While New Englanders will scoff, Californians have their own spectacular fall color display in the eastern Sierra Nevada when the aspens and other trees turn red, orange, yellow, golden, and more around the beginning of October each year.
I’ve been “chasing the aspens” for some years now, and every year at about this time I start to look forward to visiting and photographing them – and I join in the speculation regarding the times of peak color, how the weather may affect this, where to find the best displays, and so forth.
Today’s post is just a reminder that the aspen color is now little more than a month away – I’ll post more on this topic during the next few weeks.
(Photo: Autumn Sunset, Monitor Pass. Sierra Nevada, California. October 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.)
Thank you Dan. I didn’t realize that the displays of fall color could vary like that. I won’t have internet while I am there as I still don’t have a laptop for that but I will talk to people there and look for reports. I don’t want to miss out! I plan to shoot both 35mm film (standard 35mm and Hasselblad XPan with Fuji Velvia) and digital. Hopefully I come back with some good stuff! Thanks!
Cynthia, while you may find it hard to get away, at least you do a good job of scheduling your trips – that should be pretty darn close to prime aspen time in the eastern Sierra. Keep in mind that the peak can vary a bit at different locations and elevations, and even from grove to grove – so keep up on reports and be ready to hit slightly different spots if the reports for them are good.
Dan
I wish I could get more! I’m glued to work to much and I don’t have much of a choice if I want that paycheck. I do. Oh well, but I finally got a chance to schedule some vacation and I am going to the Eastern Sierras myself from Sep 29 through Oct 4. Only 5 days but I’ll take it. I’m going to be a Mono Lake the 29th and 30th, down to Bishop Oct 1 and 2, and then to Lone Pine for Oct 3 and come back home on the 4th. Unless the weather dictates otherwise I’ll come home through Yosemite. Otherwise I am going to photograph Mono Lake and sunrise and sunset, the aspens around June Lake, Convict lake at sunrise, and the Alabama hills at sunrise among other locations. I hope to come away with full memory cards with some great pictures of fall colors. I can’t wait!
I wondered what your plans might be for this fall, Inge. Mine are not firmed up yet – though I’m thinking of a one-day run up and back on 9/27 to scope things out a bit, followed by a longer visit the following weekend.
I also have plans to backpack in the Yosemite area a week earlier in September, and perhaps this coming week/weekend. And I always do at least one Yosemite Valley weekend around the end of October.
Dan
Dan,
You know me, I can’t wait. Basecamp in Bishop 9/27 to 10/5 and 10/11 to 10/13. I know Fall in New England etc is better??, but not unless I can drive there, I have to pass. I have too much photo equipment to take with me and the airlines do not make it cheap or easy to do so. Friends of mine lost some of their stuff. One of them only packed the chargers for the cameras into the suitcase and they were gone when he got to his destination. His suitcase came up the baggage claim not even closed! Too much hassle to fly in my opinion. So one year I will take a three week vacation and drive to the East coast…..
Inge
Thanks, Michael. It is hard to _not_ make gorgeous photos when those aspens get going. (Though, truth be told, I do have some clunkers on my drive. ;-)
Your October dates should be just about right this year, though we always have to watch closely as the dates approach. I suspect that two years of drier-than-normal weather may push the color a bit earlier, and we always have to watch for early weather fronts.
Dan
Gorgeous stuff, Dan! I am planning to be up in the Eastern Sierra October 3rd through 6th, looking for color from Carson Pass to Monitor Pass. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work with us!
Hah! I _knew_ that some scoff – law would show up, but I didn’t think it would be you, Edie! ;-) But you are right – I really should see New England autumn some time. Can they reschedule it so it won’t conflict with the Sierra aspens? :-)
*scoff*
*scoff*
Sorry, seem to have a tickle in my throat.
;-)
Seriously, Dan, you *REALY* need to take a trip back east sometime; October is favorite.
Edie
Willing to act as guide if you pay my travel expenses.