Bustin’ Out at June Lakes

Doe at June Lake, June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider

Mixed reports have been arriving about the fall color at June Lakes. Some have said it’s “stripped” and Past Peak, while others say that June has just begun.

June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
June Lake Loop (10/14/19) Dakota Snider

Dakota Snider of Mammoth Lakes took these photos within the past few days. They show lots of color still remaining at June Lake, and also Mammoth Lakes, which we’d previously been told was Past Peak.

Jeff Simpson said he’d just driven the loop and admits, “There are some groves past peak but great elsewhere” adding that it’s “Thining around Silver Lake.”

Mammoth Lakes (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
Mammoth Lakes (10/14/19) Dakota Snider
Snow Creek, Mammoth Lakes (10/14/19) Dakota Snider

Over the decade I’ve been doing this, I find that peak is often a judgment from the eye of the beholder.

What I might think is Near Peak with a few blight-damaged groves, another will only see as wholly stripped, ignoring the leaves that are yet to turn. Then, I might see a grove at the end of peak as Past Peak, while there still are lots of beautiful photographs to be taken of it.

Certainly, June Lake is not as good this year as photos from past years show, but it’s still plenty beautiful and at Peak.