Natural History Wanderings

High Elevation Starting to Peak

Parchers Resort just posted a a detailed Eastern Sierra/ Bishop Creek Canyon Fall Color Report for 9-26-13

Overall Conditions above 8500ft     75 – 100%
Things are progressing quickly in the higher reaches of the Bishop Creek Canyon. There is still a lot of green along the road and in most of the parking areas however the canyon walls are really exploding with color. We typically see a lot of yellow but this year it seems there is more brilliant orange and red than usual. It’s hard to say how long the higher color will stay but if the weather stays good, these areas will stay around for a bit. This is the earliest we can remember  the color being this far along this early. Many areas are still well below 75% but the majority of the higher canyon walls are at least 75%.

Overall Conditions below 8500ft     15 – 30%
The vast majority of the aspen below the 8500ft mark are still mostly green but there is a lot of lime green showing with some pockets of yellow showing, especially on the So. Fork Bishop Creek above Bishop Creek Lodge.

Location Specific Reports:

50 – 75% – Mt. Glen Camp to Table Mountain Camp (8600ft)
This area is turning fast and is much closer to the 75% mark than the 50% mark. While the roadside aspen is still showing mostly green hues, the hillside to the east is really exploding with bright yellow.

30 -50% – Mountain Glen Campground (8400ft).
The grove directly above the campground is starting to turn nicely while the aspen down along the creek are still very green. Still another week or so before this area really starts to pop.

15-30% – Mist Falls and the groves above Bishop Creek Lodge (8350ft)
Quite a bit of color change on either side of the waterfall but it’s still mostly green around the falls and below the falls. Still a while before this area is at it’s peak.

30 – 50% – Table Mountain Camp (8900ft)
This grove tends to pop early but this year it seems to be a little later than the surrounding areas. The aspen along the creek and around the campground itself are showing lime green with a little yellow showing but not much in the way of color just yet.

75-100% – Surveyors Meadow (8975ft)
Quite a surprising sight to see as the hillsides just up canyon from Surveyor’s Meadow are nearing full color. The groves along the creek, along the road, and the two large groves to the west and north of the meadow are still showing a lot of green. I’m guessing the next week to 10 days will be the best views at this location. This is much earlier than we’re used to seeing, perhaps the drought is at work here.

30 – 50% – Willow Campground (9100ft)
This area is difficult to grade because the aspen along the road and in the campground are only showing lime green and some moderate yellow while the aspen perched in the granite cliff just above the campground are nearly all yellow and looking beautiful. The hillside above Parchers looks incredible from Willow Camp and contrasts nicely with the green aspen along the road.

75 – 100% – Parchers Camp
It’s really quite remarkable that while the resort grounds contains mostly green aspen, the surrounding canyon walls have changed drastically in the last week and tons of yellow, orange and even a little red is showing in just about every direction. We haven’t seen any evidence of leaves dropping so we’re hoping the views will remain spectacular for a while here at the resort.

75 – 100% – Weir Pond (9700ft)
This area is also hard to grade as the groves directly to the west of the pond are fully turning while the foliage surrounding the pond only has pockets of color with a lot of green still showing. Still, I would guess that from a photographer’s standpoint the next 7 to 10 days will be the best.

75 – 100% – Lake Sabrina (9150ft)
The vast majority of the color has already arrived at Lake Sabrina, quite a surprise given how early in the season we area. Some groves at the southwest end of the lake still have more color to offer but the dam, east shore, and the higher groves surrounding the lake are all exploding with yellow, orange and red. How long the color sticks around is anyone’s guess but it’s safe to say that the sooner you make it there, the better. With the lake level down, there is a somewhat limited opportunity for spectacular lake shots this year. The area just below the lake still has some color to turn and should make for some great photo ops over the next couple weeks if the weather behaves.

50 -75% – Groves above Cardinal Village & Aspendell    (8550ft)
Quite a change from last week with brilliant yellow blanketing the canyon to the east of Hwy 168 and flowing all the way down towards Cardinal Mine. Still a lot of green surrounding Cardinal Village but the aspen above there is looking fantastic. We’re not too far off from some peak color here.

50 – 75% – Sabrina Campground (9000ft)
The aspen along the road near Sabrina Camp are in peak fall color. Thankfully the large old growth aspen in and around the campground and along the stream are still mostly lime green so more color will continue to develop in the area.

50 – 75% – North Lake (9255ft)
North Lake has a great variety of color showing right now. The road below the lake is nearing peak with lots of yellow an orange. Along the lake however, there is mostly lime green aspen with just a few touches of yellow. The main grove that blankets the mountain above the lake and reaches down to the west shore is showing a lot of color up high with more green towards the lower part of the grove.

15 – 30% – Intake II  (8100ft)
The grove above the lake is showing quite a bit of yellow but not much going on with the trees surrounding the lake itself. Look for this area to be at its best in a few weeks

0-15%% – Forks, Four Jeffries, Big Trees & Bishop Park Camgrounds (8000ft – 8300ft)
No yellow to speak of in these areas but the aspen are certainly turning to lime green in most of these areas. These areas tend to peak quite a bit later than the higher reaches of the canyon so look for these areas to start looking their best around the end of the month or early October depending on the weather.

To see photos go to: Parchers Resort

Related articles

• Eastern Sierra: Fall Color Report Bishop Creek Canyon 9/19/13 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)