On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
?BillinGlendaleCA
In addition to heading up into the mountains west of Big Pine to see the Glaciers!, I also headed up there to see the last bits of eastern Sierra fall color. Fall color in the Sierra happens from north to south and top to down. So the early fall color starts north of Mono Lake at the higher elevations around mid September and the last of the fall color arrives near Owens Lake around early November. The Big Pine Creek valleys(north fork and south fork) are about in the middle of this time frame being further south and at a lower elevation.
Big Pine creek from the bridge near Glacier Lodge.
I first headed up the road along the south fork of the creek to see if I could get some fall color shots along the south fork. Yes, some of the patches of white you see on the ground is snow.
I drove from the parking lot by Glacier Lodge for day hiking and headed to the parking lot for overnight hiking about 3/4 of a mile back towards Big Pine. This trail would provide higher elevation to view the Glaciers! across the south fork valley. I think these pine cones showed I was on the right trail.
About a mile after hiking and after the trail bends to head up the north fork valley you see a sign with another trail heading down to the creek(small sign just right of center), this is the junction of the day hiking trail and the overnight trail. This shot looks up the north fork valley. I headed back down towards the creek along the day hiker trail.
After I returned home from my visit to Big Pine creek, every trip report of the hike to Big Pine Lakes featured this grove of aspen.
Heading down the day hiking trail affords really nice views of the Big Pine creek valley and stunning fall color.
Just above the confluence of the north and south forks of Big Pine creek is the first falls of the north fork. I didn’t have a tripod so I shot multiple shots of the waterfall by resting my camera on the bridge and combining the water portion of the shots to get a more milky constancy.
Just about at the point where Big Pine creek flows past the overnight parking lot is a nice group of trees with fall color.
Baud
I miss fall. I am done with winter.
Mo MacArbie
I’m the opposite of late. I’m enjoying winter, and these pictures, beautiful as they are, feel out of season. Of course, winters are mild here and of moderate length, which surely helps.
JPL
@Baud: As long as it’s above freezing, I’m happy.
Wonderful pictures! What a beautiful hike.
OzarkHillbilly
Looks like you had a nice day.
SiubhanDuinne
How beautiful, Bill!
debbie
Those aspen-lined roads/lanes are beautiful!
WaterGirl
This might be my favorite set from you, ever. I would love to spend some time there.
zhena gogolia
Wow, beautiful!
Kevin
Great pictures and hike. I love the one with the mountain dropping down to meet the valley.
waratah
I have not checked in for a while but these are beautiful photos. I am happy you are still well and taking photos.
UncleEbeneezer
That climb from the parking lot to where the day and overnight trails meet is rough. We were surprised at how winded we were in that first mile or so, plus it’s very exposed and we were there on a fairly warm day. Great pix!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: We didn’t have much of a winter, which usually means rain here. We got a lot in late December, but after that very little.
@Mo MacArbie: Due to scheduling issues, they are quite a bit later that I hoped for.
@JPL: Thanks, it is a really pretty area. I hope to do the full hike to the lakes in the Spring(maybe June) and again in the Fall. Much depends on when the person who does my work schedule stops dropping acid.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@OzarkHillbilly: It was, I’ll try to schedule more time up there next time. I went to quite a few places that day.
@SiubhanDuinne: Thanks much.
@debbie: I think they worked well with the clear blue sky.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@WaterGirl: It is a great location with lots to see, the full hike up to the lakes would be amazing in the fall.
@zhena gogolia: Thank you very much.
@Kevin: Thanks, I think when I head back to Lake Sabrina in the fall, I’ll have to hike a bit up the trail there and get something similar.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@waratah: Glad you like them.
@UncleEbeneezer: Thanks, I didn’t find the trail that difficult, though I made a good number of stops to shoot. It would suck donkey balls on a warm day, there’s no shade once you pass the pack station.
BigJimSlade
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Lovely shots! I know the name (Big Pine Creek) from hiking books (used Sierra North and Sierra South in the 70s, 80s, maybe even a little in the 90s), but haven’t been there. That area looks like a little forest oasis surrounded by some rather forbidding mountains.
On the map, it looks like some more scenery isn’t too far away – have you been to the Big Pine Lakes (I love Sierra lakes)? I think this link should work. Maybe it’s a bit too far for a day hike?
cckids
Just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!
Mary G
Lovely, Bill.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@BigJimSlade:
That would be a pretty accurate description. This was taken on the trail to the lakes going up from the overnight parking area and returning to the day hike parking area. The first couple of lakes(there are seven) can be done with a day hike with an early start, though I’ve not hiked to the lakes. As I said above, I’m going to try hiking to the first couple of lakes after the snow clears out a bit and we start getting some spring alpine flowers. I’m going to try to do the hike in the fall as well.
@cckids: Happy you like them.
@Mary G: Thanks much.
J R in WV
Always enjoy your photo shoots, Bill. I usually learn something, also.
Thanks~!!~
?BillinGlendaleCA
@J R in WV: Happy you like them.