Hey guys, if you have the choice of going to Bishop Sept 28--30 and Oct 12--14'
Which one would you pick? Some in here said this year it will be earlier because of the draught, so Sept 28-30 may be right? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I was thinking about going, and almost bought tickets to fly to Reno, but something stopped me... maybe it was Derek's pictures as a reminder, that in Arizona, one can first enjoy colors in Flagstaff, then on Mogollon Rim, then in Sedona...
Does everyone realize that this thread was focused on Fall Color in the Eastern Sierra. Not sure when the thread got hijacked, but let's keep it to information concerning the Eastern Sierra only.
I am going to head up 88 through Hope Valley this weekend. Likely too early, but it's pretty country any time, and I've got a new camera and cabin fever, so I will go take a look.
I have also reserved a room in Bishop for Oct 7th.
Parcher's Resort is posting pics showing some significant color, already. I realize they want as many people as possible for as long as possible, but still....
Just back from nine days in the eastern Sierra backcountry tonight/morning. Saw some aspen color in Onion Valley, our trailhead, but almost all of the small number of aspens there were still green.
Willows are turning yellow, bilberry turning red, and other things starting to change a bit - but it sure didn't look like we are there yet.
I figure when I go up there this weekend I will check out the 88/89 corridor on out over Carson and Monitor passes down to Topaz. Have a room at the resort / casino there. I may not find colorful aspens, but I bet some of the willows and other trees along the Carson River are changing, and I always have fun exploring that area.
I am not going to go down to Bridgeport area on this trip, I will do that on Oct 7th.
nugeny wrote:
Hey guys, if you have the choice of going to Bishop Sept 28--30 and Oct 12--14'
Which one would you pick? Some in here said this year it will be earlier because of the draught, so Sept 28-30 may be right? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
In a typical year, I would regard your first dates as too early. There will be some color by then (in a normal year), but the peak typically come about a week later.
In a typical year, I would regard your second set of dates as a better bet, though likely past the typical peak by as much as a week. While the higher color is almost certainly going to be gone by then (for example, way up in the top elevations of North/South/Sabrina basin), there is almost always still fine color in lower groves and in lower canyons by that time.
And, of course, there is no way to accurately predict the course of the aspen color season - when it will start, whether it will be a great year or a mediocre one, how storms will affect things, and much more. I know - I've been trying to make sense of it for years and I finally realized that much of what happens is beyond our understanding, much less our control.
Among all of the other great sources of information on shooting fall color in the eastern Sierra, you might find an article of mine interesting, too:
Well I gambled on Sept 29 through Oct 5
I usually pick two date-ranges & switch/cancel at the last to respond to reports.
But this year I went for the nominal case....
From the sounds of it, the higher elevations are going strong now.
So I'll be about a week+ behind that.
But as gdan said, the lower elevations should be peaking in a week or so.
Hopefully when I get there.
In any event, I suspect there will be plenty of things to see & photograph.
Looks like some wind today and tomorrow and a day during the week. Strong enought will strip the already past prime leaves off. should be pleanty trees holding for the first storm passing through. I may not be there until next weekend. When it is going there is always places to search and come up with something. Does not have to be the grand vista.
