GSMNP Update. Drove up to Clingmans Dome in the Smokies and Waterrock Knob on the BRP today. Little color in the lower elevations, moderate to good color in the higher elevations. Kind of surprising how much color there is considering that there was no color just four days ago. September and, so far, October have been dry months. So, the plants look a little dried out to me. But, it's supposed to rain next week and there are lots of leaves yet to turn.
Not going to be able to get up to the Eastern Sierra this year so instead looking at Yosemite in 2-4 weeks. Looking for any suggestions & collaboration. I have gone there in late October before but suspect a later turn with this years weather.
Cherohala Skyway update: Color looking good on Robbinsville, NC side up high. Really changing fast with good reds and yellows. Probably will peak the first of next week up high. Not that much color at lower elevations yet except in a few spots. Had frost at my house on 2 mornings here recently so that will bring it on. My favorite time to take pix!
Yesterday (10/7) I drove from Pittsburgh, PA to New Ringgold, PA and my friends drove from Akron, OH with no color. Everything is still green surprisingly.
joeyward wrote:
Cherohala Skyway update: Color looking good on Robbinsville, NC side up high. Really changing fast with good reds and yellows. Probably will peak the first of next week up high. Not that much color at lower elevations yet except in a few spots. Had frost at my house on 2 mornings here recently so that will bring it on. My favorite time to take pix!
Thanks for posting, Joey. I always drive the Cherohala Skyway this time of year, but it's hard for me to know exactly when it's going to peak.
Brief eastern Sierra update - reposted from my Google+ account:
"I was in Bishop Canyon this morning. (I'll likely be back up there later today, probably on the road to South Lake.) Snow starts above 8000', though it is not deep and it is picturesque. I think that snow figures in most of the photos I made this morning - they are almost more about snow than about aspens. Many aspens have gone straight to black leaves - probably as a result of the snow - though there is also some fine color. Many green trees remain, so there is plenty of potential for additional color later on..."
(For those who may not know, the town of Bishop, California is on the east side of the Sierra Nevada about 30 miles south of Mammoth Lakes. Bishop Creek drains a large area of the eastern Sierra above the town.)
phil hawkins wrote:
It's almost over for the area around Aspen. On 9/30 it was absolutely peak. Then two days later a bad wind came up and POOF!; much of what was on display had dropped.
I can add a bit more to my evolving eastern Sierra report...
I visited the area around Rock Creek, Mosquito Flat, and Toms Place this afternoon - not during the good light hours, so no photos. (I was killing time before heading back to Bishop Creek.)
Trees in the upper reaches of this area (from the perspective of one driving a car - I did not hike past the road end) show some color but, like the trees in upper Bishop Creek (at least at North and South Lakes) that were changing colors when the recent storm came in seem to have ended up going straight to brown/black leaves. However, there are many green trees in the middle and lower sections of Rock Creek. I think that this area will look good a bit later.
I have it on good authority - from speaking to several people who were there - that there is very little color at this point in the Lee Vining area. I heard that there is some color up high in the Dunderberg area, but also heard that Conway Summit is otherwise still not changing. (This last paragraph is all second-hand info since I have not been to those places this week.)
Just returned from Grand Teton National Park - color was reasonably good until Thursday when the 3-5 inches of snow hit. Afterwards, still some color but most of it was pretty well done.
Hey all, I spent the weekend camping at Frances Slocum State Park, here is a shot from the lake. It seems to be coming into color, but there isn't much leaf dropping. I hiked Ricketts Glen trail this weekend too and I would give it a few more weeks..
Wow! Thanks for that shot of Marion Bells. I was there last week, but I occassionally was thinking I should have waited one more week... Whew... Glad I was there when I was...
one more thing.... the creek was really low due to very little rain. You could walk across the creek in several places. Hopefully if you get to go, they will get some more rain and the wheel will be turning!
ok... sorry for the multiple post... Bridge Day at the New River Gorge Bridge in WV is this coming Saturday. Just a heads up to those traveling in that area as some roads are going to be closed. However, with peak color coming in, it will be a great one to photograph if you can get to it!
so instead looking at Yosemite in 2-4 weeks. Looking for any suggestions & collaboration. I have gone there in late October before but suspect a later turn with this years weather. 
