent restaurant or any of Chico’s other first-rate restaurants, to drop into one of Chico’s exceptional art galleries or visit Orient and Flume Art Glass or to tour the Bidwell Mansion, home of one of California’s most respected pioneers.

Following a visit to Chico, head north seven miles on CA-99 to visit the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina where an 800-year-old Cistercian gothic monastic chapter house (a true architectural masterpiece) has been rebuilt to serve as the abbey’s church. Wine tasting is offered on weekends at the abbey winery.

  • Chico (197′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
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At Last, LA

Tupelo tree, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (11/2/19) Frank McDonough

When Frank McDonough of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens reports, we’re in the home stretch.

Fall Color in Arcadia is Just Starting, but early November combines late blooms and early change, as seen in Frank’s photographs.

It’s also a reminder that arboretums and botanical gardens throughout California are looking good.

  • Redbud, LA County Arboretum (11/2/19) Frank McDonough
  • Floss silk, LA County Arboretum (11/2/19) Frank McDonough
  • Floss silk, LA County Arboretum (11/2/19) Frank McDonough
  • Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum (11/2/19) Frank McDonough
  • Tupelo tree, LA County Arboretum (11/2/19) Frank McDonough
  • LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Arcadia (530′) – Just Starting (10-50%)

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Dripping Down The Rivers

Cottonwood, Knights Ferry (11/3/19) Jim Adams

Fall color is dripping down the rivers through the central valley.

Color spotter Jim Adams provides a First Report from Knight’s Ferry where he attended the annual pumpkin roll to find riverside cottonwood and willows and walnut orchards at peak.

Willow, Knights Ferry, Stanislaus River (11/3/19) Jim Adams

He reports that down the Stanislaus River in Oakdale, cottonwood and valley oak have yet to peak.

  • Knights Ferry, Stanislaus River (213′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
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Yosemite Is Still At It

Half Dome reflection in the Merced River, Photographer’s Bridge, Yosemite Valley (11/2/19) Clayton Peoples

Yosemite National Park is a progressive peak.

It begins in the high country, with pockets of aspen and willows turning, then descends to Yosemite Valley and along the Wawona Road with bigleaf maple and dogwood providing a colorful blend of hot pink and cadmium yellow.

Then, orange black oak and golden cottonwood complete the show from the week before Halloween through the first two weeks of November.

  • Merced River, Yosemite Valley (11/2/19) Clayton Peoples
  • Merced River, Yosemite Valley (11/2/19) Clayton Peoples
  • Merced River, Yosemite Valley (11/2/19) Clayton Peoples

Clayton Peoples was there yesterday (Nov. 2) to confirm that “Yosemite Valley is still sporting peak conditions.”

  • Yosemite Valley (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Finding Gold in Rich Bar

Unmarked graves, Rich Bar (11/2/19) Michael Beatley

It’s name speaks of its wealth … Rich Bar.

In the 1850s, Rich Bar in the Feather River Canyon attracted thousands of argonauts. Many never left. Gravemarkers, memorials and headstones tell a grim story of their fates.

Mining accident … drowned … illness … hanged for theft … murdered … stabbed … hanged for murder … accidental shooting … killed in duel … shot … gunshot suicide.

Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley spent a day exploring his county’s historic places and came back with a few visual nuggets, though no real gold.

  • Rich Bar (11/2/19) Michael Beatley
  • Rich Bar (11/2/19) Michael Beatley
  • Rich Bar (11/2/19) Michael Beatley
  • Rich Bar (11/2/19) Michael Beatley

He reports that the oak and dogwood are still golden. Union Pacific tracks pass near Rich Bar along the Feather River, for those who enjoy combining rail and fall color photography.

  • Rich Bar, Plumas County (2,402′) – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
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Decent Color Declines

Kentucky Mine, Sierra City (11/2/19) Philip Reedy

“Decent color is getting hard to find,” wrote Philip Reedy of a scouting trip he took through Plumas County. “Most of the color is gone.”

  • N Fork Yuba River, Downieville (11/1/19) Philip Reedy
  • Bassetts Station, CA-49 (11/1/19) Philip Reedy
  • Belden, CA-70 (11/1/19) Philip Reedy
  • La Porte Rd., Plumas County (11/1/19) Philip Reedy
  • Sardine Lake, Plumas County (11/1/19) Philip Reedy

He was surprised, however, by the color surrounding Sardine Lake at 6,000′, from the black oak near Bassetts Station (CA-49) and enveloping the historic buildings at Kentucky Mine in Sierra City (now closed for the season).

  • N Fork Yuba River (11/1/19) Philip Reedy

And, to show his ride also promotes what he does, Phil – who photographs fly fishing – sent this image of his license plate.

  • Plumas County – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
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Silverwood Turns Gold

  • Silverwood Lake (10/30/19) Chien-Chang Kyle Chen
  • Silverwood Lake (10/30/19) Chien-Chang Kyle Chen
  • Silverwood Lake (10/30/19) Chien-Chang Kyle Chen
  • Silverwood Lake (10/30/19) Chien-Chang Kyle Chen

Silverwood Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains is a great recreational destination, popular for water sports and for fishing rainbow trout, largemouth bass, striped bass, Channel catfish and bluegill.

Because the Silverwood Lake is lightly forested, it is not often reported for fall having much fall color. However, Silverwood’s cottonwood, oak and willows are now Near Peak to Peak.

The leading reason to head to Silverwood lake is its recreation, though for the moment, fall color will greet you warmly as it did color spotter Chien-Chang Kyle Chen, today.

  • Silverwood Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (3,356′) Chien-Chang Kyle Chen – Near Peak to Peak (50-100%) GO NOW!
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Caught and Released

Native rainbow trout, Merced River, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer

Color spotter Lance Pifer lost track of how many of Yosemite’s wild rainbow trout he caught and released at 25.

  • Merced River, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer
  • Merced River, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer
  • Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer

The best place to net native rainbows is on the Merced River, below Yosemite Valley. A spot favored by park employees is the Cascade Creek picnic area above the Arch Rock entrance station. Walk downstream from the picnic area to find holes little fished by park visitors.

Lance was fishing on the South Fork of the Merced River, four miles upstream from the Wawona Hotel and Illilouette Creek which is a tributary of the Merced.  He notes that some really big brown trout can be had on the south fork of the Merced above the main fork.  

Other non-natives in the national park, include brook, golden and Lahontan cutthroat trout, but the rainbow are the only native trout.

Lance noted how amazing Yosemite was with color peaking and temperatures in the 80s. That’s changed since he visited. Daytime temperatures are now 40 degrees cooler.

  • Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer
  • Half Dome, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer
  • Panoramic Trail, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer
  • Bigleaf maple, Yosemite NP (10/26/19) Lance Pifer

Best valley fall color is now found among the black oak at Cooks Meadow, near Yosemite Falls.

  • Yosemite Valley (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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El Rio de las Plumas

Rail and automobile bridges crisscross in the Feather River Canyon (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb

John Marsh and Jose Noriega were exploring Northern California in 1836, traveling up the Sacramento River in dugout canoes, when they came to a tributary to the Sacramento that was covered in feathers. They named the newly discovered tributary, El Rio de las Plumas, River of the Feathers.

Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb

The Feather River is one of California’s great waterways. Most impressively, it drops 4,350′ in its first 74 miles.

That makes it not only one of America’s most scenic rivers but also one of the most productive at generating hydroelectric power.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co., gets a good part of its energy from Feather River hydroelectric plants in a “stairway of power” that climbs from Lake Oroville to Mountain Meadows Reservoir, above Lake Almanor.

  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Along CA-70, a beautiful mix of fall color can be seen growing beside the river and the creeks that run into it. Willow, black oak, bigleaf maple, dogwood, grasses and Indian rhubarb are now at peak and reflecting their chartreuse, yellow, gold, orange and red colors in the river’s clear waters.

Dogwood, Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Howell’s Bridge, N Fork Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Plumas County color spotter Jeff Luke Titcomb drove down the canyon from Greenville to Beldon Town Resort.

We’ll let you in on a secret. Jeff didn’t make the trip just to scope out fall color. He treated himself to a cheeseburger at Beldon Town. Though, he did find peak fall color at Indian Creek, Feather Falls, Twain, Beldon Town and Howell’s Bridge, not to mention a scary jack o’lantern in the Beldon Town store.

Beldon Town Resort Store, Feather River (10/29/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
  • Feather River (CA-70) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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