We had our first few fall color trips of the year this past week, and it is beyond gorgeous out there! The higher elevations (8,500′–10,000′) have some beautiful patches of red, yellow, and orange groves, and we just got dusted with the first snow of the season on tall peaks along the crest. Now the color is moving down the slopes—the canyons and creeks in the Mono Basin will be glowing in the next two weeks.
Want to learn more about the science behind fall colors and the natural history of these amazing trees that paint our mountains gold and crimson in the fall? Come join me on our Fall Color Foray field seminars and experience them for yourself—October 11 and 15, 8:00am to 12:00noon. I am also available for custom fall color tours to take you to the best spots for viewing and photography.
Sign up for seminars here or contact me to set up a custom trip. It’s a great way to get out and get to know the mountains, canyons, and creeks during one of the most beautiful times of year!
Do you know how fall leaves turn from green to gold in a matter of days? Chlorophyll is vital in the photosynthetic process (remember high school Biology class?) and is working to produce sugars all summer long—it causes leaves to be green. When the days get shorter and the nights get longer, chlorophyll starts to break down faster than it is being replaced and the other pigments that have been in the leaf all along are finally unmasked in brilliant yellows and oranges.
