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Gone Big in Big Pine

Frémont cottonwood, Big Pine (10/30/18) Mark Harding

Cottonwood cannot be overlooked in the Owens Valley. They’re just too big.

Color spotter Mark Harding was driving US 395 through Big Pine on Tuesday when he could hardly stop looking up, and it wasn’t the views of Mt. Whitney that caught his eye.

Frémont and black cottonwood (Populus Fremontii and Populus trichocarpa) each grow to 100 feet in height in the Eastern Sierra.

A landmark Frémont cottonwood can be as tall as an 11-story building and five feet wide at its base.

Their limbs are loaded with golden leaves at peak and, with little else as tall in the Owens Valley, elder cottonwood dominate the valley horizon.

The most pronounced difference between each genus is its leaves. Frémont cottonwood have heart-shaped leaves, while those of the black cottonwood are spear-tip shaped.

Those in Mark’s pictures are Near Peak, though cottonwood hold their leaves longer than aspen, so they will continue to stay bright for another two weeks.

Cottonwood growing nearby in the Alabama Hills have peaked in January, proving a durability that just cannot be overlooked. 

  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
  • Cottonwood, Big Pine (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • Cottonwood, Big Pine (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • Cottonwood, Big Pine (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • Cottonwood, Big Pine (10/30/18) Mark Harding
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The Eye of the Beholder

June Lake Loop (10/30/18) Mark Harding

A proverb restated since the third century, B.C., is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

One might look at Mark Harding’s photographs of June Lake, post peak, and see nothing but gray, bare limbs.

Mark recognized the beauty within the austerity of the forest.

Just because an object, a plant or a person is worn, past peak or aging does not mean it is without beauty, character or interest as Mark so artistically  depicts in his photographs. 

  • June Lake Loop (7,654′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT. Or, did you?
  • June Lake Loop (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • June Lake Loop (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • June Lake Loop (10/30/18) Mark Harding
  • June Lake Loop (10/30/18) Mark Harding
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Private Waters

Bigleaf maple, Hat Creek Ranch (10/30/18) Martha Fletcher

The Fly Shop in Redding operates streamside fishing cabins on private waters. That might sound exclusive, but visiting them is as easy as staying at one of their lodges, whether you’re an angler or not.

Shasta Cascade color spotter Martha Fletcher was at The Fly Shop’s Hat Creek Ranch and found its two streamside vacation cabins shaded by yellow bigleaf maples.

Nearby, “the creek offers meadow fishing with undercut banks and willows that offer just enough cover to keep the fish happy, but not so overgrown that an angler can’t present a fly to one of the numerous trout that rise consistently throughout the day. PMD, BWO, Caddis, Stoneflies, Midges, Hoppers and other assorted Terrestrials and even streamer patterns, all have their time and place during the many seasons of Hat Creek.

“Hat Creek is noted for the vibrancy of its aquatic life. Top water action is prevalent every day of the season, and opportunities abound for nymph and streamer fishing as well. There are fish of all sizes in this stretch of river, and patient anglers, who take the time to stalk their quarry and make a good presentation, can sight-cast to some real bruisers,” The Fly Shop writes.

As for Hat Creek Ranch’s fall color, it appears to be dropping off. 

  • Hat Creek Ranch (3,422′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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It Was Beautiful While It Lasted

Halloween Tree, Black oak, Topaz Lake (10/30/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism

Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson’s final report just arrived. He wrote, “One of the most spectacular fall color seasons in recent memory is slowly coming to an end.

“Most locations in Mono County are now past peak with the exception of Lower Rock Creek Trail, the West Walker River and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. “All these locations are at full peak and will have good color for the next five days or so.”

A few groves along the June Lake Loop and in Lundy Canyon still carry bright color, though mostly across Mono County … YOU MISSED IT.

C’mon, Jeff. We expect treats on Halloween, not tricks. Ah well, it was beautiful while it lasted. 

  • Walker Canyon (5,200′) Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT! – Great color remains along the banks of the West Walker River, with some sections Past Peak. The best color is located near Mountain Gate Park closer to Walker.
  • Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,403′) Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – A towering boulevard of gorgeous, peaking cottonwood lines US-395 and should remain stunning through the end of the week. Topaz Lake is at full peak and has beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
  • Lower Rock Creek Road (7,087′) Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT! – Lower Rock Creek near Paradise is  still carrying nice color. A few peaking aspen can still be enjoyed along the Lower Rock Creek Trail. It’s now Past Peak above Tom’s Place.
  • Crowley Lake Community 6,949′)  – Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
  • Mammoth Creek (10/31/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism
  • Crowley Lake (10/31/18) Josh Wray/Mammoth Lakes Tourism

It was beautiful while it lasted.

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Happy on the Klamath

Klamath River Still Life (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Near Happy Camp, west of Yreka, on the Klamath River, Phillip Reedy found happiness floating, fishing and photographing fall color.

Phillip wrote of his first day on the river, “my fishing buddies had little patience for photography and I never even got to stop and take any pictures.”

Fortunately, the river Gods … that means, his guides, “took pity on me and chose a stretch of the river teeming with color, mostly dogwood, oak and big leaf maple.  I spent the morning in the front of the boat taking pictures while my buddy fished out of the back.”

Reedy returned with having bagged his limit of gorgeous fall color and a First Report for the Klamath River. 

  • Klamath River (1,660′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

 

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

Klamath River (10/28/18) Phillip Reedy

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Mt. Laguna: Sunrise Highway

Black oak, Sunrise National Scenic Byway (10/28/18) Dylan Ren

The Sunrise Highway (S1) – a national scenic byway – travels through the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego.

The road rises from 4000′ to 6000′, making it ideal terrain to see black oak at peak in autumn.

Jean Pan and Dylan Ren drove the highway on Sunday, which is about an hour’s drive from San Diego, reporting that “the leaves are looking really nice!”

“Between mile marker 21-26, there are a lot of black oaks at both sides of the road.” Jean said, recommending stops at the Laguna/El Prado campground and the Morris Ranch road area whose small loop near the visitor center which she said has the best color.

Since Jean and Dylan rated the highway as now being at Peak, I’m urging to GO NOW. As, I can’t recall the Laguna Mountains lasting more than a week at peak, due to the dry conditions and small band of peak color.

Not identified on the highway is a scenic overlook at the summit of Mt. Laguna. To reach it, turn right past the Desert View picnic area and continue up the mountain ’til the road ends, SoCalRegion.com recommends.

There are no services along the route, which was first built in the 1920s, though are found at Lake Cuyamaca and Pine Valley. There’s also a general store and restaurant at Mt. Laguna. 

  • Sunrise Highway, Laguna Mountains, San Diego County (5,623′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Black oak, Sunrise National Scenic Byway (10/28/18) Dylan Ren
  • Black oak, Sunrise National Scenic Byway (10/28/18) Dylan Ren
  • Black oak, Sunrise National Scenic Byway (10/28/18) Dylan Ren
  • Black oak, Sunrise National Scenic Byway (10/28/18) Dylan Ren
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Sespe Success Story

  • Aspen leaves, Sespe Wilderness (10/29/18) Lance Pifer
  • Rabbitbrush and Fremont Cottonwood (10/29/18) Lance Pifer
  • Black oak, Sespe Wilderness (10/28/18) Lance Pifer
  • Pedras Blanca Trail, Sespe Wilderness (10/28/18) Lance Pifer
  • River of Gold Cottonwood, Sespe Wilderness (10/28/18) Lance Pifer
  • Sespe Wilderness (10/28/18) Lance Pifer

The Sespe Wilderness covers a huge area (291,700-acres) in the eastern Topatopa Mountains and southern Sierra Pelona within Los Padres National Forest in Southern California’s Ventura County.

The terrain is mostly chapparal with oak woodland and riparian habitats along Sespe Creek. Predominant fall color plants include landmark Frémont cottonwood, rubber rabbitbrush, willow and other shrubs.

Most importantly, the Sespe Wilderness, established by President George Bush in 1992, expanded wilderness areas needed to protect the California Condor which in 1987 had become extinct in the wild.

Since then, through extensive preservation efforts and the establishment of protective areas like the Sespe Wilderness, California’s condor population has risen to 100 and now numbers 446 worldwide, including 276 in the wild.

In 2015, more condors were born in the wild than died, evidence that the condors are recovering from the threat of extinction, though the specie is still listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Though the condors are on the wing back to recovery, color spotter Lance Pifer didn’t mention seeing any during his weekend hike along Piedras Blanca Trail into the Sespe Wilderness.

He did, however, return with photographs of Near Peak cottonwood and brush along Sespe Creek. The trail is a moderately hiked 2.3 out and back trail, rated as good for all levels. Dogs on leash are permitted. 

  • Piedras Blanca Trail, Sespe Wilderness (6,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
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Definition: Bear Dump

Bear River, CA-20 (10/26/18) Robert Kermen

dump \ transitive verb \’dəmp : to let fall in or as if in a heap or mass // bigleaf maple trees dumped their leaves in the Bear River. — Source: Merriam-Webster

Bear River, CA-20 (10/26/18) Robert Kermen

From the headline, you might have thought this article would be about bear scat, but that would  require a different definition.

Instead, color spotter Robert Kermen reports that bigleaf maple were dumping yellow and buff-colored leaves along the Sierra Discovery Trail beside the Bear River (Bowman Rd.) this past Friday.

That indicates it’s time to search for ponds, beaver dams and streams between 3,000 and 5,000′ to photograph spent leaves floating upon their dark waters. 

Here are some suggestions:

  • Fern Spring, Yosemite Valley (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Bear River (4,400′), CA-20 at Bowman Rd. Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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San Jacinto Sunset

 

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Saturday was special throughout California. It was particularly so for those lucky few camping at Lake Hemet in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains.

The Golden Hour seemed to be an all-day affair at Lake Hemet Campgrounds and nearby Idyllwild with the low angle of autumn light warming every scene from sunrise to sunset.

Bald eagles perched and white pelicans preened beside the lake. Anglers searched for fish the birds hadn’t caught. Campers lounged by their campsites enjoying a clement day or walked the autumn woods.

At day’s end, one of California’s most magical sunsets painted the western sky with intense purple, red, orange, pink, turquoise and gold.

Alena Nicholas was there to record it. 

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

 

 

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

Idyllwild (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bald eagle, Lake Hemet (10/27/18) Alena Nicholas

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Dressed For Halloween

Nelson Creek Bridge, Feather River, CA-70 (10/27/18) Crys Black

Hot Springs Ravine, Feather River, CA-70 (10/27/18) Crys Black

Rock Creek Reservoir, Feather River, CA-70 (10/27/18) Crys Black

Belden, Feather River, CA-70 (10/27/18) Crys Black

Black oak growing in Plumas County’s Feather River Canyon are dressed for Halloween wearing their brightest orange and black.

Color spotter Crys Black, “saw some of the best, most consistent color of the season,” on a Saturday drive from Marysville by heading east on the Quincy/La Porte Rd up into the Northern Sierra through Strawberry Valley (First Report) where fall color was “amazing.”

“Quincy was still really pretty although seems like it won’t last much longer,” and noted, “We loved how everyone was dressed for the big Halloween party.” It wasn’t just the trees that were dressed for Halloween.

On her return drive to Oroville via CA-70, the Feather River Canyon was at peak with “constant color.” 

  • Strawberry Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Quincy – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
  • Spanish Creek – – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
  • Feather River Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
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