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Alpine Abounds

American bluebird, Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Mountain bluebird, Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Fall color remains so striking in Alpine County’s Hope Valley that even bluebirds are staying around to do some leaf peepin.

Color spotter Clayton Peoples reported, “with delight,” that color still abounds despite the recent storm.

He drove along Carson Pass (CA-88) and found all kinds of color left on aspen in the Hope Valley, seeing lime, yellow, orange and red, with orange being the predominant color. 

He wrote, “There are places at the higher elevations of the pass where the leaves were stripped by the wind, but overall it is still “Peak.”

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

He says it’s certainly not ‘Past Peak,’ yet.”

Hope Valley is Clayton’s pick as “Peak of the Week” given the added beauty provided by the dusting of snow on surrounding peaks, but then a lot of the same can be seen in other peaking areas of the Eastern Sierra, including June Lake.

Hope Valley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

[wunderground location=”Markleeville, CA” numdays=”4″ showdata=”daynames,icon,date,conditions,highlow” layout=”simple”]

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

Hope Valley (10/18/16) Clayton Peoples

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June Lake on Track for Terrific Color

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

June Lake Loop (10/7/16) Jeff Simpson

After hearing today that leaves had dropped from some aspen trees at June Lake, we asked Jeff Simpson to go there and photograph what it looks like, right now. His photos do not disappoint.

The aspen groves are lush and full of leaves, though, on closer inspection, some are spotted with black leaf spot fungus. Still, June Lake is on track for terrific color.

Next weekend (Oct. 15/16) should be prime for peak color at June Lake. Make your travel plans, now!

June Lake Loop/Hwy 168 – Patchy (10-50%) – The patchy rating is deceiving.  This area should easily move to near peak within a week.

As such, in the coming week June Lake is sure to earn the title PEAK OF THE WEEK.

[wunderground location=”June Lake, CA” numdays=”4″ showdata=”daynames,icon,date,conditions,highlow” layout=”simple”]

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Peak of the Week: Coffee Creek

Coffee Creek (10/.24/15) Jeri Rangel

Coffee Creek (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Hwy 3 and Coffee Creek Rd. (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Hwy 3 and Coffee Creek Rd. (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Alpen Cellars, Trinity County (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Alpen Cellars, Trinity County (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Billy's Peak seen from Coffee Creek (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Billy’s Peak seen from Coffee Creek (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

East Fork, Trinity River (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

East Fork, Trinity River (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Carville Inn, Trinity County (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Carville Inn, Trinity County (10/24/15) Jeri Rangel

Sims Flat, Shasta County (10/24/15) Jill Dinsmore

Sims Flat, Shasta County (10/24/15) Jill Dinsmore

Jeri Rangel took to the air this past weekend to show us the glorious color percolating along Coffee Creek in the Shasta Cascade.

This is the best view of peak that we have seen of the Coffee Creek area, earning the area honors as, “Peak of the Week.”

Jeri continued her flight over Alpen Cellars, one of the few vineyards in the Shasta Cascade, its vineyards glowing golden below with the Trinity Alps seen in the distance.

Most of the trees creating the color are bigleaf maple, though some cottonwood, alder and birch are contributing to the show.

The Carville Loop Rd. was part of a fabled stage coach route through Trinity County during the California Gold Rush.

Serving travelers along the Loop, since 1854, has been the Carville Inn, now a resort.

Though gold is no longer being mined in the Trinity River and Coffee Creek, spots of gold can still be seen in the area’s trees.

However, very little gold is being seen along the Upper Sacramento River at Sims Flat, where many of the trees have dropped their leaves or had them turn without significant color.

Color spotter Jill Dinsmore sends a shot of Sims Flat.  Though the color is disappointing, there is hope that Indian Rhubarb growing at the river’s edge will brighten to orange-red in coming weeks.

Birch, Mt Shasta (10/24/15) Sherry Gardner

Birch, Mt Shasta (10/24/15) Sherry Gardner

Sherry Gardner found a stand of brightly colored birch along Old Stage Rd in the town of Mt. Shasta.

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Coffee Creek

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Carville Loop

Patchy (10-50%) – Sims Flat, Upper Sacramento River

Peak GO NOW! (75-100%) – Mt. Shasta

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First Report: Black Oaks of the Thompson Valley

Black Oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Black Oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Black oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Black oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Black oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Black oak, Thompson Valley (10/18/15) Mike Nellor

Plumas County color spotter Mike Nellor scores a First Report with these shots of barns in the Thompson Valley.

Located southeast of Quincy, the Thompson Valley is ranch country, with lots of cattle grazing and big black oaks edging the pastures. Many backroads lead to stands of black oak and bigleaf maple. Mike reports this area as 60% peaked, and it should be full peak by Halloween.

Near Peak GO NOW! (50-75%) – Thompson Valley, Plumas County

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Yosemite Sugar Maple Peaks

Sugar Maple, Yosemite Valley (10/13/15) Elliot McGucken

Sugar Maple, Yosemite Valley (10/13/15) Elliot McGucken

GO NOW! If you want to see Yosemite Valley’s historic sugar maple peaking, as it doesn’t last long.  The exotic tree will probably be past peak by the weekend.

Peak GO NOW! – Yosemite Valley – One tree peaks first in Yosemite Valley each year, an eastern sugar maple planted near the Yosemite Chapel over a hundred years ago. Because these trees lose their color quickly, when we receive a report that it’s peaking, pack up and leave for the valley.  You might get lucky and see it as Elliot McGucken did. Or, just admire Elliot’s photo, while biting your lip and promising to get there next year.

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Color of the Week: Red

Pacific Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

Pacific Aspen, North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

The color of the week has been red, particularly at North Lake in Bishop Creek Canyon where Pacific Aspen have turned crimson.

North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

North Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Lake, Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

South Fork Bishop Creek (10/6/15) Aditi Das

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

North Lake (10/6/15) Erick Castellon

North Lake (9/25/15) Julie Kirby

North Lake (9/25/15) Julie Kirby

This deep a tone of red has surprised many who thought aspen turned only yellow. Colorado’s famous mountain slopes flickering with yellow aspen are a trademark of autumn in the Rocky Mountains.  However, aspen that grow in the high alpine canyons of the eastern Sierra Nevada have the ideal combination of warm, sunny days and cold, cold nights to bring out red, orange and pink, as well as yellow and lime.

We post, today, a selection of great photos taken in past days by a selection of color spotters. Bravo for finding the color and sharing your vision with us.

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Confirmed: North Lake Peaking For Sure

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

We were as surprised as our readers when Bishop Creek (Inyo County, Eastern Sierra) jumped from Patchy to Peak last week, though color spotter Nikhil Shahi confirms this rating was deserved and shares these beautiful pictures, taken this past weekend.

Nikhil writes, “North Lake is at peak, for sure… it will not last. It’s just gorgeous there.”

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon (9/27/15) Nikhil Shahi

South Lake Road is bursting with color as far up as Weir Pond.  Lee Vining Canyon is two weeks away from full color and there’s good color at Conway Summit and along the road to Virginia Lakes.

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High Sierra Surprise: Full Peak – GO NOW!

Weir Pond (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Weir Pond (9/24/15) Jared Smith

After posting Mono County’s report this morning, I anticipated the arrival of Jared Smith’s report from Bishop Creek Canyon in the Eastern Sierra.  I sensed he would report Near Peak at Surveyor’s Meadow, but was blown away by the news that color has changed rapidly in the past few days, pushing all areas above Mt. Glen Campground to full Peak.

Therefore, CaliforniaFallColor.com is issuing its first GO NOW! alerts of autumn (just a day after the autumnal equinox).  When we issue these alerts, do not delay getting to the locations identified as Near Peak or Peaking, as the turned leaves are very fragile and can be blown away.  In this instance, there is such a mix of color that it should last a while, though our advice is… GO NOW!

Here’s Jared’s report:

Overall Conditions Above 8500ft Elevation

Surveyor's Meadow (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Surveyor’s Meadow (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – What a difference a week makes! Color has exploded up Bishop Creek Canyon at higher elevations, with Lake Sabrina, North Lake and anything on the South Fork above Mt. Glen Campground peaking.

Jared says he’s noticing some odd transitioning occurring. “Where usually entire groves change together, instead a really cool mix of yellow, orange and red are appearing simultaneously with quite a few stubborn green aspen in the mix.” The color variation is gorgeous though he is rating these areas at Full Peak or at the high end of Near Peak, “as by the time those stubborn green trees turn, the others may have given up their color.  We’re certainly in the “Go Now!” zone. If the weather plays ball, the next 7 days will be excellent in the higher reaches of the canyon…hard to say beyond that.”

Overall Conditions Between 7500ft & 8500ft Elevation – Patchy (10% – 50%) – Quite a bit more yellow than last week but still mostly green in areas that we’ll see go off later in the autumn. I would rate this area just above 10% but barely. Some brilliant yellow patches below Mt. Glen Campground, Cardinal Village, Intake II and Mist Falls, but below those spots we’re looking at mostly green.

Weir Pond (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Weir Pond (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – Weir is about as good as its going to get this season with brilliant yellow and a bit of orange reflecting off the glass pond. The aspen along the road are still mostly green so there is still a little left to change, but this is pretty much peak photo time if you want to catch the yellow on the hillside and near the inlet.

Sabrina Campground (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Sabrina Campground (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – Sabrina Campground (9000ft) – This area is hard to call because even areas close to one another change at slightly different times, but there is peak color right now in large areas along Hwy 168 and just above the campground on the North Lake Rd. Still some green within the campground itself but there is peak color surrounding it.

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – Yellow pretty much surrounds the resort on all sides with the groves above Rainbow Meadow on the old trail to South Lake taking the cake as the most brilliant. Groves below the resort in between Parchers and Willow Camp are also looking spectacular.

Near Peak – GO NOW! (50% – 75%) – Willow Campground (9000ft) – The campground is really starting to change but the canyon walls above the to the south of the beaver pond are already exploding with color. I’m still guessing next week will be the best.

Peak – GO NOW!(75% – 100%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – Lots of color now showing all around the campground as well as below the campground. There is still some green yet to change along the roadway but it likely won’t the best will be seen over the next 7 days tops.

Surveyor's Meadow (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Surveyor’s Meadow (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – This is probably the most brilliant view along South Lake road with lots of yellow and touches of orange. We’ve lost a little color from those scrub aspen that popped early, but the larger aspen are now showing brilliant color and have brought this area into the “Go Now” zone. I’d expect the next 7 days to be the window for this location to be at its best.

Sabrina Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Sabrina Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Sabrina Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Sabrina Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Spectacular views at Lake Sabrina now. This may be closer to the 75% mark than the 100% mark, especially as the approach to the lake still has some ways to go, but not for long. Some rosy red, orange and yellow blanket the shoreline as well as the canyon wall near the lake’s main inlet. Breathtaking morning reflections off the lake despite the lower than normal water level.

North Lake Road (9/24/15) Jared Smith

North Lake Road (9/24/15) Jared Smith

North Lake Road (9/24/15) Jared Smith

North Lake Road (9/24/15) Jared Smith

North Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

North Lake (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Peak – GO NOW! (75% – 100%) – North Lake (9255ft) – This was an area difficult to grade as areas of the north shore of the lake, the approach to the lake, and the aspen grove near the upper parking lot are all fully peaking. Still yet to peak however are the road just past the lake (one of my favorite views), and the aspen along the west shore. It’s hard to say whether or not this area will have color all at once so I consider this a “go now” scenario as there is peak color to be had and whether it will get much better is hard to say.

Near Peak – GO NOW! (50 – 75%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft) – We’re getting pretty close to a peak color situation here with tons of yellow mixed in with lime green.

Groves Above Cardinal Village (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Groves Above Cardinal Village (9/24/15) Jared Smith

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the Groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – I almost wanted to call this patchy but alas, only a few yellow trees and some obvious lightening of the aspen at the very crest of the waterfall. This location is always photo-worthy, but not like it will be in 7 to 10 days from now.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Very few signs of color here right now.

Patchy (10 – 50%)  – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – This area actually lost some color over the last report as far as the yellow that was blanketing the east wall of the canyon below Cardinal Pinnacle. The aspen surrounding and below Cardinal Village are starting to lighten up considerably with some nice yellow patches in the mix. Looking for this to get really good in the next week or so.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now. The aspen have lightened considerably though over last week.

Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – Much of the yellow on the canyon wall is gone, but the color is just starting to develop around the lake with bright lime greens mixed with some patchy yellow.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.

 

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Snow, Rain and Wind Set Bishop Creek Back a Week

Willow Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Willow Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Plenty of color is showing at elevations above 8,500′ in the Eastern Sierra’s Bishop Creek Canyon, though a dusting of snow, light rain and wind early this week, set the show back a week, reports color spotter Jared Smith.  The light storm knocked aspen leaves that had already turned from their branches, though “thankfully most of the color has yet to peak,” says Jared, and there’s “some great stuff to look forward to.”

Below 8,500′, the show is just starting with lots of deep green, some lime and a few small patches of yellow.  Jared says it will still be a week to two before the lower elevations are approaching peak.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Weir Pond (9650ft) – The road is still open all the way to Weir Pond and the color is looking quite good on the hillside above the pond. The aspen surrounding the pond are still lime green so things will likely look much more impressive next week.

Sabrina Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Sabrina Campground (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Sabrina Campground (9000ft) – The aspen along the road are still brilliant yellow, orange and a touch of red, but some of the trees in were stripped of their color by the wind. The campground itself is still mostly green with just a few hints of yellow.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Parchers Resort (9260ft) – Quite a bit of yellow is blanketing the hillsides around the resort, but some of the scrub aspen here was stripped by the wind. Plenty of green still around and we’re looking forward to more change before the next report.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Willow Campground (9000ft) – The canyon walls above the campground are looking pretty impressive but the lower lying aspen within the campground have only touches of color and lime green hues. The granite wall across from the beaver pond just below the campground has some gorgeous color.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft) – Some color is showing above the campground and a few aspen along the stream have started to turn but we’ve still got a ways to go.

Surveyor's Meadow (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Surveyor’s Meadow (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft) – This area is probably the furthest along but hasn’t changed much since Sunday…in fact its actually displaying a bit less color thanks to the wind. It will be interesting to see how the cooler weather will affect the transformation.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Lake Sabrina (9150ft) – Some great color on the east side of the lake with some color starting to develop near the back of the lake as well. I’m predicting some very nice color here by next weekend if not before.

North Lake Road (9/17/15) Jared Smith

North Lake Road (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%) – North Lake (9255ft) – Some gorgeous yellow, orange and red is showing along the road as you approach North Lake. Not much going on around the lake itself though. Look for this area to go off next week.

Patchy (10 – 50%) – Stiny Loop above Mt. Glen Camp (8600ft) – Some yellow along the stream but mostly green hues dominating at present.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft) – One yellow tree and the rest is all green. This tends to pop later in the season, probably around the first week of October if I had to guess.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Aspendell (8400ft) – Very few signs of color here right now.

Groves at Cardinal Village (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Groves above Cardinal Village (9/17/15) Jared Smith

Patchy (10 – 50%)  – Groves above Cardinal Village (8550ft) – There is a lot of color still above Cardinal Village but some of the aspen are unfortunately naked already from the wind. Tons of green still around so we’ve got plenty of color yet to develop in this area.

Just Starting (0 – 10%) – Four Jeffries (8000ft) – Nothing but a few yellow branches showing right now.

Patchy – (10 – 50%) – Intake II (8000ft) – The aspen surrounding the lake are still hosting their summer shade of green although the scrub aspen growing up the mountainside are showing some yellow….at least the ones who still have their leaves are.

Just Starting – (0 – 10%) – Big Trees Campground (7800ft) – Nothing but green here right now.

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Black Leaf Spot Damages Northern Sierra Aspen

Black Leaf Spot Fungus, Quaking Aspen, North Lake Tahoe (9/3/15) John Poimiroo

Black Leaf Spot Fungus, Quaking Aspen, North Lake Tahoe (9/3/15) John Poimiroo

A road trip to Lake Tahoe, then north on CA-89 from Truckee to Lake Davis weekend was an eye opener, this Labor Day weekend.

Quaking Aspen, Cold Creek Campground, CA-89 (9/6/15) John Poimiroo

Quaking Aspen, Cold Creek Campground, CA-89 (9/6/15) John Poimiroo

As previously reported, the “black leaf spot” fungus that has decimated quaking aspen groves atop Monitor Pass and in parts of the Hope Valley gets worse as you drive north on CA-89.  In some locations, aspen have lost all their leaves, while in most groves about half the trees have been affected.  This photo shows the contrast of a stand of aspen that has lost nearly all its leaves, near aspen and cottonwood that are full of deep green foliage.

Willows, Cold Creek Campground, CA-89 (9/6/15) John Poimiroo

Willows, Cold Creek Campground, CA-89 (9/6/15) John Poimiroo

What this means for the fall color spotter is that in areas where black leaf spot has hit, the show will be reduced by half.  Here’s a rundown of locations visited:

  • Lake Tahoe (6,200′) from South Lake Tahoe (Camp Richardson) and along the west and north shores of Lake Tahoe, aspen are drier than seen in previous years, but the groves were not hit as hard by black leaf spot infestations, as seen at higher elevations south and north of the lake.
  • CA-267 (Kings Beach to Truckee) – The stand of aspen that surrounds a weathered, one-room ranch house at 6,600′ (a popular photo workshop and wedding photography location) has lost many of its leaves. Some have begun turning.  The grove is dry. Willows are peaking orange yellow.
  • CA-89 (Truckee to Sierraville) – Black leaf spot has hit aspen groves that grow beside the Little Truckee River at several points, with some groves completely denuded of leaves and the aspen look to be dead.  The healthiest trees are seen at Cold Creek Campground, though stands of verdant aspen are found near creeks and the river in all the campgrounds.
  • Lake Davis/Portola – Aspen are dry but severe damage from black leaf spot was not noticed.

Weather conditions in late spring and early summer were ideal for the formation of black leaf spot fungus.  The U.S. Forest Service reports that, “Epidemic conditions are intensified by abundant rainfall in the spring and summer, possibly followed by warm temperatures for about 1 week.” That is exactly what happened this year.

Autumn blaze maple (exotic), Agate Bay, Lake Tahoe (9/3/15) John Poimiroo

Autumn blaze maple (exotic), Agate Bay, Lake Tahoe (9/3/15) John Poimiroo

Piled atop this unusual bloom of fungus in Northern Sierra aspen groves is that the effect of four years of drought is evident throughout the forest. Many aspen and alder leaves are dry and have very little flexibility. Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine, Douglass, white and red fir and incense cedar (such as at Alder Creek) appear stressed; bunches of brown needles are seen in many of the trees.

Our experience has been that where trees are healthy and robust, good fall color appears.  But, where trees are dry or diseased, the show is short-lived and disappointing.  If you enjoy visiting or photographing fall color in the areas mentioned in this report, time your visit when it peaks during a year like this one, when drought and disease have stressed the forest.

0 – 10% – Lake Tahoe – Aspen groves are just beginning to turn color.  Most of the groves are drier than usual, with some having lost leaves.

0 – 10% – CA-267 (Spooner Summit) – Willows are at full peak with orange yellow leaves.  Aspen have begun to lose leaves, some are beginning to show color change, black leaf spot fungus affects about a third of the stands, which are drier than usual.

0 – 10% – CA-89 (Little Truckee River) – Half the aspen have lost leaves or are afflicted with black leaf spot.  The remaining stands appear healthy and with full green foliage that should turn beautifully in early October.

0 – 10% – Lake Davis and Frenchman’s Lake – Aspen are drier than usual with some having been thinned out, though overall color should be good.