http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-09-23 23:55:242018-09-24 00:00:32Hope Valley Continues to Improve, Still Patchy
Gone is the haze from weeks ago. Today in the Sonoma Valley, Darrell Sano found not a hint of the “film” that for so many weeks had obscured the beauty of its wine country.
Instead, the air was crisp and clear with nothing to tint brilliant morning light. Though the air is clear, fall color has not yet arrived in any significance, Darrell reported. From Arnold Drive and back along CA-12, there are only spots of color and narrow bands of gold on the lower edge of the vines.
Regardless, there is ample fall color to be enjoyed in the heavy clusters of purple grapes awaiting harvest. Similarly in the Sierra Foothills, Pleasant Valley vines are still green, though many have now been picked.
Mid-October is when grape leaves are expected to blush in scarlet, amber, and international orange tones.
Aspen, Mountain Mule Ear, Tahoe Donner (9/22/18) Herb Hwang
Tahoe Donner (9/23/18) Herb Hwang
Tahoe Donner (9/23/18) Herb Hwang
Truckee color spotter Herb Hwang was out and about on the first day of autumn and scored a First Report for Tahoe Donner.
Herb found Peak mountain mule ear at Peak, though the overall impression of the Tahoe Donner area was of Patchy quaking aspen displaying a mix of lime, yellow and orange.
He returned on Sunday to find even more color developing.
Then, Clayton Peoples drove CA-267 over Brockway Summit at North Tahoe and “much to my surprise” found Near Peak aspen surrounding the old shack. That is very early peak color for this area.
He continued, “Although there is still a bit of lime green, most of the aspen trees have already turned yellow/gold (with a few orange leaves mixed in). Conditions are great there at the moment. Given that the leaves there often fall quickly once they’ve reached peak, I’d recommend that people “GO NOW!,” so they don’t miss out.”
Shack in the Aspen, Hwy 267 (9/23/18) Clayton Peoples
With all this early color, I have to ask, “What’s happening along the I-80 corridor?”
Tahoe Donner (6,700′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Hwy 267, Brockway Summit (7,201′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Shack in the Aspen, Hwy 267 (9/23/18) Clayton Peoples
Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/22/18) Alena Nicholas
S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/22/18) Alena Nicholas
Color spotter Alena Nicholas planned a trip to Bishop Creek Canyon on the day of the autumnal equinox, texting these mobile phone shots of color from Lake Sabrina, Weir Pond and the upper S. Fork where fall color is Near Peak.
Lake Sabrina is demonstrating the family nature of aspen with some stands still green and lime-colored, while others are at full peak in glorious tones of red, orange and yellow. Float fishermen drift across the lake’s wind-brushed surface.
At Weir Pond, between Parcher’s Resort and South Lake and along upper S. Fork, Bishop Creek, aspen now vary from Near Peak to full Peak. A rocky hillside of stunted aspen that forms a backdrop to the shaded pond is a mix of brightly lit yellow and lime. Fly fishing anglers cast for wary trout upon the pond’s still water. (Click photos to enlarge)
Clayton Peoples agreed with Alena Nicholas that Upper Bishop Creek is Near Peak, at least at the highest reaches. He stated, “It all depends on elevation.” On Saturday, he found the color Lake Sabrina and along the road to North Lake. But other areas–including North Lake–have yet to display much color.”
That means Bishop Creek “should remain a great color destination for at least the coming week or two as color works its way down,” Clayton concluded.
He also visited Upper Rock Creek and the trails to Hilton Creek and the Little Lakes Valley, to declare them at full peak and absolutely stunning.
Change happens quickly in the Eastern Sierra and that’s happened within half a week at the highest elevations of these two canyons.
Within a few days, Upper Rock Creek has evolved from Patchy to Peak. While the two areas should continue to improve, you’ve got two weeks at most to see the high areas of these two canyons at peak.
Lake Sabrina is a day or two from being at Peak, and Rock Creek Lake is already there. If these two areas are on your must see at peak list, GO NOW!
Bishop Creek Canyon – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Rock Creek Lake, Hilton Creek and Little Lakes Valley Trail – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Weir Pond, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/22/18) Alena Nicholas
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-09-23 05:47:012020-11-04 10:11:48Near Peak - Upper Bishop Creek At Peak - Upper Rock Creek
Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) are living up to their name near Hat Creek where they’re at peak color, reports Shanda Ochs from Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The volcanic slopes of the national park are spread with Mountain Mule Ear (Wyethia mollis) and Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) “which have turned rusty orange to brown and are at peak.”
Shanda says that above 7,000′, there’s lots of autumn color, though mostly among shrubs and ground covers. Lassen Volcanic’s willows are about 20% turned, while cottonwood, alder and aspen are showing mostly green and lime with a few flashes of yellow.
Lassen Volcanic National Park – Just Starting to Peak (0-100%) – The difficulty in classifying LVNP is that the state of fall color there depends upon which plant specie is assessed. Ground covers above 7,000′ are at peak. Shrubs vary from Patchy to Peak. Trees are Just Starting.
Aspen, Interstate 80, S. Yuba River (9/21/18) Robert Kermen
Alder, Cisco Grove (9/21/18) Robert Kermen
Flashes of color are being seen along Interstate 80, between Truckee and Cisco Grove, color spotter Robert Kermen reports.
This route can get good at a few locations, though it often involves driving off the Interstate to get near the South Yuba River to see it. Right now, the show is still patchy, though splashed with color.
Robert found such splashes about three miles west of the Sierra County line and across the S. Yuba where yellow aspen are clustering “in small draws. Then near the Cisco Grove River Park, he found a gold tinted alder about halfway through color change.”
Virginia Lakes Rd. at sunrise (9/21/18) Bruce Wendler
Sagehen Meadows Rd (9/21/18) Bruce Wendler
As Bruce Wendler assessed in his message, today, Virginia Lakes is a location when you’re never completely sure it’s peaking or heading toward Past Peak.
That’s because many of the aspen near the lakes are exposed, wind deformed and struggling. It almost looks as if a wildfire came through, though one hasn’t.
He was there at sunrise this morning, to snap stands that are in the 70% range and dropping leaves as soon as they’ve peaked.
Bruce recommends visiting Virginia Lakes soon, as he believes the aspen there are vulnerable to losing leaves quickly.
Sagehen Meadow (9/21/18) Bruce Wendler
His photos of Sagehen Summit were more encouraging with lots of orange to be enjoyed and trees yet to develop. The shot at left was taken a half mile up the road from Sagehen Meadow. Also good is Wild Horse Meadow, about a mile away from the summit.
Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Lobdell Lake Rd. (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Sagehen Summit (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
Jeff Simpson of Mono County Tourism is exclaiming, “What a difference a week makes!”
He has the enviable job of touring his Eastern Sierra county each week during autumn to report on the state of fall color and was thrilled to declare the first Near Peak color for California forests.
While fall color has been developing gradually elsewhere and some Peak and Near Peak color has been reported for grasses and shrubs, Mono County’s Sagehen Summit and Rock Creek Lake are the first forest areas suddenly Near Peak and predicted to fully peak within a week.
Jeff attributes the emerging peak color to colder night temperatures in the Eastern Sierra.
The perimeter of Rock Creek Lake is splashed with lime, yellow, orange and red Quaking Aspen. Follow trails around the lake and toward Hilton Creek and the Little Lakes Valley to be immersed in it.
The lower sections of Rock Creek Canyon remain Just Starting, though Jeff says a few yellow trees are found around the East Fork Campground area.
Last autumn, Sagehen Summit was a big “wow” and it appears the show has returned to Sagehen with a gradient colors to be seen, from red atop the summit, to deep orange down slope, to deep green at the base of the road.
Jeff admits that Sagehen is “still a little ripe,” but forsees improvement over this weekend.
Simpson scores a First Report (the first report posted on this site about any given location) by recommending continuing to drive Sagehen Meadows Road to “Johnny Meadows for additional groves of aspens and fall color viewing.”
Still developing are Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, Virginia Lakes and Tioga Pass. Jeff writes that “Each of these areas have great sections of color but are still too patchy for a full endorsement.”
Rock Creek Lake (9/19/18) Jeff Simpson/Mono County Tourism
From north to south along US 395 in Mono Çounty, here’s what you’ll see.
Walker/Coleville/Topaz
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Lobdell Lake Road (8,600′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Burcham Flat Rd. is now open to through traffic only, with no stopping in the Boot Fire burn area.
Walker Canyon (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Towns of Walker & Coleville- Just Starting (0-10%)
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – 10-50% Patchy
Bridgeport/Virginia Lakes
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Patchy (10-50%) – Approaching Near Peak.
Conway Summit (8,143)- Just Starting (0-10%)
Summers Meadow (7,200′)- Just Starting (0-10%)
Lee Vining
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Benton & 120 East
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Peak color at the top with vibrant reds with yellows and greens abundant at the lower levels around the road.
June Lake Loop
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Parker Lake (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Crowley Lake/McGee Creek/Convict Lake
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Around Crowley community (6,781′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Convict Lake (7850′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Rock Creek Canyon
Rock Creek Road (9,600’) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Full peak color around the lake and in the trail heads of Hilton Creek and Little Lakes Valley. Patchy below Rock Creek Lodge and green below East Fork Campground.
Groves Above Cardinal Village, M. Fork Bishop Creek, (9/17/18) Jared Smith
Willow Campground, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/17/18) Jared Smith
Surveyor’s Meadow, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/17/18) Jared Smith
Table Mountain, S. Fork Bishop Creek (9/17/18) Jared Smith
North Lake Rd., N. Fork Bishop Creek, (9/17/18) Jared Smith
North Lake Rd, N. Fork Bishop Creek, (9/17/18) Jared Smith
Spotty color is being seen at and above 9,000′ in Inyo County’s Bishop Creek Canyon, where Jared Smith of Parcher’s Resort near South Lake says, “the best of it is at Lake Sabrina along North Lake Rd and along the back side of South Lake.”
Fall color should improve rapidly in upper Bishop Creek Canyon in the coming week, with possible movement from Patchy to Near Peak by next weekend. Though what seems to be holding back quicker change, Jared observes, is that, “It still feels very much like summer up here.”
CaliforniaFallColor predicts that will change quickly, as colder nighttime temperatures have arrived (now sub freezing). Days remain warm (60s and 70s), meaning that the show will soon be awesome.
South Fork, Bishop Creek
South Lake (9,768′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Wier Pond (9,650′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Parcher’s Resort (9,260′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Willow Campground (9,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Surveyor’s Meadow (8,975′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Mist Falls and the Groves Above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Aspendell (8,400′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Middle Fork, Bishop Creek
Lake Sabrina (9,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Patchy (10-50%)
Sabrina Campground (9,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Groves Above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Four Jeffries (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Intake II (8,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Big Trees Campground (7,800′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
North Fork, Bishop Creek
North Lake (9,225′) – Patchy (10-50%)
North Lake Rd (9,000′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Lake Sabrina, M. Fork Bishop Creek (9/18/18) Kathy Smith
North Lake Rd., N. Fork Bishop Creek (9/18/18) Kathy Smith
North Lake Rd., N. Fork Bishop Creek (9/18/18) Kathy Smith
North Lake Rd., N. Fork Bishop Creek (9/18/18) Kathy Smith
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-09-19 20:47:522018-09-27 21:16:27Bishop Creek Is Up and Running, but Slowly
Red Clover Valley in the Northern Sierra is one of those colorfully named places that time forgot and man exploited.
Until 1880, it was lushly populated with a glorious riparian ecology, containing California Golden Beaver (Castor canadensis subauratus), native trout, hardwood trees, willows and sedges. Its isolation had kept it pristine and idyllic for millennia.
However, it was also a natural pen which ranchers used to graze sheep and cattle. That grazing inevitably eliminated the valley’s riparian vegetation, resulting in Red Clover Creek eroding, widening and deepening itself, the California Water Resources Agency reported in 1991.
In 2012, a proposal to restore the valley reported that Red Clover Creek’s “once-productive wet meadows (had, by then) converted to a dry sagebrush-dominated basin with minimal vegetation and little cover for fish.”
Yesterday, Dave Butler was distracted by flashes of golden color as he drove the Beckwourth/Genessee Rd. near Red Clover Valley. Quaking Aspen were turning from deep green to lime and yellow. Beauty was returning to the Red Clover Valley as autumn was approaching.
Just Starting (0-10%) – Red Clover Valley (5,400′)
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