October 1, 2002

Greetings Rock Creekers!  As we enter October, the weather in the Eastern Sierra is becoming more seasonal, the fall colors are starting to fade up high, and the campgrounds and local businesses are thinking about closing for the season.  For much of September, temperatures remained above normal as they had for most of the summer.  In fact, as early as last Monday (Sept. 23), temperatures soared into the mid 70's at the lake, considerably above normal for fall. Consequently, Saturday's high of 39 at the lake came as quite a shock, and the imbedded snow showers further reminded everyone of the impending winter, a season that usually arrives far earlier in the Sierra's high country than the calendar indicates.  Sunday's high was 53, still below normal, but far more seasonal than Saturday's rude awakening.  Then today (Tuesday) brought more cold temperatures and snow.  As I write this newsletter, 2-3 inches of snow has blanketed the ground at the lake, and it's still snowing.  The temperature is 21 degrees, and a winter storm warning has been issued for the Eastern Sierra.  A "Nevada Low" has set up over the Great Basin and is pumping cold air and moisture into the Eastern Sierra.  The moisture associated with this system is far more significant than was initially anticipated.  More snow and cold temperatures are expected for the next 12-24 hours, before a warmup closes out the week.  Temperatures should (and I emphasize "should") return to normal by the end of the coming weekend. The snow will be history, except on the peaks.  Fall has definitely arrived in the Eastern Sierra.  Better come get it before it's gone!  Stay updated on the weather at the following address...
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/weather/


--FALL COLORS--
Speaking of fall, the colors in the aspens are past peak now at the lake.  Many trees are losing their leaves, and the snow and cold will further their demise.  Still, there is a good amount of color at elevations below 9,000 feet, and it will probably be another 2-3 weeks or more before the canyon is completely devoid of color.  I put together a photo gallery of fall colors in Rock Creek from previous years.  You can check it out at the following address...
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/photos/fall/fall.htm


--FISHING--
Fishing has remained consistently good during September, and word has it that a nice 5+ pounder was caught during the week, however the fish wasn't brought into the resort to get weighed, so I don't have any official documentation of that.  In fact, nobody has brought a fish into the resort to be weighed since August.  Still, fishing remains good.  Lots of stringers with 1-2 pounders have been caught recently on a variety of baits, lures, and flies.  Anglers are producing limits with wooly buggers, matukas, hornbergs, and other streamer flies.  Red/Gold Thomas Buoyants continue to work well.  Also, crickets and nightcrawlers have been effective baits for bait fisherfolks. 

The resort has been raising trout in a pen near the boat dock for most of the summer, and most of these fish have been released now into the lake.  Averaging about a pound, the resort's rainbows are fat, some in the 2+ pound range.  DFG plants, in addition to these fish, have Rock Creek Lake producing nice limits as we approach the end of fishing season, which is on October 31 in Inyo County.  Remember though, that the fishing season will continue until November 15 in Mono County, so the creek from roughly Upper Pine Grove Campground down to Tom's Place will be open until November 15! 


--LAKE CLEANUP DAY--
I'd like to thank those of you, including Rob Webb and others I didn't meet, for helping with the lake cleanup day over Labor Day Weekend.  A total of about 10 people helped clean the lake's shore that day, and it was very productive, even though we only got done with about 1/10 of the entire shore.  Still, it was a start.  Hopefully more people will show up next year.

The amount of fishing line in the trees and rocks along the shore was especially staggering.  Laura Walker, campground manager at the lake, told me of one incident with fishing line in which a stellars jay was wrapped in line and had a fish hook stuck in its beak.  She carefully cut the line away to free the bird, but realized as the bird flew away with the hook still in its beak that she should've removed the hook first.  Hopefully the bird was able to remove the hook on its own.  Stories like this are becoming more common each year.  We really need a small army to remove all the cans, fishing line, cigarette butts, bottles, diapers (yes diapers), and other junk that litters the shore.  Until then, please continue to do your part by cleaning the shore 20 feet in either direction from where you're fishing.  It's a small inconvenience, but it WILL make a difference!  If you need a trashbag, the resort will be happy to give you one.


Well, that's about it for this newsletter.  Thought you'd be interested in knowing about the weather especially.  Until next time, layer up, build a campfire, take it easy, and THINK CREEK!  The winter weather statement is below.

Tim


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
806 PM PDT TUE OCT 1 2002

CAZ026-027-021100-
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-
OWENS VALLEY AND ADJACENT EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-

...WINTER STORM WARNING TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET...

PERIODS OF HEAVY WET SNOW AND GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF INYO COUNTY THROUGH THE NIGHT. TEMPERATURES HAVE PLUMMETED IN THE EARLY EVENING HOURS BEHIND A POWERFUL EARLY FALL COLD FRONT AND THE SNOW LEVEL HAS FALLEN TO ABOUT 5000 FEET
OVER THE EASTERN SIERRA. A SPOTTER IN ASPENDELL REPORTED ABOUT FOUR INCHES OF ACCUMULATION AS OF 730 PM PDT. LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE TONIGHT...THEN TAPER OFF TO SHOWERS WEDNESDAY MORNING. TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 7 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE BY
THE TIME THE STORM SUBSIDES EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.