Western redbud, Fall River Mills (10/27/19) Martha Fletcher
Heavy winds lashed Northern California, yesterday, stripping many trees of turned leaves.
While driving along Blue Ravine Rd in Folsom leaves littered the road in great piles and would swirl and chase vehicles as they passed.
In Shasta County, Martha Fletcher reported the wind as peeling leaves from trees and shrubs. However, trees that had not yet reached abscission continue to hold onto their leaves.
At Fall River Mills, black oak and redbud are full of yellow, dark rust, dark orange and red. Their colors provide a beautiful contrast to the sparkling whitewater of Pit River Falls.
Half Dome, Photographer’s Bridge, Yosemite Valley (10/26/19) Benjamin Vu
Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Valley (10/26/19) Benjamin Vu
Merced River, Yosemite Valley (10/26/19) Benjamin Vu
Black oak have begun to glow in Yosemite Valley, like jack o’ lanterns on All Hallows Eve.
By Halloween and into the first two weeks in November, their leaves will darken to a deep orange. Contrasted against their black trunks and branches, they are California’s Halloween tree.
Southern California color spotter Benjamin Vu captured these images at the beginning of their transition from yellow to orange. Look for the tell-tale black trunks to identify black oak (Quercus Kelloggii). Other trees in Vu’s photos are mostly cottonwood.
Black oak, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite NP (10/27/19) Son Nguyen
Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite NP (10/27/19) Son Nguyen
Dogwood, Wawona Rd., Yosemite NP (10/27/19) Son Nguyen
Dogwood, Wawona Rd., Yosemite NP (10/27/19) Son Nguyen
San Jose color spotter Son Nguyen found it perfect on Saturday, but strong winds and hail arrived on Sunday, stripping oaks of their leaves. He doubts they will last to the coming weekend.
At Fern Spring (Yosemite Valley) trees are bare at the spring, though “dogwood and maple are fantastic from the Pohono Bridge to Bridalveil Fall.”
Son was disappointed to find the bridge closed for construction with a large container on it in a way that would ruin any shot of the bridge. He estimates this area “will last another week, despite the hail.”
El Capitan Meadow was hit hard by the storm and most of the oaks “were done by Sunday afternoon.” Nguyen notes that he’s visited Yosemite Valley many times, but finds, “this is the weirdest year, ever. Usually, black oak are the last to start, but they’re pretty early this year,” though he added, “that makes the whole valley spectacular because of a different mix of colors.”
If there any black oaks remain to peak in the Valley, they likely will be found at Cooks Meadow, below Yosemite Falls, which Nguyen rates as Patchy.
Typically, Cooks Meadow’s peak continues past Halloween for a week or two, but considering the strong winds predicted this week, we will need additional reports from Yosemite spotters to say whether fall color will continue hanging on in the Valley.
Son found the go-to spot to be the Wawona Roadnear the south entrance of the park (CA-41 – Fishcamp), which he described as “amazing” and that “will last for a while. The dogwood is the best in this area. Strawberry Creek and Bishop Creek along the Wawona Road are also great.”
Round Valley, US 395 (10/27/19) Benjamin Vu
US 395, McGee Creek Canyon (10/27/19) Benjamin Vu
US 395, McGee Creek Canyon (10/27/19) Benjamin Vu
Returning to So. Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 27, Benjamin Vu crossed Tioga Pass to the eastside, then drove south on US 395, finding black cottonwood and black oak at Peak near McGee Creek Canyon as a light snow swirled around his vehicle, while hail was dropping on the westside.
Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Sometimes, spent color is the most beautiful of all.
Philip Reedy photographed dazzling fall color beside the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers in Siskiyou County, then also found beauty in the spent grasses and wind-swept oaks of late autumn.
Appliance Graveyard, CA-96 (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Scott Embry, Upper Sacramento River, Cantera Loop (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Scott Embry, Below McCloud Falls (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
He was out for another of his fly fishing photography expeditions, this time with stops at Castle Crags State Park, Mossbrae Falls and the Cantera Loop, all near Dunsmuir, then north along the Klamath River and into the Seiad Valley.
What’s interesting about Phil’s first two shots (top of page) is that the first is a classic landscape depicting a California icon, but not as Mt. Shasta is typically presented. Instead of being bright and heroic, his view is moody and reflective. The second is of discarded appliances leaning beside a deteriorating shed.
The first image is classic artistic landscape photography, but so too is the second. More importantly, the latter one confirms the idiom, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Click photos to enlarge.
Mt Shasta, Weed (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Klamath River, Heavenly Treek Campground (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Seiad Valley, CA-96 (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Siskiyou County Ranchland (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Upper Sacramento River, Castella (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Mossbrae Falls (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Black oak and bigleaf maple detritus, Mossbrae Falls, Dunsmuir (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Milkweed (10/25/19) Philip ReedyBigleaf maple (10/25/19) Philip Reedy
Reedy shares my view that while the oaks aren’t as colorful as aspen, they have their own distressed beauty, and again his photographs are showing bigleaf maple can be other colors than French’s mustard.
Siskiyou County is a visual sonata right now, though rush to see it. As, strong winds now lashing Northern California (100 mph posted at Lake Tahoe) will surely be transporting these leaves south to the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Siskiyou County – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
Mormon Island Wetlands Reserve, Folsom (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
Fremont cottonwood, Folsom (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
Fremont cottonwood, Folsom (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
Fremont cottonwood at the Mormon Island Wetlands Reserve in Folsom and in open space wetlands are crested with gold, as peak approaches.
Humbug-Willow Creek Trail, Folsom (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
Humbug-Willow Creek Trail, Folsom (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
Chinese pistache, El Dorado Hills (10/26/19) John Poimiroo
This area has peaked, traditionally, in mid November, though the color is already beautiful.
Wetland areas of Folsom’s Humbug-Willow Creek Trail are full of ruby foliage, and streets throughout the area are lined with iridescent exotic Chinese pistache.
Folsom (220′) – Patchy to Near Peak (10-75%) GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2019-10-26 22:39:092019-10-26 22:56:28Sacramento Valley Still Patchy, but Approaching Peak
Potem Falls, Montgomery Creek (10/23/19) Laura Jean
Hike of the week takes you to Potem Falls, an impressive 60-foot drop along Montgomery creek in Shasta-Trinity National Forest near CA-299.
AllTrails.com describes the trail as a .4-mile, lightly trafficked out & back along Montgomery Creek (Trinity County) that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best from March through October. Dog-friendly.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2019-10-26 15:32:372019-10-26 22:57:37Hike to Potem Falls
Hamilton Branch, Feather River (10/26/19) Jeff Luke Titcomb
The Hamilton Branch of the Feather River drops from Dyer Mountain into Lake Almanor.
The designated census area or community of Hamilton Branch has 587 residents beside this stream which is considered to be exceptional for fly fishing.
In late October, Hamilton Branch is edged with firey orange color from oak, willow and maple. Plumas County color spotter Jeff Luke Titcomb scores a First Report for Hamilton Branch, and what a beauty it is.
Hamilton Branch, Lake Almanor (4,505′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
What does a Lassen Volcanic National Park ranger do on her day off? Spends it in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Namely, Shanda Ochs headed to McCloud Falls to hike to the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the McCloud River.
If you’re Goldilocks and have a taste for waterfalls, the biggest of them is the middle one, the smallest is the upper one, and the one below is just right.
Waterfalls are often referred to in the plural (falls), but that isn’t always correct. Perhaps we do this because Yosemite Falls and Niagara Falls are so well known.
In fact, a waterfall is a single drop, such as McCloud Middle Fall (seen above). When a waterfall ends with “falls” as in Niagara Falls or Yosemite Falls, it refers to the entirety of waterfalls. In Yosemite’s case, there is an Upper Yosemite Fall, the middle cascades, and Lower Yosemite Fall.
Cascades are created when a stream runs over a series of drops, such as seen beside the Cascade Trail at Spanish Creek in Plumas County.
The McCloud Falls Trail is 1.5 miles one way. Along the path, you’ll see black oak, ninebark, alder, dogwood and by the river, Indian rhubarb that’s just past prime.
McCloud River (10/24/19) Shanda Ochs
McCloud River Trail (10/24/19) Shanda Ochs
McCloud River Trail (10/24/19) Shanda Ochs
California Gray Squirrel, McCloud (10/24/19) Shanda Ochs
Shanda encourages readers to visit Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic for stunning views of Lassen Peak reflected in the lake that is ringed with bright color, but hurry. Lassen Volcanic NP is nearing Past Peak.
McCloud Falls, McCloud (3,271′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2019-10-25 23:33:392019-10-26 07:47:28A Tale of Three Falls
Apple tree, Apple Pantry Farm, Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
As American as Apple Pie. Apples are part of our DNA. It’s no wonder, then, that so many apple growing areas attract lots of people during apple harvest.
That happens in Camino (El Dorado County) when, in 1964, farmers recognized that their apple farms could not survive selling apples in competition with other growers.
So, they copied a marketing program started in Southern California’s Oak Glen to attract apple tourists for harvest. It worked.
The Apple Hill Growers Association started with 16 growers and now has 55 ranchers, including Christmas tree growers, wineries, vineyards, a B&B and a spa.
What happens on Apple Hill is a lot of traditional orchard tending for eight months of the year, and an apple-centric part festival, part fair for the remaining four.
Each ranch has a different theme. All sell some form of apple product (candied apples, baked apple pastries, preserves, cider, etc.), fruits, nuts, honey or vegetables. Many sell unique gifts (bird houses, handcarved signs, windmills, dolls, soaps, hay and train rides and cosmetics.
What ties the farms and ranches together is an old-fashioned good time.
Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
Apple Hill, Camino (10/20/19) Ravi Ranganathan
Ravi Ranganathan visited with his family to send these glimpses of Apple Hill.
Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
The Hayfork hayride is a fun excursion. It winds along CA-3 in the Trinity Alps area of UpState California, through Hayfork, up Coffee Creek and past Round Mountain.
In autumn, the hayride is a riot of fall color and the perfect byway for a ride on a motorbike, as Laura Beeson (Photography by Laura Jean) shows.
