Autumn Aspens
Misty creek with aspens near the June Lake Loop, Sunday morning
Sunday I returned from teaching a four-day private workshop in Yosemite Valley and Lee Vining. As I reported in my last post, the color in Yosemite Valley is slow to arrive. Over on the eastern side of the Sierra some aspens are turning, but most of the groves near Lee Vining are not yet at peak. Here’s a breakdown:
June Lake Loop: About 20% turning, another 40% lime green, the remaining 40% dark green.
Lee Vining Canyon: The same, about 20% turning, 40% lime green, 40% dark green
Lundy Canyon (along the road up to the trailhead): About 30% turning, 50% lime green, 20% dark green. Most of the best color is in the lower part of the canyon.
Conway Summit: About 30% turning, 40% lime green, 30% dark green.
Above Conway Summit: The aspens in the first half mile of the road to Virginia Lakes are a mix of yellow and lime green. About a mile above Conway Summit there’s a colorful patch of orange but scrubby aspens down in a small valley to the right of the road; that grove was at peak Friday. Further up most of the aspens are bare.
