Aspens are Already Turning - Eastern Sierra

[Ranboze]

I was driving around the area of Sagehen Meadows, Wildhorse Meadows, etc... south of the 120, east of 395 and saw quite a few golden aspen leaves. The photogenic aspen grove just west of the June Lake Loop, north of Silver Lake, also has some turned leaves already.

[SSSdave]

Those dry groves about Sagehen Peak about 9k are always some of the first to turn, but that is more usually about the second week of September. In upper Bear Creek 11k areas a couple weeks ago in early August, I was seeing some areas of arctic willow already turning dry and red. That normally doesn't occur until about the third week of August. It may be drier areas of such trees may move their leaf change clock earlier though I'd expect well watered areas like those along streams and permanent seeps will tend to change only when temps begin to drop. Also I'd guess the quality of leaves that change due to drying conditions may not have the vibrant quality that leaves do that undergo change due to chilling temps. Since cottonwood and willow tend to grow along lower elevations of more permanent streams, I'm guessing they will change at more normal times too The net result may be a less synchronized period of fall leaf color change that occurs over a longer period of weeks. Not the best prospects for leaf photographers. ...David