California Fall Color

Dude, autumn happens here, too.

Jon Klusmire sends this snapshot of a tree whose orange and red leaves have survived recent storms and winds that stripped other nearby trees.

It stands beside the Eastern California Museum in Independence.  Splashes of color like this remain to be seen across the Eastern Sierra during one of the most beautiful and long-lasting autumns we’ve recorded.

California Fall Color ends its daily reporting on Thanksgiving Day, though postings will continue as color is reported across California.

Location: Independence, Calif.
Temperature: 57.2 °F
Humidity: 42%
Dew point: 33.8 °F
Wind speed: 6km/hr
Wind direction: 300°
Cloud cover: n/a

75 – 100% – Owens Valley - Eastern Sierra color spotters Jon Klusmire, Rachel Anderson and Joe Pollini sent these photos, showing color change in the Owens Valley.  The color there continues to be bold and is approaching peak from Independence to Bishop along US 395.

Rachel suggested touring the Barlow Lane, Dixon Lane, Brockman Lane and Bishop Canal (behind Kmart) in Bishop.  Joe and Mel Seator found lovely images at the Crowley Lake sheep pasture.  Overcast conditions  provided for textural qualities to the sky and intensified the color, as is seen from their photographs.  That’s a reminder that some of the best photographs are taken in less than ideal weather conditions.

Jon’s photo from Big Pine shows the area that is home to the Palisade and Norman Clyde Glaciers.  He notes that there’s, “plenty of access on county roads, west toward the Sierra, or east toward the Owens River to get images like these.

 

Location: Bishop, Calif.
Temperature: 60.8 °F
Humidity: 29%
Dew point: 30.2 °F
Wind speed: 8km/hr
Wind direction: 340°
Cloud cover: overcast

Los Angeles Times travel writer Chris Erskine is the kind of guy you’d like to pal around with as he travels the backroads of California in his rented Ford.  Erskine knows the backwater places where interesting characters tell fascinating stories.

That kind of traveled writer knows what’s genuine and intriguing.  So, when he called and, with journalistic skepticism, said he planned to search for the color we describe in this blog, I worried he might miss it by leaving for the Eastern Sierra too late in the month and arriving after a storm had ruined what’s been glorious, so far.  Sure enough, snow fell just before his trip.

A medium as influential as the LA Times could, with one disappointing experience, reinforce the belief that California doesn’t have great fall color.  It’s easy to conclude, from our state’s tropical palm trees, sunglass-wearing celebrities and sun-drenched beaches, that California has only one season… summer.  And, Los Angelenos (along with most Californians) live along the coast where (except in dazzling pockets) little fall color is seen.  Even in his article, Erskine described this blog as containing “improbable postings.”

However, seeing is believing, and California didn’t disappoint.  The spectacular fall color identified within this blog proved not to be inspired by delerium.  Erskine described what he was seeing as “stunning” and “majestic” when he called from the road.  The storm we fretted about hadn’t blown away the beauty.  It only enhanced it, dusting High Sierra ranges with white, while firey red, orange and yellow reflected below upon “sapphire” waters.

To read Chris Erskine’s story, CLICK HERE.

Here’s a roundup of color seen around the state.  We received photos only from Mono County.  I drove through Napa and Sonoma Counties today, but had no time to stop and take photos, so must leave that to local color spotters.  Visit the “About” page on this site to find our email address.

Also, if you’re frustrated that we haven’t responded to requests posted on our Facebook page, it got blocked by Facebook because we responded to a message sent to us by one of our color spotters.  The message was actually a Facebook virus that infected our site.  So, Facebook has blocked us from posting until they’re sure the virus is gone.

This blog, however, is not infected, so it will continue to post reports.  Because the Facebook message from the spotter related to “color change,” we thought it had something to do with fall color.  And, since it came from a productive spotter, we clicked on the request, only to learn today that it was a virus.

Because it was a virus and because we clicked to accept the color spotter’s request, the virus may have sent itself among our Facebook friends.  So, if you are a subscriber to our Facebook page and receive a request from us to something to do with “color change,” don’t accept it.   In the meantime, here’s what’s happening:

 

 

 

Eastern Sierra

Past Peak – Bishop Creek Canyon (above 7,500’) – All elevations above 7,500’ are now past peak, though some spectacular color can be seen in pockets of the Bishop Creek Canyon.

75 – 100% – Bishop Creek Canyon (below 7,500’) – The lower areas of Bishop Creek Canyon are in their glory, with lots of yellow and spots of orange.

50 – 75% – Owens Valley - The color seen in Bishop and other towns long US 395 contrasted with snow atop Eastern Sierra peaks is breathtaking.

75 – 100% – Convict Lake – The mix of snow and fall color this past week has been beautiful.

75 – 100% – Mammoth Lakes – Spirits are up at Mammoth Mountain which reported 18” of new snow on the mountain this past week.  Combined with the fall color that’s still to be seen in the Lakes Basin, the area is “stunning.”

75 – 100% – June Lake – Color is at peak along the June Lake Loop, described by a reporter as “magnificent.”  The early snow has provided beautiful contrast.

Western Sierra

30 – 50% – Yosemite Valley – Dogwood are coloring pink, the bigleaf maple have dropped leaves into fern spring  and the black oak are turning bright orange and black in time for Halloween.  The famous pioneer Eastern Sugar Maple near the Yosemite chapel is past peak.  Yosemite nature photographer, Michael Frye reports on his blog (see link at left), “… autumn is arriving slowly. I found some nice color across the river from El Capitan, underneath Middle Cathedral Rock, where most of the maples have turned yellow. Some other maples around the valley have also turned, along with a few dogwoods and cottonwoods, but most of the deciduous trees are still green.  It looks like the peak color is still at least a week away, but the good news is that most of the trees seem to be in good shape. The leaves on a few dogwoods have already wilted and turned brown, but these are a small minority. Last year most of the cottonwood leaves wilted before changing color, but this year the cottonwoods look normal—if still mostly green.”

Gold Country

75 – 100% – Sierra Foothills – Grasses and ground covers in the Sierra foothills are glowing golden with splashes of maroon, along Latrobe Road, CA-16 and Buena Vista Road.  Amador County vineyards are just beginning to show yellow and auburn, mostly lime green on the vines.

North Coast

30 – 50% – Napa Valley – A hillside of vines at the intersection of CA-12 and the Silverado Trail is flush with ruby, yellow, orange and lime.

30 – 50% – Carneros – Vines near Cuvaison and Domaine Carneros at CA-12 and Duhig Rd. are yellow, red and lime.

30 – 50% – Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County – Vines along Stage Gulch Rd (CA-116) now sparkle with red, yellow and lime.

Jared Smith, Krisdina Karady and the team at Parchers Resort in the Eastern Sierra (South Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon) go out with a bang on this, their final report of 2012.  Our deep thanks are expressed to Jared and his team for more than a month of great reports.  Here’s his last, though it doesn’t mean the color has ended in the Eastern Sierra.

Overall Conditions above 8500ft

The majority of the color above 8500ft is now past its prime or gone entirely but there are still glimpses of beauty to be had in a few groves in the 8500 to 9000ft level, especially above Willow Camp and behind Table Mountain Campground.

Overall Conditions below 8500ft

Peak color is upon us in the 8000ft to 8500ft range, especially near Aspendell and along the South Fork Bishop Creek by Bishop Creek Lodge. The forecast looks cold and breezy next week so it’s anyone’s guess if it will hold out but as of today, it is spectacular.

75-100% – South Lake Rd above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft)

Mostly past peak, but still a lot of nice creek shots with some yellow, orange and a little red to be found.

75-100% – Mountain Glen Campground (8400ft)

This area is right about the cutoff from peak color to past peak. Some thick groves of old growth aspen are really putting on a show here. Along with the Bishop Creek Lodge area, this is possibly the finest color in the canyon at present.

75-100% – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft)

This area is brilliant and in full peak color with lots of yellow and some orange as well. Stunning views of these groves this week.

75-100% – Groves above Cardinal Village & Aspendell (8550ft)

Its go-time in Aspendell as the aspen are putting on a real show. Best on the middle fork.

75-100%% – Forks Campground (8000ft – 8300ft)

There is one spectacular grove of Aspen just below Intake II and just above Forks Campground. A very unique rock formation above the campground makes for some very interesting opportunities for the avid photographer.

Past Peak – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft)

A few stands of Aspen left, especially if you walk into the campground to view the grove east towards the peaks but the majority of the aspen have lost their leaves.

Past Peak – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft)

Not much left here, just a few trees left showing some rosy hues and yellow.

Past Peak – Willow Campground (9100ft)

Most of the color found along the roadside last week is completely gone however there is still some great stuff if you go into the campground and walk from there towards Parchers Resort along the old road. Still some great cottonwoods and aspen with brilliant yellow and there are a few bright red snowberry bushes on the granite cliffs offering a very cool contrast between granite, aspen and red brush.

Past Peak – Lake Sabrina (9150ft)

Pretty much done for the season.

Past Peak – North Lake (9255ft)

Not much left at the lake but the view from above looking down on Aspendell is still worth a Look.

All Photographs Copyright 2012 by Jared Smith, www.SmithSierraPhotography.com or courtesy of fall color contributor Krisdina Karady.

Location: Bishop, Calif.
Temperature: 80.6 °F
Humidity: 11%
Dew point: 23 °F
Wind speed: 11km/hr
Wind direction: 160°
Cloud cover: n/a

15 – 30-% – Owens Valley – Color spotter Jon Klusmire reports spots of bright yellow just outside Bishop, red near the Eastern California Museum in Independence and the entire lengh of U.S. 395 from Lone Pine to Bishop showing a mix of color from deep green to bright yellow.  He comments, “It’s like the yellow or red pops out of nowhere amid the sage and other greenery.”

Location: Bishop, CA
Temperature: 80.6 °F
Humidity: 10%
Dew point: 23 °F
Wind speed: 8km/hr
Wind direction: 180°
Cloud cover: n/a

Several color spotters sent weekend photos and reports today.  Kathy Levine and Helen Gunter posted photos of Onion Pass, Rock Creek and Hwy 168 (Sabrina Lake) on California Fall Color’s Facebook page.

Richard McCutcheon of Plumas County sent an email reporting that he, “was hunting up in the high country and the colors are coming great.  up on the Janesville Rd., from Antelope and on Indian Creek in Plumas County, there are some “great colors” are to be seen.

15 – 30% – Sawmill Canyon - Dennis Vance tells us about an exhausting hike to made up the Eastern Sierra’s longest pass, Sawmill Pass which travels “over 13 miles” with a ”6,000′ elevation gain.”  He writes, “I stopped short of the pass and settled down at the Lake which is just over 10,000′.”  To accomplish this, he left the trailhead at 6 a.m. (4,640′) on Thursday morning, Oct. 4 and gained 2,400′ before he dropped into  the canyon. What he saw in the deep, riparian stream bed was color changing 15-30%.  There were California black oak,quaking aspen, water birch, California rose hip, blue elderberry, several types of ferns and deerbrush. The pines were Jeffrey, foxtail,, silver tip, lodgepole, and limber pine along with white fir.

30 – 50% – Onion Pass, Inyo County (west of Independence)

75 – 100% – Rock Creek, Mono County (south of Mammoth Lakes)

75 – 100% – Sabrina Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon, Inyo County30 – 50% – Janesville Rd., Indian Creek, Plumas County – spots of bright color are to be found in the Northern Sierra.

Location: Mammoth / June Lakes
Temperature: 48.2 °F
Humidity: 26%
Dew point: 15.8 °F
Wind speed: n/a
Wind direction: n/a
Cloud cover: n/a

Extended, warm weather is causing changes not seen in the Eastern Sierra in recent years.  Individual groves of aspen are exhibiting a full range of color, from lime, to yellow, to orange, to red, to spotted and dried leaves, to bare limbs – all in the same grove – according to Mono County color spotter Alicia Vennos.

Warm nights at lower elevations (below 8,500′) have not encouraged sugaring.  This worries some spotters who say a storm or sudden drop in nighttime temperatures could trigger a rapid change in color, so the advice remains… Go Now!

MONO COUNTY (Northern US 395)

The best color to be seen remains above 8,500’, though there are early signs that the color is descending with aspen indicating at June Lake and the Mammoth Lakes basin.

75 – 100% – Upper Rock Creek (9,500’) – The upper section of Rock Creek are approaching past peak, with many trees now dropping leaves.  A big wind will strip them.

30 – 50% – Lower Rock Creek (8,500’) – There’s still a lot of green and lime in the lower stands.

75 – 100% – McGee Creek (9,500’) – Higher areas of McGee are at peak, with some aspen now losing leaves.

15 – 30% – Lower McGee Creek – Flashes of color are seen in the lower drainages.

75 – 100% – Slopes Above Convict Lake – Aspen at the highest elevations leading down to the lake are showing orange and yellow.

30 – 50% – Convict Lake – At lake level, the aspen are showing yellow and have at least a week before peak.

30 – 50% – Mammoth Lakes – Aspen around the lakes are showing color, but it’s still beyond a week from peak.

75 – 100% – Lundy Lake – At peak, though some stands have yet to turn.

15 – 30% – Lower Lundy Canyon – Lime and yellow.

75 – 100% – Lundy Canyon Avalanche Zone – Gnarled aspen in the avalanche zone are at peak with many already past.

75 – 100% – Canyons above 8,500 feet - the colors are peaking or approaching peak. Rock Creek, McGee Creek (upper trail at first stream crossing) and Virginia Lakes (9,000′) are all approaching peak. Below 8,500′, the colors are two weeks from peak.

50 – 75% – Conway Summit - Approaching peak.

50 – 75% – Sonora Pass – Spotty yellow and orange in lower areas of the pass, though lovely.  From Hwy 108 (Sonora Pass) north on US 395 to Walker along the Walker River, the aspen are showing yellow, gold and orange.

0 – 15% – Walker/Coleville – Color spotter Tim Fesko of the Meadowcliff Resort in Coleville says most of the color is seen on Sonora and Monitor Passes.  The boulevard of cottonwood trees along US 395 from Walker north to Topaz are not yet showing much color change.

30 – 50% – Monitor Pass – Pam Hamic a color spotter from Walker (try the Walker Burger, when in town… one of the best in California), says the colors are really going off nicely (30-50%) from Topaz  up Monitor Pass.  Lots of gold, yellow and orange.

INYO COUNTY (Southern US 395)

Color spotter Jared Smith reports the following:

Overall Conditions above 8,500′ – Much of the color above 9000ft is now at or past peak but the best of the best is between the 8,500′ mark and 9,000′ mark on both forks of Bishop Creek. Plenty of yellow, orange, and red to be found. One interesting thing about this season’s fall color change is how fast, and how short, areas of peak color have been. Plenty of opportunity on any given day to capture spectacular views but areas, which usually put on a show for a couple weeks are now showing peak color for just a few days. Almost certainly this can be attributed to the lack of water following one of the driest winters on record.

Overall Conditions below 8,500′ – Lots of color popping at the 8500ft level, in fact much of the peak color is now just above or just below this elevation. Areas like Aspendell, the Bishop Creek Lodge area and the groves just below Sabrina are looking brilliant. The campgrounds along the lower stretches of the canyon are really coming on strong and we’re looking for these areas to peak sometime in the next week or so if the weather holds out.

75-100% – Table Mountain Camp (8,900′) - Some of the aspen are losing their leaves but there is still a ton of color lighting up the hillside at Table Mountain Campground as well as the groves below the camp.

75-100% – Surveyors Meadow (8,975′) - While the aspen along the creek are starting to fade, the hillside and roadside aspen are still worth a look and are attracting a ton of fall color enthusiasts. There is a stand of trees on the far side of the creek due west of the parking area that is exhibiting a lot of rose and red hues – gorgeous!

75-100% – Lake Sabrina (9,150′) - Lake Sabrina still has a lot of color towards the back of the lake including lots of orange hues while the east shore has already peaked and is starting to fade. Just below the dam however is incredibly vibrant and with the slow moving waters of the stream, the bridge, and the spectacular aspen on full display – this is a can’t miss in the canyon right now.

75-100% – Willow Camp to Parchers Camp (9,150′ – 9,250′) - Although it came on late, the road and stretch of stream between Willow Campground and Parchers Camp is wildly colorful right now with a vast array of green, yellow, gold, orange and touches of red. Stunning!

75-100% – North Lake (9,255′) - North Lake has peaked however there is still LOTS of color near the outlet, on hillside west of the lake and along the road. It was better last week but it is certainly worth a look, especially the groves just past the North Lake turnoff which are vibrant!

75-100% – Steiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8,600′) - The eastside of the road from Mountain Glen Camp to Table Mountain Camp is simply stunning right now and even the casual photographers are pulled over all over the place trying to capture the incredible views available all along the So. Fork Bishop Creek.

75-100% – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350′) – Still plenty of green hues hanging out but the yellows and orange hues have taken over in a big way since last week. This landmark is truly a spectacular view right now.

0-15% – Aspendell (8,400′) – It’s a bit surprising given the color just a mile up the road but the aspen in and around this small community on the middle fork of Bishop Creek is still green as green can be although finally starting to turn a light lime green.

75-100% – Groves above Cardinal Village (8,550′) – While the aspen surrounding Cardinal Village Resort still have a bit more time ’til they peak, the groves on either side of the resort and above the resort are in full autumn color and with the stark granite peaks behind, offer one of the more scenic views in the canyon right now.

50-75% – Intake II, Big Trees Camp, Four Jeffries Camp (8000ft – 8,300′) – These areas hovering just above the 8,000′ mark are definitely showing a lot of color compared to last week but peak color will probably hit sometime next week. There is still plenty of green not yet overtaken by the brilliant yellow of the fall but the aspen and cottonwoods are changing more each day. Look for these areas to be the stars of the canyon by next week’s report.

All Photographs Copyright 2012 by Jared Smith, www.SmithSierraPhotography.com or courtesy of fall color contributors Krisdina Karady.

 

Location: Mammoth / June Lakes
Temperature: 75.2 °F
Humidity: 15%
Dew point: 24.8 °F
Wind speed: 15km/hr
Wind direction: 280°
Cloud cover: n/a

Several prime fall color destinations and accommodations are offering special events and deals.  Here’s a rundown of some of the best of them.

Fall Color Car Show (Oct. 5 – 7) – Vintage hot rods, restored classic cars and cruisers will be displayed at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop. There’ll be cruising the main drag Sat., Oct. 6, at 3 p.m. and Poker Runs and a Cruise through Bishop Creek (South Lake, Sabrina, Bishop Creek) to view the fall colors.

Choo-Choo Swap Meet (Oct. 5 – 7) – It’s billed as “100 yard sales in one place.” Just about the entire population of Bishop will be buying or selling something starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Tri-County Fairgrounds. Arts and Crafts shows and exhibits are also included.

For more information on the above events, contact the Bishop Chamber of Commerce,  760-873-8405, www.bishopvisitor.com.

Lone Pine Film Festival (Oct. 5 – 7) - A celebration of “Westerns” the Lone Pine Film Festival bills itself as ”the only film festival on location.”  It’s also the “reel west,” as the local Alabama Hills are where many of the most famous westerns were shot.  www.lonepinefilmfestival.org

Deer Hunter’s Family Barbecue (Oct. 6) - A feast has been marinaded in a secret barbecue sauce for days, then slow roasted in a pit and served on Sat., Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. in Walker.  $8 adult, $4 child.  Buy raffle tickets and win a hunting rifle with scope, camping gear and more at this benefit event by the Lions Club (good people, Lions… they do a lot of good work).  CLICK HERE.

Meadowcliff RV Resort (Oct. 6-7) - Park your RV for two nights and the total cost is $50, plus tax.  This neat RV Resort was named one of the best in the west not long ago.  Advance reservations required.  www.meadowcliff.com

Meadowcliff Lodge (Oct. 6 – 7) - Stay at the Meadowcliff Lodge and save $15 off your room/night (normally $69 – $99/night).

Ambush at the Lake – More than $6,000 in prizes are awarded during the annual fall Convict Lake Trout Derby, continuing through Nov. 15, plus a bonus of $2,000 on Oct. 26-28.  Catch a massive Alpers Trout in a setting so beautiful, you’ll have a hard time concentrating on fishing. CLICK HERE

Bodie Photographer’s Day (Oct. 20) - The last Friends of Bodie Photographer’s Day will occur on the third Saturday of October.  For a $75 fee, photographers can get in early and return for sunset photographs of the state historic park, allowing sunrise and sunset photography of the ghost town of Bodie.  www.bodiefoundation.org

 

Baxter Pass in the Southern Eastern Sierra rises 6,000′ over 13 miles, making it one of the longest passes in the Sierra.  Color spotter Dennis Vance says lightly traveled Baxter Pass once had  ”one of the most beautiful canyons in the Sierra, boasting several colonies of White Oak and rich in Fox Tail Pine along Baxter Creek, with shade provided most of the way by the forest canopy.”  However that beauty was lost in 2007 when the “devastating Independence fire” occurred.  The devastation left behind is seen in Vance’s photos.

0 – 15% – Baxter Pass (Below 8,000′) - Visit riparian areas to see color along streams.

15 – 30% - Baxter Pass (8,000 to 9,000′) - Ferns are showing color to 9,000′.

30 – 50-% - Baxter Pass (10,300′) - subalpine fronds have turned orange.

White Oak Renewal- Vance provides this photo of new white oak sprouting from the trunks of trees burned in the 2007 fire.  He writes that the photo was taken,  ”just above the Baxter Pass trailhead at 6,300′ elevation. It dramatically reveals the rebirth of the white oak colony alongside the N. Fork of Oak Creek drainage. The fire of 2007 started down at 4,000′ and burned continuously up to 9,000′. It has been said that this fire became so hot in the pass that it split rocks!”