Autumn Beauty of Convict Creek, 2024

[Harlen]

It's too late to insire the real photographers among us to race to Convict Creek this year, but it sure was stunningly beautiful in mid-September! The trip we made there was the first leg of a month-long journey through 11 Western States, so I wasn't able to get online during that stretch.

I was so amazed by the scenery on the way down and out (*from a camp above Lake Mildred, to the Convict Trailhead), that I was stopped in my tracks again and again! I would take a photo, and then move on a bit... and then I would become spellbound, and stuck in my tracks again-- take another image-- and this went on through the set of photos I will include below. I fell far behind my family and friends, but just couldn't move through such scenery any faster. I've always been drawn to Convict and McGee Creeks for the colorful rock formations, but I have never seen it in full autumn splendor. [Note, these were all taken in the very early morning light.]

[*I apologize for the similarity of these scenes; they all come from the same section of the forest below the Sevehah cliff, but I am trying to document my amazement at the unforgettable moments.

Here's what it looked like:

Our son Ryan was with us too.

[wildhiker]

Amazing fall color! Mid-September seems early for such peak color. We were at Lake Tahoe on Oct 12 and hiked up North Canyon on the east side and the aspen groves there were only about half turned yellow, orange, and red, and the other half still green.
-Phil

[RogerDosger69]

Those are great pictures! I went up there a few years ago, but not during the fall. I’d love to go back.

Crossing the damaged area of the trail was absolutely terrifying. Is it any easier to get up?

[The Other Tom]

Nice silhouette picture of the hiker and the fall colors.

[Harlen]

Phil, you are right again! I was wrong on the dates, it was actually September 24 that we went in, and those pictures were taken on the 28th, on the day we hiked out. Thanks for the correction.

p.s. Also, there are relatively few aspen trees in those photos. Most of that burnt orange color is from the small water birch trees growing on that slope, which is south and east of Mt. Laurel. This may be a pretty dry habitat for their species. Perhaps that stresses them, and causes them to shorten their growing season. One way or another, it was fantastic to see it.

Note that the greenish-yellow trees below and to the right in the frame are also the same Water Birch plants; so it does appear that the birch trees higher up the slope are turning color ahead of the others.

[maverick]

You are right, Ian; that area is unique.
The intricate mixture of rock formations, the right light, a critical component of all photography, and fall colors in the McGee and Convict Canyon area can make for some outstanding Fall landscape photography opportunities with some patience, perseverance, and luck.

This is one of my top fall photography art pieces, which looks magical on metal and is available in sizes 24" x 48" and above; it is breathtaking.

Contrast, colors, and luminance may differ on your screen, so it may not represent the piece correctly.

[Harlen]

It's brilliant Maverick! We need to get back in soon.

The Other Tom wrote:

Nice silhouette picture of the hiker and the fall colors.

Thanks, that's our son Ryan, on his second Sierra trip of the year, and soon to join us for another!
I have always loved trying to create cool silouettes of people in the mountains... let me see if I can find another of him:

Couldn't find the neat silhouette of young Ryan, but of course, there were many to choose from of our "furry children."