Post Trip Report: Hope Valley Fall Colors 2012-Oct-05

Hope Valley, CA

In the one and only trip out for the Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras (specifically Hope Valley), I spent a little bit of time to experiment with what the people in the know call Light Impressions.  It gives a photograph the appearance of an Impressionist painting.  Maybe mine is a crude example, but it was definitely fun to try.

As for the trip itself, I sent off a quick summary to Carol Leigh at CalPhoto, but will also post it here.  I estimate Hope Valley as a whole will be in “peak” in 2 weeks (10/19 weekend).  The areas right around Sorensen’s will be peak a little sooner.

Update 10/19: As I had mentioned previously, I was estimating the 10/19 weekend to be the peak color time for Hope Valley, minus Sorensen’s which should be past peak now.  Dave Henry from the Sacramento Bee published an article overnight (HERE) confirming this is the week to hit Hope Valley this year.  If you figure the incoming storm set to arrive by Tuesday (10/23), the leaves will be down by then.  So if you are thinking of going, do it this weekend!!

The weather in Northern California has cooler considerably since Thursday (10/4) and looks to remain that way for the next 10 days.  Daytime highs in the 60’s with overnight lows into the 20’s.  Thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

(As of 10/5) Starting from west to east along Hwy 88:

• Woods Lake Road (right past Caples Lake) – everything you need to see is within the first 1/4 mile, mostly around the old cow corrals
• Carson Pass/Red Lake heading east – 10-15%, lots of green occasional stands of yellow
• Iconic cabin – 10-15%, barely any color, but in case you’re wondering, cabin is for sale!
• Area around the 2nd unmarked, unused Emigrant Road, midway between Blue Lakes and 89 Junction – 50%, yellows
• Hope Valley pre-campground (northside) at the corrals (couple of heavy machinery parked nearby right now, easy to spot) – 50%, good variation of color, walk across the meadow to the trees, everyone else does.
• Hope Valley campground (northside) – 25-30%, 2 specific stands that require driving into the campground – 1st stand yellow, green, 2nd stand yellow, green, some orange
• Sorensen’s – 50-60% yellows
• Sorensen’s Fire Trail – 75%, yellows, some trees past peak, not worth walking beyond the stream (4th turn?)
• West Fork Carson River, heading downhill – 10-15% scattered throughout

Along Hwy 89 to Tahoe:

• Luther Pass – 20%, all along the road
• Christmas Valley – 10-15%, interspersed among homes

As is always the case, check out these sites for the latest on the rest of the Eastern Sierra, where many locations are coming into peak as I type:

Unless you live up in the Eastern Sierras or have the ability to drive to the area every few days, your best bet is to visit the following sites for the latest color information:

• California Fall Color (John Poimiroo)
• Fall Color in California (Carol Leigh)
• SacBee’s Fall Leaves (Dave Henry)
• Sierra Impressions (Cory Freeman)
• Mono County Tourism Board – download the Fall Color guide, reports not yet updated
• Weather.com – one large storm and the season might be over with blown down leaves
• Flickr – search for specific lakes, creeks, destinations and see what other photogs have done and what to expect

EXIF data: Nikon D7000, center weighted metering mode, 130mm, ISO 200, 30 sec, f/9

Aspens, Colors, Light Impression.  Hope Valley, California. October 05, 2012. © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.

Eastern Sierra Fall Colors – 2011 Oct 22 Weekend Outlook

Sorensen's Resort

Aspens, Pines, Sorensen’s.  Sorensen’s Resort, Hope Valley, California. September 29, 2010. © Copyright 2010 Steven Tze – all rights reserved.

UPDATE 10/23: The forecast for Kirkwood (Hope Valley) for Tuesday, October 25th is now calling for AM Rain/Snow.  This means there is a good chance the leaves may drop or turn brown by Wednesday.  So much for my idea of being lazy on Sunday and taking a day off midweek to photograph Hope Valley, I’ve got to go now (Sunday).

Yes, it’s Saturday night and I really should have put this post out on Friday at the latest.  In reading the SacBee’s Fall Color article it sounds like the best places for fall color this weekend are the areas around June Lake Loop, Lee Vining (LV Canyon, Lundy Canyon), Conway Summit, and the arrival of color at Hope Valley along Hwy 88 near Kirkwood on the western slopes of the Sierra.

In summary from the SacBee article, the peak for the northern Hwy 395 Eastern Sierras is either here or will be peak by the middle of next week.  So the time to go is now!

The weather forecast will be mostly sunny for the next 5 days so we’ll all be lucky to catch a few clouds here and there.  With that in mind, avoid the midday sun and shoot either in the mornings or afternoons for better (i.e. less harsh) light.  Shaded creeks will provide some great compositions of both the aspens and water.

The photograph here is from Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley from 2010.  If I do make it to the area tomorrow (Sunday), I’ll post a trip report and pictures by Sunday or Monday.  Good luck!

EXIF data: Nikon D50, patterned metering mode, 34mm, ISO 200, 1/60 sec, f/11

Post Trip Report: Eastern Sierra Fall Colors 2011-Oct-13 & 14

Destination: June Lake Loop, Rock Creek Area, Aspendell, North Lake, Conway Summit

I’m reposting some of the report from two nights ago now that I’ve had the chance to process some photographs.  Information from a brief look at the June Lake Loop from about 1/2 mile in from Hwy 395 and our stop at Conway Summit on the way home are included with this update.

Anyhow, my parents love the fall colors but really haven’t had a chance to see a full blown one up close and in person.  So I offered to take them out on a two day outing to the Eastern Sierras to not only see the fall foliage, but also Mono Lake.

Rock Creek, Big Meadow 2011-Oct-13

Rock Creek, Big Meadow 2011-Oct-13

Rock Creek:  I had high hopes for Rock Creek as it hasn’t been mentioned much in any reports online and it’s next up from the Bishop Creek Area going from south to north.  Reality set in when I saw brown and blown down leaves from Rock Creek Lake and above from the snow storm last week.  The campgrounds below the lake are much more promising.  The colors on the north side of the road have turned earlier than the south side of the road, where many of the trees are still green or barely yellow.  Noteworthy is Big Meadow campground where it is at least 50% yellow with patches of orange.  The campgrounds immediately up the road from Big Meadow are also worth stopping for.  I would guess this area of Rock Creek will be in full color by early next week.  And then there’s the green tree mostly on the south side of road in the Big Meadows area.  Those are at least a couple of weeks off.

Aspendell 2011-Oct-13

Aspendell:  Really impressive colors here.  The area from Aspendell to the turnoff for North Lake is really coming into color, averaging 75% yellows.  The best show is a grove of beautiful yellow aspens just down the hill from the last houses in town.  The grove is to the south/right as you are going down the hill and pass the last house.  Brilliant yellow.  Generally the best color is from Intake 2 and up to the town of Aspendell itself.  This area will remain great for at least the middle of next week.

North Lake 2011-Oct-13

North Lake Tree Tunnel 2011-Oct-13

North Lake Tree Tunnel 2011-Oct-13

North Lake Tree Tunnel 2011-Oct-13

North Lake 2011-Oct-13

Below Lake Sabrina 2011-Oct-13

North Lake:  Some parts of the tree tunnel area has turn brown or dropped due to the storm, but there were quite a few trees that were green two weeks ago and now they have turned a brilliant yellow.  It’s a little difficult to isolate out certain areas that are now brown or barren, but the tree tunnel is at close to 100% or past peak now.  The grove of aspens on the “far” side of the lake (northwest) is at 75% with large swaths of yellow and orange.

June Lake Loop 2011-Oct-13

June Lake Loop: We only drove into the north side of the June Lake Loop for a mile, up to the point a dirt road splits off and seems to lead to a swath of aspen trees in the hills.  The colors looks to be 50% in with yellows and a touch of orange here and there.

Conway Summit:  A definite surprise of color here.  The colors are in various stages of coming in and about 75% have turned or started turning.  There are beautiful layers of colors throughout the summit and plenty of photogs and casual observers stopped in the two main turnouts on Hwy 395.  But remember, those are the only and usually not the best locations to shoot from.  Depending on the stage of color and time of the day, the best locations may actually be elsewhere.  While it’s not entirely safe to park on the shoulder on the highway and shoot from the safe side of the guardrail, it’s perfectly acceptable and I and other people have done that.  At least on this day, the Sheriff’s and Highway Patrol drove by without asking any of us to move our vehicles.  Conway Summit should be in peak by next weekend.

Conway Summit 2011-Oct-14

Conway Summit 2011-Oct-14

Conway Summit 2011-Oct-14

All photos.  © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.

Trip Report: Eastern Sierra Fall Colors 2011-Oct-13

Note – A update to this post with photographs and additional location is in my follow-up post: HERE

Destination: Rock Creek Area, Aspendale, North Lake

I’m updating from my hotel/condo for the night in Mammoth, a little annoyed that Auld Dubliner is closed for remodeling.  If an establishment notes that their Guinness on tap is adjusted precisely for its high altitude, I want to try it.  But alas, I was denied!

Anyhow, my parents love the fall colors but really haven’t had a chance to see a full blown one up close and in person.  So I offered to take them out on a two day outing to the Eastern Sierras to not only see the fall foliage, but also Mono Lake.

No photos updates until late Friday or Saturday.  Sorry.  My netbook can’t handle my RAW images so I wouldn’t even think about processing them via Lightroom.

Rock Creek:  I had high hopes for Rock Creek as it hasn’t been mentioned much in any reports online and it’s next up from the Bishop Creek Area going from south to north.  Reality set in when I saw brown and blown down leaves from Rock Creek Lake and above from the snow storm last week.  The campgrounds below the lake are much more promising.  The colors on the north side of the road have turned earlier than the south side of the road, where many of the trees are still green or barely yellow.  Noteworthy is Big Meadow campground where it is at least 50% yellow with patches of orange.  The campgrounds immediately up the road from Big Meadow are also worth stopping for.  I would guess this area of Rock Creek will be in full color by early next week.  And then there’s the green tree mostly on the south side of road in the Big Meadows area.  Those are at least a couple of weeks off.

Aspendell:  Really impressive colors here.  At least 75% yellows.  The area from Aspendell to the turnoff for North Lake is really coming into color, averaging 75% yellows.  The best show is a grove of beautiful yellow aspens just down the hill from the last houses in town.  The grove is to the south/right as you are going down the hill and pass the last house.  Brilliant yellow.

North Lake:  Some parts of the tree tunnel area has turn brown or dropped due to the storm, but there were quite a few trees that were green two weeks ago and now they have turned a brilliant yellow.  It’s a little difficult to isolate out certain areas that are now brown or barren, but the tree tunnel is at close to 100% or past peak now.  The grove of aspens on the “far” side of the lake (northwest) is at 75% with large swaths of yellow and orange.

Ok, I’ll post some images, but it’s of the previously uploaded sandwich from Erick Schat’s famous Bakkery in Bishop, CA.  I had another Mule Kick sandwich and it was good.  We also stopped by Mountain Light Gallery for some inspiration.

Erick Schat Bakkery, Logo

Mule Kick Sandwich

All photos.  © Copyright Steven Tze – all rights reserved.

Eastern Sierra Fall Colors 2011 – Weather Forecast – Oct 06

Updated: Thursday, Oct 06, 2011 12:15am

Tioga Pass Road, aka Highway 120  through Yosemite is currently closed due to snow.  The best estimate for reopening is probably for this weekend.

Despite some heavy winds and an abundance of rain, most areas along Hwy 395 only received light amounts of snow that did not accumulate on the roads according to National Weather Service reports. The only location that has significant amount of snow is Rock Creek Lakes at the 9700′ elevation, north of Bishop. All reports are from Wednesday midday:

CA – 4 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CROWLEY LAKE – STORM TOTAL OF 1.40 INCHES OF WATER EQUIVALENT WITH 1 INCH OF SNOW STICKING ONLY TO GRASS NOTHING ON PAVEMENT.

CA – 11 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF OWENS VALLEY RAW – ROCK CREEK LAKES RESORT STAFF REPORTED A FOOT OF SNOW HAD ALREADY FALLEN AT 9700 FEET.

CA – LEE VINING – STORM TOTAL OF 1.07 INCHES RAIN WITH A TRACE OF SNOWFALL.

Thursday remains the only day in the near term to have any forecast of rain or snow.  This is good news as the good color is still around the Bishop Creek area lakes. Perhaps we can get a report over the next few days on how the leaves have held up through this first winter-like storm of the season.  Areas north of Bishop should still be significantly green and held up well through this storm.  

After Thursday, the remainder of this week and the all of next week (Oct 9-15) is forecast for sunny days and cool evenings.  While this is great for fall color, there will be a lack of clouds to filter the sunlight during midday.

10 day forecasts for areas along Hwy 395, from south to north

• Bishop
• Mammoth Lakes
• June Lake
• Mono Lake South Tufa
• Lee Vining
• Bodie State Historical Park
• Bridgeport

I’m planning to be back out to the Eastern Sierras towards the end of next week.  I’m not sure where the good color will be by then but I’ll venture a guess that the peak will be somewhere in the Rock Creek and Crawley Lake areas.

Mono County – Fall Color Guide/Map