Two Peaks, Clearing Storm

Two Peaks, Clearing Storm
“Two Peaks, Clearing Storm” — Clouds from a summer storm begin to clear above two fog-bound Sierra Nevada Peaks.

Rainy weather in the Sierra Nevada often produces post-storm treats, and many of them involve light and clouds and fog. The storms, often brief afternoon or early evening affairs, increase the humidity and drop the temperatures. So once they begin to dissipate it is common to see clouds floating among the peaks, and if you are in the right spot you might even be wrapped in fog. I photographed these two peaks and the clearing sky after one such storm.

The skies are usually clear on most Sierra Nevada summer days. In fact, sometimes they are clear for so long that photographers start to lament the constant blue sky and sun! But every so often moister air floats up the range and afternoon storms ensue. There are no guarantees, but many of them are gone by sunset. The storm that produced these clearing clouds was an exception, a full day of rain that largely kept us tent-bound until this evening.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Where Are the New Autumn Aspen Photos?

If you have followed me here or on social media for a while you know that I’m passionate about photographing fall color in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. I usually spend a lot of time up there during the first two or three weeks of October when the colors peak.

But I don’t have any new Sierra fall color photos to share this year. I thought I should explain why.

Something felt “off” back in June after we returned from our UK trip and Great Glen Way trek. I chalked it up to lingering effects from a probable covid infection. But eventually the issue become more serious and it became clear that I was having a heart problem, and by late August it was interfering with my activities.

Symptoms became serious enough at the beginning of September that I made an emergency room visit. After hours of observation and testing showed rather high blood pressure but otherwise normal results, I was sent home. A few days later I had additional heart tests, which were also encouraging — no structural heart abnormalities. A heart rhythm issue was discovered, but it doesn’t look serious and it should be treatable.

Blood pressure medication (that I probably should have started much earlier) was prescribed, and it is having a positive effect. My symptoms are greatly diminished and continuing to improve as we work out the best treatment plan. I’m very encouraged, and it looks like my activities won’t be seriously impaired going forward. (Though I am a little peeved that my doctor told me to eliminate coffee and alcohol for now! ;-) )

Even though my doctor said it would be OK, I felt that spending time at high elevations while still having disturbing heart symptoms would not be wise. So I’ve been hanging out here at sea level… and fortunately there’s a very scenic coastline nearby!

On one hand, I really miss being up in the mountains as the seasons change, and I think about it all the time. On the other hand, I’m grateful that I’m getting treatment, and that I should be able to get back up there in the future!

New Hampshire Hills, Autumn

New Hampshire Hills, Autumn
“New Hampshire Hills, Autumn” — An autumn view across hazy New England hills in New Hampshire.

If I recall correctly, this was our first morning out and about on the Kancamagus Parkway, that popular fall color route in New Hampshire. We had driven over it late previous day when we arrived to check into a hotel, but there had been little time to stop and photograph. So the next morning we got up early and headed back up into the hills to start photography.

This is perhaps not the most colorful New England autumn photograph. In fact, I think it might be a bit more like my California landscape photographs in some ways. The colors are there, but they are muted by the early morning atmosphere and light. The photograph looks across a series of ridges and into the far distance where morning clouds have not yet lifted.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Rock and Ice

Rock and Ice
“Rock and Ice” — A permanent ice field and rugged alpine terrain in the Sierra Nevada.

This is a classic example of alpine Sierra Nevada terrain. At the very bottom is a bit of alpine meadow, located right at the upper edge of the local tree line. Above that we see large expanses of glaciated granite with rounded and smoothed forms that are now cracked and broken by erosion. Still higher, a permanent ice field (one of a diminishing number of them) nestles in a bowl eroded by its glacial ancestor. The ice field sits at the base of very steep and rugged slopes that rise to unseen peaks.

One result of spending a lot of time in the higher reaches of the Sierra Nevada is that it is easy to forget how exotic such landscapes look to those who don’t visit them. To them, this terrain might seem forbidding and out of reach. But the reality is that once you reach this elevation, the land opens up and you can go almost anywhere without trails, limited only by your imagination and you ability to find routes and navigate.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | PostEmail

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.