Mammoth/June – Simply Lovely, Losing It Higher Up

Color spotter Edina Ingram reports that the Mammoth Lakes area is closer to full peak in lower elevations.  Jaganath Achari seconds her assessment and reports, after visiting  Mammoth and June Lakes this past weekend that, “it was busting in colors all over the place.”  

He added, “You really have no idea how many times I refresh your home page every day this season… Now eagerly waiting for your Napa/Sonoma and Shasta Cascade reports!”  OK, Jag, you’ve challenged us.  We’ll put out a report on the wine country this week.  From photos we’ve seen, some Sonoma County vineyards – it’s always spotty there- are 50%. 

Getting back to Mammoth/June, here’s the latest:

 

 

 

 

GO NOW! – 50-75%  – 7,500′ Elevation and Below – Mammoth Creek and areas off Sherwin Creek Road in Mammoth Lakes are approaching or at full peak. 

GO NOW! – 75-100% – 8,000′ Elevation and Above – Similar to what’s happened at Rock Creek and Bishop Creek, areas above 8,000′ are beginning to die off with trees showing half their leaves.  You’ll find color leading up to these elevations, though increasingly less color the higher up you go.

GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – June Lake – Full Peak.

GO NOW! – 50 – 75% – Conway Summit – Broad swaths of yellow aspen are turning orange, as Conway Summit continues to lag behind nearby canyons (Lundy, Virginia Creek, Twin Lakes).

GO NOW! – 75 – 100% – Twin Lakes, Bridgeport – This canyon tucked at the southwest end of the Bridgeport basin is often overlooked by leaf peepers and photogs, though it shouldn’t be.  Jaganath Achari didn’t miss visiting it on his trip to the East Side this past weekend and provides this panorama of the lakes, fringed with gold and backed by impressive Sierra peaks.  It’s worth a diversion, when traveling US 395 through Bridgeport… famous for its rustic cabins and fishing.

Twin Lakes, Bridgeport (10/13/13) Jaganath Achari