Eastern Sierra Colors Up

15-30% — Crowley Lake.  Sarah McCahill reports that aspens lining the canyons near Crowley Lake in southern Mono County are just turning yellow.

30-50% — McGee Creek.   Leslie Dawson reports (Sarah confirms) the Fremont cottonwoods and quaking aspen are colored 40% yellow/ 10% orange.  A few wildflowers are still to be seen, providing rare contrast.  Leslie spotted a small rubber boa and noted that up the creek from the trailhead is a series of three beaver ponds, the lowest of which has a huge beaver lodge easily visible from the trail.  Good log crossings are found over the creek all the way up to Steelhead Lake turnoff with excellent views of fall color up the canyon.  This weekend should be ideal for McGee Creek.

Sherwin Mountains (Mammoth Lakes) 9/23/09

15-30% — Mammoth Lakes.  Sarah took this photo on 9/23 of aspen in the Sherwin Mountains.  As seen, they are just beginning to turn yellow, a show that’s seen easily from the fourth tee at Snowcreek Golf Course.  Weather holding, give it a week to two to fully color up.

Trail to Davis Lake (9/26/09)

15-30% — Davis Lake is showing intense orange color on the trail, though there’s little color as yet on trees around the lake.  Instead, look to the shoreline for colorful grasses and brush.

Davis Lake (9/26/09)