Red maple, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio
Liquidambar, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio
North Lake, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio
Aspen, Big Bear Lake (10/13/18) Kathleen DiGregorio
Kathleen DiGregorio says Big Bear Lake is lovely, rain or shine.
A rainy Saturday drive took DiGregorio to Blue Jay (First Report), Big Bear Lake and Snow Summit, where she found color mixed, estimating two to three weeks more color, depending on weather.
We’re not as optimistic, rating Big Bear native color as now Near Peak to Peak. It should be noted that several of the species Kathleen photographed were exotics, which have a different fall color clock.
To get away from it all, Kathleen found solitude by using the AllTrails app, reporting that an aspen grove near the rangers’ station at North Shore is lovely.
Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Tioga Pass (CA-120E), Yosemite National Park (10/13/18) Gene Miller
June Lake Camp, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
On a whim, this past weekend, color spotter Gene Miller crossed the Sierra Nevada to the East Side and found “over the top” color.
Gene is a midwest transplant who misses autumn there, though has “come to appreciate the Fall Colors … here.”
He said that getting there, was fraught with stops along the Tioga Road (CA-120E) where the trees were “mostly ‘At Peak’ or a little ‘past peak’,” depending on elevation, though when he descended Tioga Pass to Log Cabin Road, he found it “At Peak and brilliant!”
Log Cabin Rd., Mono County (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Log Cabin Rd., Mono County (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Sherwin Creek Campground, Mono County (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Sherwin Creek Campground, Mono County (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Spent aspen, June Lake Loop (10/13/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
June Lake (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Gene Miller
On Sunday, he was impressed by color along the June Lake Loop and at Silver Lake, but realized areas like Sherwin Creek Campground at Mammoth Lakes were Past Peak and loosing leaves.
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT!
Log Cabin Rd. (7,545′)- Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
June Lake Loop(7,654′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sherwin Creek Campground, Mammoth Lakes (7,600′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-10-16 14:52:352018-10-24 14:53:38Over The Top
Mallard ducks, Silver Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono Lake Tourism
A mating pair of Mallard Ducks enjoyed a rest from their southbound migration Saturday at Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop where fall color is Near Peak. Now, isn’t that just ducky?
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-10-16 08:38:022018-10-24 14:53:14Ducky at Silver Lake
Sugar maple, Thompson Ranch, LaPorte Rd., Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley
The Thieler Tree, Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley
You are hereby ordered to appear at the Plumas County Courthouse in Quincy to attest that trees surrounding the court are Near Peak.
Now that you have been duly served, what can you expect to see?
Towering maple, plane trees and elm, anytime from now through this weekend and the following week, depending on conditions. The trees will be glorious, carrying heavy loads of orange, red and lime.
Local color spotters Michael Beatley and Jeff Luke Titcomb report that Quincy’s most photographed maple, The Theiler Tree at the former residence of Judge Alan Theiler, is red-hot and not-to-be-missed. It’s on West High Street and Lee Way, behind the courthouse.
Other great spots to photograph in and surrounding Quincy, include Community United Methodist Church at 282 Jackson St. This white steepled church is backed by black oak, when at peak (it’s still early) are deep orange (seen below in the UpStateCA graphic).
Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/14/18) Michael Beatley
Plumas County Courthouse, Quincy (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Spanish Creek at Oakland Camp (10/14/18) Michael Beatley
Thompson Lake, near Bucks Lake, Plumas County (10/15/18) Michael Beatley
Along LaPorte Rd. look for Thompson Ranch and its landmark sugar maple, which is now peaking. In fact all the sugar maples in town are a rich orange-cream color.
The Indian rhubarb at Spanish Creek in Oakland camp are now peaking at 3,500′, so get there quick to see their bright red-orange umbrella-shaped leaves reflected in the creek’s still waters.
More reflections of aspen are seen at Thompson Lake west of Quincy near Buck’s Lake.
Jeff Luke Titcomb said most of Plumas County’s fall color backroads can be driven in a normal passenger vehicle. To prove it, he sent a photo of his classic Cadillac DeVille that he drove on a spotting trip to Round Valley.
He described, “The road away from Almanor is gravel and well maintained. Some days, though, you’ll be sharing it with logging trucks. The color down in the ravines is full of dogwoods and the springs are running pretty strong with lots of yellow maples, the oaks are coming on too, now. You will need to stop and explore the canyon’s full of color, which is getting very strong now.”
Be sure to appear by your appointed court date and time (not to late in the day), or you could miss Peak color in and around Quincy.
Quincy (3,432′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Dogwood, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Bigleaf maple, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Bigleaf maple and willow, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Plumas County Courthouse (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Sugar maple, Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Sugar maple, Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Sugar maple, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Black oak, Plumas County (10/13/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Plumas County Courthouse (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Quincy, Plumas County (10/14/18) Jeff Luke Titcomb
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Big Bear, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Big Bear, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Big Bear, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Green Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Rim of the World, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Rim of the World, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Black oak, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Grass Valley Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Aspen, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Aspen, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Gregory, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
Lake Gregory, San Bernardino Mountains (10/14/18) Alena Nicholas
A painter’s palette of lime, yellow, orange and red is daubing the San Bernardino Mountains with vibrant Peak color.
From Big Bear, down to Lake Gregory, successive bursts of bigleaf maple, Frémont cottonwood, quaking aspen and black oak are exploding like fireworks over Big Bear Lake.
San Bernardino Mountains color spotter Alena Nicholas estimates Peak color will continue for a week to two, unless high winds hit again.
Nicholas said that several now peaking trees were “wind chaffed” from the most recent storm. Though, colder nighttime temperatures are helping to intensify the display.
Despite the cooler weather, Alena noticed that boaters, anglers, hikers and mountain bikers are still out enjoying the outdoors.
The San Bernardino Mountains’ famous Rim of the World drive is just beginning to lighten. “It was nice to see the iconic cloud cover down below,” Alena said, adding that in a week to two, an evening drive along it will provide an irresistible blend of fall color and sunset light.
Green Valley Lake (7,200′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Big Bear (6,752′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Lake Arrowhead (5,174′) – Near Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Grass Valley Lake (5,058′) – Peak a(75-100%) GO NOW!
Rodney Chai, a meteorologist from Monterey, led a group of hikers to Lundy Canyon and McGee Creek as recommended here, last week, and they “found gold (and then some)!”
Reporting that they were collectively “speechless by the vibrant display of yellow and apricot.”
Should you hike Lundy Canyon, you’ll find the first mile to have a lot of green (20-30%), though Chai estimates it will “be excellent viewing for the upcoming weekend.”
His group found the most intense color at about “mile 2, where a forest of quaking aspens reside.” Above that, the trail was past peak with a lot of leaves that had fallen.
McGee Creek, he continued, “was simply splendid from start to finish with a golden sea of aspen and apricot. The range of yellow and apricot, as well as the ability to see up the canyon made this his favorite hike.
Lundy Canyon Trail (7,858′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
McGee Creek Trail (8,600′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
American black bear, Ursus americanus, Hope Valley (10/14/18) Clayton Peoples
Red Lake Creek Cabin, Hope Valley (10/14/18) Clayton Peoples
Red Lake Creek, Hope Valley (10/14/18) Clayton Peoples
The High Sierra is “unbearably beautiful right now,” color spotter Clayton Peoples reported.
He was in the Hope Valley over the weekend, photographing along CA-88 and CA-89.
“While taking in fall colors, I was lucky enough to spot what is probably the largest black bear I have ever seen. It was feasting along a creek that passes under Highway 89,” he wrote.
What Clayton did to get this shot was to be as unobtrusive as possible, not approaching the animal and letting it act naturally.
Should you encounter wildlife and wish to photograph it, stop and don’t move. If you run to get closer, the animal will run away. But, if you stop, wait and watch, the animal may not notice you or will become used to you and not perceive you as a threat.
As long as the animal is not bothered by your presence, he will go about his business, which makes for great fall photography.
A long lens (200mm or greater) and sturdy tripod are useful for close up, sharp images. My favorite working lens is a 28 – 300 mm, f3.5-5.6. It provides enough length and range to capture either closeups or environmental shots of mammals.
Animals are creatures of routine. They tend to return to the same locations (watering spots, food sources) at similar times of day, and forage during he first couple and last two hours of daylight.
Aspen, Hope Valley (10/14/18) Clayton Peoples
American black bears are not generally a threat to people, unless they are protecting young or sense that you have food. They usually can be intimidated from approaching by raising arms above one’s head, shouting or making loud sounds (banging a pot), but if they do not, walk away.
In addition to the bear, Clayton found more “bare” branches among the Hope Valley’s aspen, though said the trees surrounding Red Lake Creek Cabin are “still stunning, and the highway (and nearby hillsides) are still sporting a patchwork of gorgeous color. I’m not sure how long it will last, but it is still very pretty right now.”
Hat Creek and Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy
Manzanita Lake and Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy
Color spotter Phillip Reedy admitted he hadn’t visited Lassen Volcanic National Park in a while and “it was about time.”
He admitted, “While it can’t compare to the Eastern Sierra, there were still some colors to be seen, plenty of golden grass and even a few aspens here and there.
“The best thing was how few people there were. No jockeying for a spot to set up a tripod there.”
Lassen Volcanic National Park (8,512′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Kings Creek Meadow, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/12/18) Phillip Reedy
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-10-15 17:02:002018-10-24 14:50:42About Time For Lassen Volcanic
As The Mamas & The Papas sang, “All the leaves are brown” above 8,500′ in Bishop Creek Canyon, “though the skies aren’t gray.”
This autumn, weather conditions were never better for viewing color in the Eastern Sierra. That resulted in a vibrant, long-lasting display.
However, if you delayed visiting South Lake, Lake Sabrina or North Lake, YOU MISSED IT and will have to do some California Dreamin’ to imagine them at Peak again.
That does not mean that you missed seeing peak fall color everywhere in California. It will continue to descend to lower elevations, well into December.
There’s also a lot of Peak color yet to be seen in Inyo County. Presently, Bishop Creek Canyon is peaking between 8,000 and 8,500′. That means you’ll see Peak aspen at the Mist Falls (8,350′), Aspendell (8,400′) and Four Jeffreys (8,000′) this week. Thereafter, Pine Creek Canyon (northwest of Bishop) and the Owens Valley will peak.
Though, the fall color captured by Jerry Sy in these pictures more than a week ago, can now only be imagined by “getting down on your knees and pretending to pray.”
Markleeville, Alpine County (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
Sonora Pass, Mono County (10/7/18) Jerry Sy
Markleeville, Alpine County (5,531′) – Peak (75-100%) – GO NOW!
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT!
Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT!
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