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Worth A Thousand Words – Bishop Creek

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/21/16) Krisdina Karady

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/21/16) Krisdina Karady

There are probably a thousand words in this report, but a picture – particularly one taken by Krisdina Karady – is worth all of them.

As her photos show, Bishop Creek has moved to Near Peak in the past week.  Here’s the analysis by Jared Smith, with photos from Karady’s Kustom Art.

Overall Conditions Above 8500ft Elevation – Near Peak (50% – 75%) – The color has really come on since last week in the higher elevations with many of the popular fall color areas quickly nearing peak fall color. There are still plenty of areas and groves that are mostly green, but we’re certainly in the “Go Now!” zone with enough spectacular color to keep most photographers entertained. We have a bit of wind forecasted to come through this week but only time will tell if there is any affect on the color.

Overall Conditions Between 7500ft & 8500ft Elevation – Just Starting (0% – 10%) – Slightly more yellow is popping off lower down in the canyon but overall, things are still just starting down there.

Weir Pond, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Weir Pond, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – The canyon wall above the pond is mostly yellow now and a few of the aspen around the shoreline are now showing excellent color as well. We’re not quite to peak yet as many of the lower lying aspen are still a mix of green and yellow but things are currently gorgeous.

Sabrina Campground, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Sabrina Campground, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Sabrina Campground, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Sabrina Campground, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Sabrina Campground Area (9000ft) – The aspen along Hwy 168 are going off in a big way right now and are at or near peak. There’s still lots of green within the campground itself and along the stream, hence my “near peak” rating.

Parcher's Resort, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Parcher’s Resort, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Parcher's Resort, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Parcher’s Resort, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – The canyon walls to the east and west of the resort are beaming with yellow, orange and rosy hues, as are many of the aspen on the resort grounds.

Patchy (10 – 50%)  – Willow Campground (9000ft) – This area is holding onto the green surprisingly long, which is out of the ordinary for this location and elevation. Views up canyon from the campground are beautiful but the campground and the aspen lining the road and the beaver pond or mostly lime green still. I would expect things to be much different next week.

Table Mountain, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Table Mountain, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50-75%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – The mountainside just down canyon from the campground is gorgeous exhibiting brilliant yellow and a touch of orange. The aspen along the creek are still mostly green but that should change within the next week.

Surveyor's Meadow, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Surveyor’s Meadow, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – There is a lot of color showing here, but there’s plenty of green too so this area is closer to 50% than 75%. Still, there are some plenty of photo-worthy views right now. Look for this to really go off in the next week to 10 days.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Lots of color showing at the lake, especially towards the back of the lake and all along the eastern shoreline.

Sabrina Approach, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Sabrina Approach, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Approach (9100ft) – The approach to Sabrina and the small ponds below the dam are still mostly green with just touchy yellow. This is one of my favorite areas so I’m hopeful that things will pick up here over the next week.

Near Peak (50 – 75%) – North Lake (9255ft) – We’re nearing peak color on the approach to the lake and the groves on the mountainside above the lake are nearing peak as well. There is still a lot of green along the road, but things have really progressed quickly over the past week.

Mist Falls, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Mist Falls, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – Still not much color happening just yet.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Just a touch of yellow here and there in this neighborhood.

Groves Above Cardinal Village, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Kristina Karady

Groves Above Cardinal Village, Bishop Creek (9/20/16) Krisdina Karady

Near Peak (50 – 75%)  – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – The canyon slope from above Cardinal Village up to Cardinal Pinnacle has tons of color and is nearing peak color. Still, even though the hillside aspen are glowing, there is a lot of green down near the middle fork of Bishop Creek and surrounding Cardinal Village so this area will be extremely scenic for a couple weeks at least if the weather holds out.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.

Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The aspen surrounding the lake are turning to a light lime green but aside from that, just a few scrub aspen on the hillside have turned.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.