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First Report: Sugarloaf Ridge SP

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (10/31/16) Susan Taylor

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (10/30/16) Susan Taylor

Black oak, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Black oak, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Black oak, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Black oak, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Bigleaf maple, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Bigleaf maple, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Bigleaf maple, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

Bigleaf maple, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

California toyon, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

California toyon, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

California toyon, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

California toyon, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Kenwood (10/29/16) John Natelli

John Natelli and Susan Taylor visited Sugarloaf Ridge State Park near Kenwood this past weekend and found bigleaf maple, black oak and California toyon peaking.

No doubt this past weekend’s storm knocked some leaves from trees, though our experience is that most leaves – particularly those just beginning to turn – will remain.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (600′ – 2,729′), Kenwood – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

 

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Special Report: Wenzhou, China

Gingko, Lingyan Temple, Yandang Mountain Park (10/26/15) John Poimiroo

Gingko, Lingyan Temple, Yandang Mountain National Park (10/27/15) John Poimiroo

Gingko, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Gingko, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Maple, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

This past week, my attendance at the annual meeting of the Society of American Travel Writers took me to Wenzhou.

It’s an inviting, industrial city in eastern China, along the Ou River between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Near Wenzhou are several mountain parks, which provided the opportunity to see a Chinese autumn emerging.

Yandang Mountain National Park, an hour north of Wenzhou by superhighway, is a World Geological Park and one of China’s top-rated mountain areas. It is like Yosemite, but with temples.

Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Copper-blue stream, goldfish, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Copper-blue stream, goldfish, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Within the national park are soaring rock monoliths, rock climbers, waterfalls, copper blue mountain streams, wildlife areas, caves, and ancient Buddhist temples and shrines, many of which are framed by fall color in late autumn.

Maple trees are prolific in eastern China and forested areas like Yandang Mountain National Park are full of them. Japanese maples are a common choice of horticulturists in the United States, though there are more varieties of Chinese maples, according to MrMaple.com, a cultivar of Asian maples.

Surrounding ancient Lingyan Temple (over 1,000 years old and listed as one of the 18 oldest temples in China) are stands of golden to orange maple and towering, venerable gingko trees, whose bright yellow leaves were transitioning from green to yellow.

Gingko leaves, Lingyan Temple (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Gingko leaves, Lingyan Temple (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Guidebooks show bright yellow to orange stands of maple filling the forest with color. Though on our visit, even the tea was green.

Only the gingkos were near peak. Guides blamed unseasonably warm weather as keeping the forest from turning, though it’s more likely that, due to the area’s low elevations and latitude, peak does not usually arrive until mid to late November.

Wenzhou Ecological Park near the city, contains Daluo Mountain and a network of stone paths that climb to geologic features, streams, pools and pagodas at points of rest and scenic inspiration.

Green tea, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Green tea, Yandang Mountain NP (10/27/16) John Poimiroo

Daluo Mountain (10/26/16) John Poimiroo

Daluo Mountain (10/26/16) John Poimiroo

Hiking, Daluo Mountain, Wenzhou (10/26/16) John Poimiroo

Hiking, Daluo Mountain, Wenzhou (10/26/16) John Poimiroo

Daluo Mountain’s trails pass through lush bamboo corridors and past a variety of deciduous plants that were just starting to show color.

  • Yandang Mountain National Park (3,635′), Yandangshan,China – Just Starting (0-10%)
  • Daluo Mountain (2,300′), Wenzhou Ecological Park – Just Starting (0-10%)

One of the most colorful autumn scenes in Wenzhou was found on Jiangxin Islet in the middle of the Ou River where, at dusk, brides gathered in front of the decaying Victorian-era (1890) British Embassy to pose for wedding pictures.

As golden Gingko leaves fluttered past the posing brides, I saw the following image developing and moved into position to frame a shot that eventually won the Society of American Travel Writers’ Bronze Award in the 2018 Bill Muster Photo Competition Culture Category.

Wenzhou Brides, Jiangxin Islet (10/28/16) John Poimiroo

Memory Lane: Sorensen’s Resort

Sorensen's Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

Sorensen’s Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

Sorensen's Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

Sorensen’s Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

Hwy 88, Sorensen's Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

Hwy 88, Sorensen’s Resort (10/23/16) Danny Hu

It’s feeling like the holidays at Sorensen’s Resort in the Hope Valley, were fall color has peaked and most branches are bare and ready to carry loads of snow.

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Wendy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Tracy Zhou

Tracy Zhou followed a similar route across Monitor Pass and through the Hope Valley to Lake Tahoe, providing these views.

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Wendy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Tracy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Wendy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Tracy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Wendy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Tracy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Wendy Zhou

Monitor Pass (10/23/16) Tracy Zhou

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Barns and Fall Color

Bowerman Barn, Covington Mills (10/27/16) Jeri Rangel

Bowerman Barn, Covington Mill (10/27/16) Jeri Rangel

Bowerman Barn, Covington Mills (10/27/16) Jeri Rangel

Bowerman Barn, Covington Mill (10/27/16) Jeri Rangel

Barns are beautiful. They’re particularly beautiful in autumn.

Color spotter Jeri Rangel happened past the Bowerman Barn in Covington Mill and stopped to share its beauty. Black oak and cottonwood surround the pasture with bright color.

Bowerman Barn, Covington Mill, Shasta Cascade – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

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Peak of the Week: Indian Creek

Black Oak, Indian Valley, Plumas County (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Black Oak, Indian Valley, Plumas County (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Rhubarb, Indian Creek (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Rhubarb, Indian Creek (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Creek, Plumas County (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Creek, Plumas County (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Rhubarb, Indian Creek (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Rhubarb, Indian Creek (10/26/16) Jeff Titcomb

Indian Creek in Plumas County (Northern Sierra) is painted with color with Indian rhubarb at full brilliance, dogwood and bigleaf maple showing pink and yellow and black oak beginning to turn bright orange.

Indian Creek, Plumas County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Mono Lake to Topaz is Golden

Fremont cottonwood, Topaz, CA (10/24/16) Jeff Simpson

Fremont cottonwood, Topaz, CA (10/24/16) Jeff Simpson

Mono Lake (10/24/16) Jeff Simpson

Mono Lake (10/24/16) Jeff Simpson

The northern end of US 395 in the Eastern Sierra, before it passes through Nevada, is in its glory.

Tall Fremont cottonwood that grow beside the Walker River and in the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz are loaded with golden leaves.

Walker Canyon – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! The banks of the West Walker River are lined with gold! Plan your viewing for mid-day as the shadows will be out early in the morning and late afternoon.

Towns of Walker & Coleville – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! Lots of great color in Antelope Valley. The cottonwoods around Topaz Lane and gold and orange. Make sure to head up to the shores of topaz lake for some spectacular views.

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Yosemite’s Black Oak Wear Their Halloween Colors

Black oak, Yosemite National Park (10/22/16)

Black oak, Yosemite National Park (10/22/16)

Black oak, Yosemite National Park (10/22/16)

Black oak, Yosemite National Park (10/22/16)

Yosemite’s famous eastern sugar maple has presented its crimson show near the Yosemite Chapel. Pacific dogwood and bigleaf maple have littered Fern Spring at the entrance to Yosemite Valley. Now, as Halloween approaches, the valley’s famous tall black oak are beginning their show.

The color will continue through mid to late November, as the black oak throughout the valley and particularly dense near Yosemite Village turn deep shades of orange.

Black oak, Yosemite Valley – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

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Luther Pass Peaks

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Aspen, Luther Pass (10/22/16) Maggie Huang

Luther Pass (CA-89), the route connecting the Hope Valley and South Lake Tahoe, was peaking on Saturday when color spotter Maggie Huang visited.

Quaking aspen were deep orange and red, with a few spashes of yellow and lime.

Luther Pass (7,740′) – Peak (75-10%) GO NOW!

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Going to Church in Quincy

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy (10/24/16) Michael Beatley

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy (10/24/16) Michael Beatley

If you haven’t been to church lately, now’s the time to go.

The Community United Methodist church in Quincy has a halo of orange and yellow color surrounding it that is absolutely beatific.  GO NOW!

Community United Methodist Church, Quincy (3,432′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

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McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (10/23/16) Clayton Peoples

One of California’s great natural attractions is Burney Falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, in the southern Cascades, east of Redding.

Unlike Yosemite Falls, Burney Falls runs year round, as it is fed by a river. Two, large waterfalls drop into an emerald green pool and thousands of smaller falls weep through a porous basalt cliff into the pool, creating a magical impression.

100  million gallons of water pour from the falls each day.

In autumn, black oak and bigleaf maple surround the falls which President Teddy Roosevelt described as “the eighth wonder of the world.”

Color spotter Clayton Peoples visited the park over the weekend and was “pleased to find that the black oak trees that populate the area were turning. Some of the oaks within the park were at full peak with burnt orange hues, while many others–especially those near Burney Falls–were near peak with leaves running the gamut from green to yellow to orange.”

He estimates that the foliage will continue to develop in coming weeks, though characterizes the scene as “near peak,” stating “Burney Falls is a spectacular sight in any season, but seeing it framed by fall colors is a special late-October treat.”

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (2,907′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!