Bishop Creek – You Missed It.

Bishop Creek Canyon is now almost entirely Past Peak.

Whenever we report that an area is Past Peak, there’ll surely be someone who will send a photograph showing we’re wrong. Yes, there is still great color to be seen up Bishop Creek. However, for the most part it has blown. Tomorrow’s predicted wind event (gusting to 30 mph over ridges) will almost certainly strip what little remains.

The featured photograph (above) was taken by Jeff Hemming a week ago (Oct. 12) at Sabrina Lake (Bishop Creek Canyon). It shows Near Peak color at an area that has peaked in September in years past. Such is this autumn. It has been topsy turvy, cattywampus, totally out of sync.

Today, Sabrina Lake is officially Past Peak, though no doubt peak color can be seen today where it was green a week ago. As seen in Suvadeep Ghosh Dastidar’s images, South Lake Rd. still has pockets of late-turning fall color, though most color spotters would classify the canyon, overall, as Past Peak.

That’s the story of this autumn… of stands of aspen changing in staggered displays according to their internal genetic clock.

So, what remains to be seen in Inyo County?

South Inyo County is at Peak or Near Peak at Big Pine Creek, the Whitney Fish Hatchery and Alabama Hills. Spectacular Peak color was seen this past week on the trail to Whitney Portal. Likely, spots of that color remain, though the big ribbon of color (search Whitney Portal to see it), is gone.

Near Peak to Peak this week will be Pine Creek Rd. and the Round Valley, north of Bishop, with an impressive, long and scenic band of lush Frémont and black cottonwood, likely California’s best groves. Eastern Sierra color spotters have ignored Pine Creek, perhaps because it has cottonwood, not aspen. They shouldn’t, as the trees are backed by a breathtaking range of peaks at the western end of the canyon. This could be a great drone shot, which we’d love to post (YouTube).

The Round Valley (north of Bishop) also has towering cottonwood, some near weathered old cabins… well worth a detour.

Eastern Sierra

Southern Inyo County

• Whitney Portal (8,374’) – Peak to Past Peak  – You Almost Missed It.
• Onion Valley (9,600’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Big Pine Creek (7,660’) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
• Whitney Fish Hatchery (4,000’) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
• Alabama Hills (4,534’) –Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Northern Inyo County

South Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

• Weir Pond (9,650’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Parchers Resort (9,260’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Willow Campground (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Surveyors Meadow (8,975’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Table Mountain Group Camp (8,900’) –Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Mountain Glen -Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Mist Falls and Groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8,350’) -Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Four Jeffrey (8,000’) – Peak (75-100%)  GO NOW!

 

Sabrina Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

• Lake Sabrina (9,150’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Sabrina Approach (9,100′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Sabrina Campground (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Groves above Cardinal Village (8,550’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Aspendell (8,400’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Intake II (8,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Big Trees Campground (7,800’) – Near Peak (50-75%)    GO NOW!

 

North Lake

• North Lake Road (9,000’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• North Lake (9,255’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Upper North Lake Road (9,255’) – Past Peak – You Missed It.

Pine Creek/Round Valley

• Pine Creek Pack Station (7,441′) – Past Peak – You Missed It.
• Pine Creek Road (7,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!
• Round Valley (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!
• Lower Rock Creek Road (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%)  GO NOW!

Owens Valley/Bishop

• Owens Valley (4,100′) – Patchy (10-50%)
• Bishop (4,150′) – Patchy (10-50%)