Fall Color Update 3 or winter and fall collide

Fall Color Update 3 or winter and fall collide

From: Quercus Galbinus
Sighting_Date: ho/d/ie
Remote Name:
Date: 28 Sep 2005
Time: 17:57:46 -0400

Comments

Snow enveloped the higher peaks of the Eastern Sierra this week. Fierce winds last Friday did not do much to the colors--aspen leaves held. The winds did blast down a lot of this year's apples though.

Mt. Dana on 9/27/05. Not even October and we get this, and yes Tioga Pass is still open after this late-Sept slathering.

June Lake Loop along Silver Lake is about 20% developed. A few red/orange trees that are dazzling against green and yellow hues..

Lundy Canyon is about 10-15% though sections of trees, north to northeast facing are about 50% above 8,000'.

Above 8,000 looks good, below is spotty and mostly green on 9/27/05, up Lundy.

Lee Vining Canyon is not even close except for rebellious trees that seemed to be more deprived of water. Overall the lower canyon is not more than 5% and upper canyon maybe a tad more.

Aspen Campground from Tioga Pass Rd, still a ways to go on 9/26/05

The Parker Bench is just firing up, but it's probably a week away.

Parker Bench on Sept. 28, 2005

Good local colors now if you want to root them out, but nothing expansive. Anytime between this weekend and mid-late Oct. will give you a good show if you root out the hot spots. Weather, and particularly wind will determine how long colors hang in there.

Very cool overnight temperatures and warm days are forecasted; this will accelerate the color. The long term weather discussion presents the possibility of wind and precip (in the form of snow) in the 7-10 day window. Anything is possible, but get your colors while they're hot, er... when they get more so. Stay tuned.

Last Updated August 09, 2007