Black leaf spot, Aspen, June Lake Loop (10/27/18) Jake Puchalski
Black leaf spot can be lovely, we just discovered.
June Lake Loop (10/27/18) Jake Puchalski
June Lake Loop (10/27/18) Jake Puchalski
Jake Puchalski toured the June Lake Loop on Saturday and appreciated, “a really cool mix of greying leaves blended throughout” peaking aspen.
The grey Jake saw was a blend of bare trees whose grey limbs had dropped their leaves and aspen groves still carrying leaves damaged by black leaf spot.
He noted, that because peak has been so durable (Mono County is getting a half-week more peak color this year than last, on average), “there were both vibrant gold aspen tree tops and green, grey, gold, and red leaves scattered all over the forest floor.”
What’s on the forest floor will be the story at June Lake this week, as more wind is predicted by Halloween. Could that be the trick that treats us to a final June Swoon?
June Lake Loop – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Bigleaf maple, Moccasin, CA-89, Plumas County (10/27/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Black oak, CA-89, Crescent Mills (10/27/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
There’s something about taking a long, slow weekend drive in a classic Cadillac, especially on a beautiful autumn day.
Roll down the windows and take in the sweet smells of autumn leaves as they tumble about you.
I recall drives like that in my mother’s two-toned mint/forest green ’56 Sedan de Ville with satin brocade seats.
Dad had gotten it for a song after it was returned to a dealership when its sale went bad. Suddenly, everyone thought we were rich and snooty. Neither was true, though mom liked to pretend that we had more than we really had.
Indian Creek, CA-89, Crescent MIlls, Plumas County (10/27/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
To a kid, mom’s Cadillac was magical. The lights would dim automatically when cars approached. In other cars, the driver would stomp on a floorboard button to dim them. The gas cap was hidden under one of the tail lights. You pushed a reflector to open the fin-shaped dome. And, at 214.5 inches long, there was plenty of leg room for a kid, two kids, three kids, a whole Pack of Cub Scouts, and no seat belts.
In the ’60s, Cadillac was the automotive brand most mentioned in songs. I found a couple of dozen songs that mentioned or were about Caddys, before I gave up counting. Cadillac still holds the number three position for most songs ever written about a car, and they’re some of the best songs ever written. Sure, Brian Wilson wrote “Little Honda,” which is a great song, but it’s about a motorbike, not about a Civic.
So, what do my reminiscences about Cadillacs have to do with fall color? Only that Plumas County color spotter Jeff Luke Titcomb is like me. He knows there’s little in life better than listening to old songs as you slow-drive an oldie-but-goodie down a country road past fall color. And, he did it along the backroads and byways of Plumas County in his classic Caddy, this weekend.
Now, let’s roll down the window, let that warm/crisp autumn air blow our cares away and listen as Aretha sings …
“Oh, we got some places to see
I brought all the maps with me
So jump right in, it ain’t no sin
Take a ride in my machine … “
— Aretha Franklin, Freeway of Love
Indian Valley, Plumas County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Round Valley, Plumas County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Black oak, Round Valley Reservoir, Greenville, Plumas County (10/27/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-10-28 16:31:042018-11-16 22:49:25Freeway of Love
Pacific dogwood, Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoia, Yosemite National Park (10/23/18) Thomas Haraikawa
Pacific dogwood, Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoia (10/24/18) Thomas Haraikawa
The Western Sierra follows its Eastern Sierra neighbors in peaking, because its most-profuse deciduous foliage grows at lower elevations.
Presently, Pacific dogwood, bigleaf maple, Frémont cottonwood and black oak are presenting a palette of pink, crimson, yellow, gold and orange colors in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Valley’s famous sugar maple peaked in mid October, though dogwood, maple, cottonwood and oak continue to carry bright color.
Favorite areas to shoot fall color in Yosemite’s fall color are: the Yosemite Chapel (mid Oct.), Fern Spring (mid to late Oct.), Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan Meadow, Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Village, Photographer’s Bridge and the Valley’s other eight historic stone bridges (late Oct. to mid Nov.).
Thomas Haraikawa scores a First Report for his visit to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoia. This grove is often overlooked by Yosemite photographers who are attracted to the valley, but as Thomas’ photographs show, it has iridescent and irresistible fall color.
Located near the intersection of the Big Oak Flat and Tioga Road (CA-120), the Tuolumne Grove is now a riot of hot pink, red, orange, yellow and lime colors.
Bigleaf maple and black oak, Southside Drive, Yosemite Valley (10/24/18) Thomas Haraikawa
Late October to mid November is when the Valley’s black oaks are best. Yosemite Valley likely has the most impressive stands of black oak in California, due to their juxtaposition to such impressive granite monoliths as Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, El Capitan) and Yosemite’s many towering waterfalls which get replenished by autumn rains.
We call black oak the Halloween tree, both because it peaks near Halloween and because its black trunks and branches contrast so boldly with the tree’s fully peaked orange leaves.
Yosemite’s fall color is truly a treat to the eye.
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoia, Yosemite National Park (6,200′)- Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park (4,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Mt Shasta, Siskiyou Lake (10/20/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Siskiyou Lake (10/20/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Siskiyou Lake, Mt Shasta (10/20/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Siskyou Lake (10/20/18) Ravi Ranganathan
Few color spotters explore Shasta County, as it has a fairly narrow window of color due to similar elevations. It’s also a long drive for many, though worth it, if only to visit McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.
President Theodore Roosevelt called Burney Falls in the park, “The eighth wonder of the world.” It’s a spring-fed waterfall whose stream both falls from above and pours through thousands of openings in its porous volcanic basalt rock cliff.
Emerald green moss on the cliff is framed by orange-yellow black oak and yellow bigleaf maple. The scene is a fantasy setting.
Ravi Ranganathan was there on Saturday. He also visited Lake Siskyou and scored First Reports for Britton Lake and the Upper McCloud River.
All are Near Peak, so there’s time to plan a trip to the Shasta County, which will be at peak for the next week and a half.
Upper McCloud River (10/20/18) Ravi Ranganathan
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Burney (2,783′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Lake Britton, Burney (2,717′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Lake Siskyou, Mt Shasta (3,185′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Pacific dogwood, Coffee Creek, Trinity County (10/21/18) Jeri Rangel
Bigleaf maple, Coffee Creek, Trinity County (10/21/18) Jeri Rangel
Trinity County’s Coffee Creek is beginning to perk with pink Pacific dogwood, yellow bigleaf maple and orange-red Indian rhubarb peaking concurrently.
In other parts of California, dogwood and Indian rhubarb have peaked, but at Coffee Creek, it’s still possible to find forests blushing with their colors.
Coffee Creek (3,068′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Fremont cottonwood, Strawhouse Resort, Trinity River (10/23/18) Julia Ellis
Indian rhubarb, Coffee Creek, Trinity County (10/21/18) Jeri Rangel
Walker River (10/24/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Convict Lake (10/24/18) Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
California’s 2018 Autumn will be remembered as one of the most unbelievably beautiful and long-lasting, ever. In Mono County, the show has simply been beyond exclamation.
That’s encouraged Mono County’s Alicia Vennos to declare that her destination, our previous pick as “Peak of the Week,” should get its title extended another week, “thanks to gorgeous fall weather with little to no wind.”
Alicia certainly has a point. Many of Mono County’s fall color hotspots deserve a “GO NOW!” designation.
Being that it is so close to Halloween, we don’t want a curse placed on us that would upset fall spirits. So, we urge you to GO NOW! As, this well could be the last call for Peak viewing along US 395.
At the beginning of autumn, had Alicia vowed Mono County’s aspen would be peaking right up to Hallow’s Evening, we would have accused her of brewing an “Unfallen Leaf” spell.
Instead, she’s made us believers and expect one unbelievable Peak Party in Mammoth Lakes on All Hallow’s Eve.
US 395, Coleville (10/24/18)Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Topaz Lake (10/24/18)Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
US 395, Coleville (10/24/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
US 395, Coleville (10/24/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Walker/Coleville/Topaz
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Lobdell Lake Road (8,600′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Walker Canyon (5,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – The shores of the West Walker are gleaming.
Towns of Walker & Coleville – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Massive cottonwood along US 395 and beside the Walker River in the Antelope Valley are beautiful.
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Conway Summit (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Bridgeport/Virginia Lakes
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! –
Virginia Lakes (9,819’)- Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Conway Summit (8,143′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – The south side of Conway Summit is at its prettiest. The north side is almost past peak. Conway has a rolling peak with some groves still green, beside bare branches and peak color mixed between them.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – There’s great color all along the road.
Lee Vining
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) Peak to Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Peako Past Peak, GO NOW, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT! – Lundy Lake Rd, Lundy Lake, Lundy Campground and the Beaver Ponds still have lots of peak color. The trail to the waterfalls is now Past Peak.
Mono Lake (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Lundy Lake (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Beaver Pond, Lundy Lake (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Lundy Lake (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Lundy Lake Rd (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Lundy Lake Rd. (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Benton & 120 East
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) -Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
June Lake Loop, Down Canyon (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
June Lake Loop
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Peak (75-100%)
Gull Lake Marina (10/24/18)Alicia Vennos/Mono County Tourism
GO NOW! – Fall Color Viewing Tip: The most iridescent color is seen when trees are backlit. Because this is a loop, drive it in both directions to see the best light and color. June Lake at Oh! Ridge is peaking, as is Gull Lake – highly recommended, right now. The mountainside between Grant Lake is shining with a number of gold and orange aspen groves. Silver Lake is past peak, as are some of the roadside aspens along the Loop, particularly down canyon.
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Fingers crossed that it doesn’t blow. If it doesn’t, the color will remain good for another week around the campground and along the trail.
Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – This has been Crowley’s best year for Fall Color. It is literally aglow with color.
Convict Lake (7850′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Convict Lake Campground, the road between Convict Lake Resort and the Marina, and the entire shoreline are inspirational this week. The hike around the lake offers colorful views and photo ops around every bend.
Rock Creek Canyon
Rock Creek Road (8,500’+) – Past Peak – YOU MISSED IT!
Remember: even though an area is listed as Past Peak, you will still be able to find spots of nice color. So, if you have the time to explore them, you won’t be disappointed, as the scenery is other worldly.
Old and Young Cottonwood, Owens Valley (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Pine Creek Canyon, Inyo County (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Pine Creek Canyon, Inyo County (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Pine Creek Pass Trailhead, Inyo County (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Cottonwood, Owens Valley (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
“Peak fall color is tumbling down the mountains and spreading out across the Owens Valley,” Bishop color spotter Gigi de Jong describes poetically.
Bishop Canyon is now drained of its Peak color, which she says “seems to be flowing into
the lower creeks and canyons.”
California’s largest and finest display of peaking black cottonwood are at peak in Pine Creek Canyon, “with a beautiful display of yellow and umber … alongside the creek.”
While higher up the steep-sided canyon, Gigi writes, “Small knots of young aspen … are holding onto their color as tightly as they’re holding onto the mountainside.
As the canyon opens up to the valley below, cottonwoods cluster in groups and stand in
lines like partygoers dressed in their golden finery at an Autumn Harvest Ball.
Across the Owens Valley, Gigi continues, “Every open field, where water courses along canals or spreads out in marshy tracts, hosts these radiant trees. Every neighborhood street is glowing with color. They all seem adamant to outshine one another.
“On the east side of Bishop, in the wide-open spaces near the Owens River, are where the larger groups congregate. These groves are wild and wonderful and really show the passage time.
‘Younger trees stand shoulder to shoulder with mature trees, showing off their strength and
resilience. The big, old trunks that have lost their limbs and their shimmering coats, still play a part in the cycle of life out here.
‘There are signs and sounds of life everywhere. There are deer in the canyon and birds in the
trees,” she concluded that when you stand quietly, you can “feel the energy of life as is shifts from one season to the next.”
Bishop Creek Canyon – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT!
Pine Creek Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Owens Valley – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Bishop – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Mule Deer, Pine Creek Canyon, Inyo County (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Red-tailed Hawk, Owens Valley (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
Red-tailed Hawk, Owens Valley (10/22/18) Gigi de Jong
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-10-24 20:56:512018-10-25 07:14:24Peak Flows Into Owens Valley Softly, Like a Poet's Verse
We didn’t expect much as we drove toward Susanville on CA-36, this past Sunday.
Willows along the Susan River were dry and colorless, but then the hills surrounding Susanville began to light up with orange-yellow black oak sprinkled along a ridge of conifers.
Then, “Surprise, surprise,” the drive through Susanville, then south on US 395, beside Honey Lake and past Janesville and Milford, massive black oak and Fremont cottonwood popped with gorgeous color, backlit by the afternoon sun.
Susanville (4,186′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Susanville, CA-36 (10/21/18) John Poimiroo
Black oak, Milford, US-395 (10/21/18) John Poimiroo
Sophie Geaney was lovin’ Lundy this past weekend, finding it “peaking perfectly,” with lush aspen throughout the campground and up the first 1.5 miles of the trail, described as “really amazing.”
The trail to Parker Lake is Past Peak, though there’s color once at the lake. June Lake, of course, is magnificent this week.
Lundy Canyon Trail – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
June Lake Loop – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!’
Parker Lake – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
Lundy Canyon Trailhead (10/21/18) Sophie Geaney
Lundy Canyon Trail (10/21/18) Sophie Geaney
June Lake Loop (10/21/18) Sophie Geaney
Parker Lake (10/21/18) Sophie Geaney
Convict Lake (10/21/18) Candace Gregory
Gull Lake, June Lake Loop (10/21/18) Candace Gregory
Trail to Ney Springs, Mt. Shasta (10/21/18) Laura Jean
Ney Springs Creek, southwest of the town of Mt. Shasta, was the site of a busy resort in the 19th century. A series of springs there attracted patrons in search of rest and recuperation, writes HikeMtShasta.com.
“Today, the resort is gone and nature is reclaiming what little of it remains,” the site explains.
A short distance from the site of the old resort is idyllic Faery Falls. “The falls are easily accessed on an old road that is, like the resort, slowly being taken over by the surrounding forest.”
Color spotter Laura Jean hiked the old road to Faery Falls through a forest of Peak bigleaf maple.
Maple leaves lie floating upon a clear pool at the base of the falls, which is surrounded by emerald green moss, qualifying this beautiful trail as Hike of the Week.
