Leavitt Creek Revisited

Leavitt Creek continues to shine. We first visited it nine days ago when Philip Reedy introduced us to its cascade.

In Todd Backman’s iPhone XR capture (above) the aspen to its right carry more peak color.

Todd writes for those who want to find the creek, it’s on the eastern side of Sonora Pass (CA-108), just above the 8,000′ sign on the south side of the road. While this location was full of peak color at 11 this morning, Backman writes the rest of the area is Past Peak.

Still, he passed “some really nice groves further east, along the West Walker River north of the 108/395 junction.

As for Monitor Pass, stick a fork in it. It’s done.

Backman continued his 108, 395, 89 loop by returning by way of Ebbet’s Pass (CA-4) which has pretty views of lush color on both sides of the East Carson River.

He bemoaned with sad-faced emojis, something I’ve often bemoaned. We color spotters have a tendency to pass the first peak we see, thinking it’s gonna get better a little further down the road.

Not so. What dazzles you is good because the light is perfect at that moment. And, it’s probably not going to get better.

When on a quest to find fall color, I’ve learned to stop as soon as there’s a safe turnout. This means traveling slightly below the speed limit and pulling over to let others pass. Then, I stop whenever I see something beautiful. Otherwise, it’s a nice, pretty drive with nothing to show.

• Leavitt Creek, Sonora Pass (8,000′) – Peak to Past Peak – GO NOW, You Almost Missed It.