In the autumn of 2015, the Eastern Sierra saw vivid and prolonged color. . . much longer than expected given the stress on the aspens trees due to the prolonged drought. By the middle of October, Lundy Canyon and Conway Summit were showing some of the best color in the region, along with areas in the south — McGree Creek, Upper Rock Creek, South Lake, North Lake and Aspendell. But areas around June Lake, Lee Vining Canyon and even the cursory areas of Conway Summit were still predominantly a forest or lime green with fringe yellows. More oddly yet, a number of trees below U.S. Highway 395 on the northern slope of Conway had lost the entirety of their foliage, leaving stark, bare aspen trunks to intermingle with lush green copses lining the hillside. In these areas, the variety of light was stellar, and was aided by the continuous weather pattern of patchy clouds that rolled through over several days. A cold snap around October 20th finally caused a number of leaves to wither and fall, but all in all, it was one of the better years for photographing here in recent memory.
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