I’ve lived in Southern California for eight years now, and one of the seasons I miss is fall. Even in October, summer is often still in full swing. There are few chilly nights, followed by scorching hot days into the 90s.
That doesn’t mean I don’t like it here. In fact, my biggest complaint about California (particularly Los Angeles) is simply that its residents are dissatisfied with California. Do your best to make the most of things. I’ve endured Minnesota winters for 24 years, and the places I can still hike in January haven’t reduced my seasonal depression all that much.
After years of growing up in Minnesota, my heart longs for fall. At my house in LA, I light fall-scented candles. No matter what scent mixture it is. I watch creepy movies. I am trying to create a season of change for myself. When it becomes difficult to distinguish between days, time passes faster.
I have fallen in love with the Eastern Sierra Mountains since my first visit to the area. I drove by in the fall and felt the familiar charm of endings and beginnings. California’s gold rush towns are the closest you’ll get to the charm of an East Coast village. Contrary to popular belief, you can actually see fall foliage in California. Maybe not as much as in the Far East, but if you know where to look, you can find it.
So, I decided to look for autumn along National Route 395 with a longing for it.
I limited my travels between Bishop and Bridgeport, California. I had booked a campground near the mountain town of June Lake since June and was hoping the timing would be right. I’m more of a road trip runner than a road trip planner. The popularity of certain campgrounds in California may thwart that urge. Road trip rule #2: Be open to change (rule #1: don’t leave earlier than planned). June Lake Loop is a favorite among fall foliage enthusiasts. When the timing is correct, the loop will turn a golden hue.
At my campsite, yellow aspen leaves swayed and danced against the monolithic pines in the distance. The nostalgic sweet scent of detritus greeted me.
I’m not the most outdoorsy person out there, and I’m not the most outdoorsy person out there. I go solo camping a few times a year. I became an avid backyard bird watcher. I have a healthy respect for nature, and that includes a healthy fear. But sometimes I let my curiosity take over. When camping without services, write down any questions that come to mind so you can look them up later. Perhaps this is an issue of control – discomfort with the unknown. Still, we are happy to have more knowledge at our fingertips than any other human race in history.
Did you know that poplars have a lifespan of 150 to 200 years? Did you know that it is the most widely distributed tree native to North America?
Looking at their range, it’s no wonder I feel so at ease with their presence. Aspens grow abundantly in my home state of Minnesota. Fall in California isn’t often compared to fall in the Midwest or East Coast, but it doesn’t have to be. I went to the Eastern Sierra in search of some nostalgic peace, and I found it.
Linnea Brion is a photographer and writer living in Los Angeles. To see more of her work, please visit: linneabullion.com Or find her @linneabullion On Instagram.
