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It’s a Dog’s Life

Buddy and his chauffeur, Red Lake Rd. (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

While I was scouting for color along Red Lake Rd. (CA-88) this morning, Buddy and his chauffeur motored by. They were doing the same.

I learned that Buddy, a shaggy haired mutt, has over 50,000 TikTok fans. He added one more this morning. Any dog that gets chauffeured to see fall color deserves to be given a bone.

Buddy passes by on Red Lake Rd. (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

Highway 88 (Kit Carson Pass) is a mix of Patchy, Near Peak and Peak color. I’ll just describe the route between Caples Lake and Woodford’s Canyon as beautiful, and it’s likely to stay that way for a couple more weeks.

Vermillion Grove, Caples Lake (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

Vermillion grove at Caples Lake was a surprise. Usually it peaks and is gone within a few day, but it’s been at peak for over a week. I give it only a few more days at most, as yellow stands below it, along Caples Lake, are grabbing attention from it.

Red Barn, CA-88 (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

Aspen surrounding the red barn, just east of the road to Woods Lake are peaking, as are those at the Woods Lake Corral along the road.

Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

As seen above, the hillside beyond Red Lake Creek Cabin varies from Just Starting to peak, which means there’ll be good color there (conditions permitting) for another two weeks.

However, the aspen along Red Lake Creek on the opposite (south) side of Highway 88 are fully peaked and heavy with gloriously golden and orange leaves.

The same can be said of the groves in the heart of Hope Valley, between Blue Lakes Rd and CA-89. A few spots show mixed color, though most are Near Peak.

From the intersection of CA-88 and 89 east past the Wylder Resort and Campground, Woodfords Canyon is flush with orange and gold color, with occasional drips of red.

Markleeville’s California cottonwood are Near Peak and hugging the county seat of tiny Alpine County with their golden boughs.

I continued my scouting trip, stopping along the East Carson River to find it lined with fly fishermen and colorful willow, alder and cottonwood, all Near Peak.

On the climb to Monitor Pass (CA-89), I passed a burned area on the far slope overlooking Heenan Lake Wildlife Area. Throughout the blackened landscape, bright yellow and orange aspen pushed up amidst the skeletons of scorched pine and fir.

Monitor Pass, CA-89 (10/11/20) John Poimiroo

Atop Monitor Pass, aspen vary from Near to Past Peak. To the east, beyond the pass, they’ve peaked. Atop the pass itself, scrub aspen are peaking, and on the climb east toward the pass, they’re nearing peak.

As opposed to the “Oh, Wow!” of Carson Pass, Monitor Pass inspires more of a “Hmmm. I wonder why,” response.

  • Silver Lake, CA-88 (7,300′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
  • Caples Lake, CA-88 (7,800′) – Near Peak to Peak (75-100′) GO NOW!
  • Woods Lake Rd., CA-88 (8,200′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Forestdale Creek Rd, CA-88 (7,543′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88 (7,550′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Red Lake Creek, CA-88 (7,550′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, CA-88 (7,550′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Hope Valley, CA-88 (7,300′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now!
  • Wylder Hope Valley Resort [Sorensen’s] (7,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Groves Surrounding Wylder Hope Valley Resort, CA-88/89 (7,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Woodfords Canyon (7,000′), CA-88/89 – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Markleeville (5,531′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • East Walker River (5,000′) – Patchy (10-50%)
  • Heenan Lake Wildlife Area (7,000′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Near Peak to Peak (50-100%) GO NOW!