Last weekend I was in the eastern Sierra Nevada chasing fall aspen colors. Photos will appear here soon – in the meantime I have posted a few at my dan’s outside and gallery sites.

Timing is everything when it comes to photographing the aspens as they turn from green to yellow, gold, and red in the Sierra. Many factors affect the exact timing – some are large scale patterns that may be somewhat predictable, some are related to specific locations and can be learned over time, while others are ephemeral and cannot be predicted.

This year the macro issue is the dry (extremely dry in the southern Sierra) conditions of the past season. The summer growth cycle peaked early, was short, and was weaker than in most years. Frankly, I don’t really yet understand the specific effects of this on the aspens. I do know that certain other plants seemed to be in a fall-like state much earlier this year, but I cannot say that this was the case with aspens based on a few Sierra trips as recent as last week.

I’m beginning to learn some of the regular patterns. For example, in the past I’ve arrived too late to see great color in the extensive stands on top of Monitor Pass. After trying a few times I figured out that they tend to peak a week or so before many nearby lower stands such as those in Hope Valley. (They looked pretty good last week, and I’m guessing they’ll be past prime by this weekend.) I also have missed the small aspens in upper Virginia Lake canyon several times. Even though I went earlier this year they had already lost their leaves… while most other aspens in the Sierra hadn’t even turned!

There there are the “ephemeral” and unexpected immediate conditions. For example, it is apparently snowing today in the Sierra and on the east slope and I hear it was earlier quite windy. There is a good chance that groves that were exposed to the wind may have lost quite a few leaves. On the other hand, the snow and wind may provide an opportunity for photos juxtaposing colorful aspen leaves and white snow.

I’ll be going back up there – very soon – and I’ll have more to say and show when I return.