Based on what I observed during my visit to the eastern Sierra last weekend and on what I’m hearing from others who visited and who may be visiting now, a few quick observations, predictions, and thoughts:
- Most of the higher elevation trees are likely to have lost their leaves by this weekend – if you shoot there look for the stark quality of bare aspen groves and perhaps a few lingering trees.
- For this weekend, I suspect that middle elevation trees may be your best bet. Last weekend it looked like trees at the 8000′ elevation and a bit lower might be starting to pick up color, especially those in somewhat more exposed locations.
- The consensus among a number of folks whose reports I follow seems to be that some of the areas that generally change later may be best a week or more from now. (For me these include spots like Lee Vining Canyon and Lundy Canyon.) To state it directly, some are suggesting that the weekend of October 17-18 may provide some interesting low-elevation color.
- Overall, the the grand cycles of nature in the eastern Sierra, a number of us are thinking that this may well not go down in the records as the most astonishing year for aspen color.
- There are always other great subjects to shoot in the eastern Sierra. Trees down in Owens Valley and other high desert areas are changing colors; the eastern face of the range provides may wonderful photographic opportunities; aspens can be photogenic even when they are not bright red, orange, yellow, and gold; a dusting of snow on the higher peak – not unusual at all this time of year – provides some great images.
- Keep in mind that even when the whole eastern Sierra is not lit up by wild aspen colors, all you have to do is find one spot that is.
There are no guarantees when it comes to figuring out what nature will do. Consult as many reports as you can find, watch the weather, be flexible, and hope for the best.
UPDATE: Do keep a careful eye on the weather early next week. Based on current predictions there is a very good chance that the first significant storm of the season may sweep across the state, and this could easily lead to extended closures of high passes.
Great comments Dan and stuff to remember for next time. And there were still photographic opportunities. I almost completely botched it by under exposing the shot and yet I did get a picture from that little bridge up near Sabrina that I like, perhaps just because of the range of colors in the aspens and other trees, from dead brown to wilted green to lush green to one tree showing flaming fall! And you can bet I will be back there again to try again, because like you said, it won’t be the same next time and you just never know, the next time may be a winner! Thanks!
The “green to dead” description echoes reports from some other photographers in certain areas. Micheal Frye posted something earlier this week which, IIRC, suggested that the result of last week’s cold spell may have been to “kill off” some of the higher green leaves. (His idea is that colder weather promotes good color but that frigid weather can wreck it.)
On the other hand, the reports of “brown leaves” do seem to come every year. Part of this – though not the whole story this year – may be that some imagine that the entire eastern side of the range might light up with pure, astonishing, and miraculously perfect color all at once. Ain’t so! In reality, you always do have to search around a bit for aspens that match your idealized image based on seeing photographs of the best aspen color that other could find. Makes sense, right?
So, while I also sometimes look around and think – let’s be honest here – “this isn’t as spectacular as I hoped,” once I search a bit more carefully, narrow my focus, and stay open to small scenes that may be quite good… I usually can find stuff that is interesting.
And I try to remain flexible. That happened last weekend when I was on my way up to North Lake for sunrise and I saw some really great light above the Buttermilks. I let the North Lake idea fall by the wayside to pursue the surprise conditions. It sounds like you are already thinking along these lines.
One more thought. If you go out there ten times, it is never the case that all ten times will be equally good. But it is still important to be there all ten times – you have increased the odds that you will encounter something really special by a factor of ten!
I just returned from Bishop late last night. I found North and South Lakes and Sabrina just as you have been reporting. There was some color at North Lake and that aspen tree tunnel was showing some signs of change. But it seemed to me that on some of the trees the leaves must of gone from green to dead. I couldn’t help but see trees with just dead lifeless brown leaves. And is it me? Or is it normal? I don’t have enough experience to go by but it sure seemed like a lot of the aspens looked wilted. Needless to say, I only spent one morning up in that area. The rest of the time I spent scouting and photographing the area off 5 Bridges Road and Chalk Bluffs. There is a color palette of different plants out there along with some great trees. The trouble is figuring out how to get to them as there are fences and dirt roads that go all over. And it is dusty! I still have not downloaded my pictures from the camera yet but for this trip at least, I was not happy with what I got. There were no clouds for drama or sunrise and sunset color. I had clear skies the whole time. I am sick of clear skies. I want some clouds and color! And I did not find a good spot to shoot from yet but I would not discount area off of Brockman Lane, Dixon Lane, or even out in Round Valley. The color that can develop on the peaks to the west of Bishop could make a nice sunrise landscape from some of these areas if you can scout out a good spot to shoot from. I suspect there are a lot of great spots for such a picture and that is what I was working on while I was there. Unfortunately I haven’t found a spot yet I am really happy with but then nature didn’t deliver that great sunrise either. Oh well. I still love going there!