Entries by John Poimiroo

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Paradisiacal Plumas


Spanish Creek, Oakland Camp, Plumas County (11/3/22) Michael Beatley

Should I ever get to paradise, I imagine one of the first things I’d do would be to ask others there, how they found it and directions to its best places.

That happened to Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley today. He met three photographers from Sacramento near Thompson Valley. After introducing himself (they recognized Michael’s photos on this site), “they … asked where to go for photographs. I was happy to help,” he wrote.

They all ended up in a better part of paradisiacal Plumas County where each angelic step is along a path lined with glorious beauty … Spanish Creek.

Michael said that he awoke this morning, after a dusting of snow, to find his little piece of heaven “absolutely gorgeous.”

“It was one of those crisp, clear fall days where beauty takes your breath away,” he wrote, “Although just past peak, the black oak, alder, grasses and reflections on Spanish Creek at Oakland Camp were just about perfect.”

Do not let Michael’s assessment of the Quincy area being past peak dissuade you from heading there. It looks damn fine, to me. But, then when you live in paradise, as Michael does, anything less than perfection seems past peak.

  • Spanish Creek at Oakland Camp (5,817′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, You almost missed it.

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Oh, Oh, Owens


Millpond, Bishop, Owens Valley (11/2/22) Betsy Forsyth

Oh, Oh, … Owens Valley has finally been crowned fall color queen of the Eastern Sierra. Its black cottonwood are gamboge towers throughout Bishop and reflected in nearby ponds.

The Round Valley north of Bishop is at its best, as well. This is a definite photograph if heading north to ski this weekend at Mammoth Mountain. Tip: shoot facing south so that the trees are backlit. 

The unanswered question is will Pine Creek Canyon last another week of sleet and snow? Presently, a mix of color remains in the canyon. 

Southern Inyo County

  • Big Pine (3,989′) – Patchy (10-50%)

Bishop Creek Canyon

  • All Elevations  Past Peak, You Missed it.

Owens Valley/Bishop

Bishop has lots of yellows scattered throughout. There are still lots of green trees, so the colors will keep coming. Colder weather is predicted for this weekend.   

  • Bishop (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Buckley Ponds (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Rawson Ponds (4,150′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Owens Valley (4,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.

Northern Inyo County

Lower Rock Creek Rd. is past peak higher and peak/past peak lower in the canyon.

Round Valley’s many towering black oak are full of yellow and gold, though green leaves indicate the peak will last another week. It is quite beautiful. 

In Pine Creek, all of the aspen are past peak, but there are so many other deciduous trees and bushes that the colors continue to turn. There are oranges, yellows and greens throughout the canyon. 

  • Lower Rock Creek Rd (7,087′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • Round Valley (4,692′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now. 
  • Lower Pine Creek Canyon (7,000′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
  • Pine Creek Pack Station (7,400′) – PEAK to Past Peak – GO NOW, You almost missed it.

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Overnight Frosting


Plumas County (11/2/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Snow dusted dogwood and oak alike, Tuesday night in Plumas County. The overnight storm frosted foliage, but did not diminish their beauty. Peak color continues in Quincy and nearby.


Quincy (11/2/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

  • Quincy, Plumas County (3,342′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Silver Lining


Coleville, US 395, Mono County (11/2/22) Jeff Simpson

With so much snow coating fall color in the Eastern Sierra (6 – 8″ fell yesterday), leave it to Mono County color spotter Jeff Simpson to call it a “Silver Lining.”

In fact, he was referring to the Antelope Valley where black cottonwood from the West Walker River to Topaz along US 395 vary from Peak to Near Peak. “It’s last call for the walker canyon while the big cottonwood trees in the valley are still pretty green and should be good for another 10 days,” he wrote.


US 395, Mono County (11/2/22) Jeff Simpson

Overall, however, snow has changed the focus of Mono County toward welcoming winter visitors. So this was Mono County’s final fall color report.

The biggest news yesterday was from Mammoth Mountain which reported it will open early (Sat., Nov. 5) for skiing and riding. Also, the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area opens Dec. 3 and June Mountain will open on Dec. 17.

Presently, the only way to get to Mono County is from the north or south on U.S. 395, as Tioga Pass (CA 120), Sonora Pass (CA 10-8) and Monitor Pass CA 89 are closed due to snow. These passes will reopen if conditions allow. CLICK HERE to read current road conditions.


Snowcreek, Mammoth Lakes (11/2/22) Angie Plaisted

Jeff observed that Autumn 2022 “was a fantastic season with incredible conditions early in the year. The cold temperatures and storms pushed us past peak a little earlier than expected.” He recommends bookmarking Mono County’s Fall Colors Page, and noting dates on images to plan color spotting trips next year. 

Yesterday, I drove I-80 to Lake Tahoe (6,225′), to be at our family cabin for the return of a tuned-up snowblower. On the way, I passed clusters of aspen in Truckee, along Martis Creek and on the North Shore that were still holding heavy loads of pumpkin-colored leaves. Photographers in search of snow-flocked aspen and cottonwood should search elevations between 5,000 and 6,000′ in the next five days.

  • West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Near Peak to PEAK (50-100%) GO NOW! – Golden along the banks of the West Walker River but still greenish in the Antelope Valley and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz. 

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The Arctic Circle


Arctic Circle, CA 330, Big Bear Lake (11/1/22) Gianna Crest

It isn’t what you think. This Arctic Circle isn’t up north, its down south.

If you drive this Arctic Circle (CA 330) through the San Bernardino Mountains, you won’t see any polar bears, though there is lots of orange color to be enjoyed among peak black oak on the mountainsides. The drive up to Big Bear Lake passes through stands of peaking oak.

  • Arctic Circle, CA 330, Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Southside Drive


Southside Drive, Yosemite Valley (10/30/22) Sam Xi

Southside Drive in Yosemite Valley is California’s best autumn boulevard.

Bigleaf maple, Pacific dogwood and black oak line the section of the drive between Valley View and El Cap Meadow, though it is the maple that provide the drive’s delicate texture. At times during peak, the forest rains leaves which swirl and dance behind passing cars.

Color spotter Sam Xi caught the action at peak. It will continue into early November and is one of several not-to-be-missed peak fall color experiences. 

  • Southside Drive, Yosemite Valley (4,000′) PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Sunrise in the East Bay Hills


Mount Diablo (10/29/22) Salil Bhatt

Anywhere else, people would call them mountains, but in California we call them hills.

When Salil Bhatt’s report of a sunrise walk in the East Bay Hills arrived, I had to smile. Not just because I love seeing reports of fall color that’s descended to sea level (Peak is now below 4,000′), but because Salil wrote, “I had gone for a sunrise hike last Saturday (Oct 29) on a local hilltop to catch the morning sun lighting up the hills …”

California has 352 mountain ranges and over 8,000 peaks. We call most of them hills. We reserve “mountains” for mounds greater than 2,000′. Those are the ones that really count. Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, Mount Laguna, Mount Palomar, Mount Baldy. The Trinity Alps. The Cascades. The Sierra Nevada. The rest, well, they’re just hills.

Take the Berkeley Hills, for example. They top out at 1,906′. A 1,906′ peak would be the Everest of the midwest, were one there. In Berkeley, it’s just a hill.


San Ramon Valley (10/29/22) Salil Bhatt


Chinese pistache, San Ramon (10/29/22) Salil Bhatt

Nonetheless, from California’s hills, one can see magnificence as Salil did. He wrote, “Seemingly, the grass has now gone from golden hues of summer to brown. And so, the colors aren’t as stark or spectacular.  But what I did find on my way back, was a few Maple trees in the neighborhood had fully turned red.”

He returned two days later to get more pictures of urban forest color that is now appearing. “Most trees are still green, but a few cottonwood and sycamore have a tinge of yellow on them.”

What is showing color are the exotics … landscaped maple and Chinese pistache. They’re at peak carrying garnet foliage and fluorescent hot pink, ruby, carnelian, saffron, cantaloupe, and emerald.

November is the Bay Area’s month. The Livermore Valley, Danville, Walnut Creek, Burlingame, Atherton, San Leandro, San Rafael, Berkeley, Saratoga, Los Altos and Palo Alto are among the necklace of bay cities that will light up in coming weeks, and you won’t need to climb a mountain to see them. Just climb a hill.


Diablo Valley (10/29/22) Salil Bhatt

  • San Ramon and Diablo Valleys (486′) – Patchy (10-50%)

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Happy Halloween


Sugar maple, Thompson Ranch, La Porte Rd, Quincy (10/31/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

Jeff Luke Titcomb went trick or treating today and sends these treats from Plumas County.

There’s lots of orange and black showing on All Hallows’ Eve in and around Quincy. Increasingly, Black oak are wearing dark orange leaves suspended from their coal-black branches. The Thompson sugar maple on La Porte Rd is still clothed in bright orange. Why, even the dogwood are dressed in their rosiest costumes. No doubt, Indian rhubarb (Darmera) remain the harlequins of Plumas County’s fall foliage.

There’s still time to enjoy the party. Just, GO NOW!


Black oak, Plumas County (10/31/22) Jeff Luke Titcomb

  • Plumas County (3,342′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Big Bear Goes Big


Black oak and Ponderosa pine, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre

Following a report that the aspen had peaked at Big Bear Lake, two reports arrived today showing big color among the black oak.

Jim Van Matre writes, “The west end of the valley had a lot of color. Forrest Road 2N10 from Mill Creek Rd up to where the pavement ends is especially beautiful.” Though he predicts that this week’s storm is likely to strip trees at full peak.

Trent Vierra adds, “Fall foliage is GO NOW peak color, especially with snow in the forecast next week.


Black oak, San Bernardino Mountains (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre

“The native black oaks are in great peak color throughout the mountains,” Trent continued. “Around the 6000-8000 ft range they’re at peak gold and orange color; the ambered hue shining like a gem amongst the green pine on hills and peaks around the valley.”

He describes the overall color on the oaks as, “one of the most impressive I’ve seen in years. A really healthy showing that has benefited from the cold nights and warm days. The native cottonwood and willow are also shining nice and yellow around the creeks, meadows, and other riparian areas.

Trent adds, “Decorative trees are also at peak color, with the village being especially impressive with a wide variety of colored trees throughout.”


Herder's cabins, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre


Black oak, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre

  • Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Black oak at peak.

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Poole Powers Up


Poole Power Plant, Lee Vining Canyon (10/29/22) Sam Xi

While most of Lee Vining Canyon is past peak with aspen denuded, color spotter Sam Xi found a grove of aspen at the entrance to the Poole Power Plant that’s powered up with electric color.

He also observed that the “June Lake Loop is definitely going into past peak now overall, but there is still a ton of color in aspens to be found at Silver Lake, as well as the loop road right after June Lake village.”
 
Thanks, Sam. We updated the fall color map based on Sam’s precise directions.

  • Poole Power Plant, Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
  • June Lake Loop – PEAK to Past Peak, Go Now, you almost missed it.