Washoe sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada range, but the storms are no less dramatic or colorful there.

---

When storms roll over the Sierra Nevada's, you know it!

---

Probably the last ride in of the season, before the snows hit. Showers Lake sits up above Lake Tahoe on the southern rim. View Badger's Album titled Showers Lake - Above Lake Tahoe to see more of this lovely alpine lake.

---

The cows are taken off the open range by late October, because it won't be long before the snow flies here.

---

The O’Neill Fall Classic, a grueling 22-mile paddle, set the stage for the final stop in the 2013 O’Neill Tahoe SUP & Paddleboard Series and the $20k prize purse. Starting in Camp Richardson (South Lake Tahoe) and finishing in Kings Beach (North Lake Tahoe), the Fall Classic is all about long distance endurance.

---

Fallen Leaf Lake sits just to the southwest of Lake Tahoe.

---

Is there any wonder why I love living in this area so much?

---

Aspen stand out against a backdrop of evergreens in the Tahoe basin.

---

Yes, the water may be cold all year, but it gets noticeably colder in the fall.

---

It gets cold pretty early in the year in the Sierras, with first snows falling in late September.

---

Late fall arrives in the Sierras around the end of October. While the hills may be snow kissed, the air is warm enough to ski in tank tops and shorts. It doesn't get more beautiful any place I know.

---

Along with fall, comes an incredible amount of rain and wind that washes the high Sierra Nevadas; each storm leaving dramatic color in it's wake.

---

View of the Sawtooth Ridge covered with an early snow from Twin Lakes. The Sawtooth Ridge is located on the border of Yosemite National Park in the Eastern Sierras.

---

Fall in the high Sierras is met quite literally headon with clouds of ladybugs for a week every year. They get in your hair, in your nose, in your clothes and in your food...it's all part of the autumn dance here.

---

The music of falling aspen leaves is most memorable!

---

The first snows in the Sierras seem to hold a unique and magical fluorescent appeal at night. Notice the sheets of ice forming on the lake? This is what cold looks like!

---

• Complete with incredible scenic poker runs through the Sierra mountains, here is the description, as promoted by the events coordinators:

Street Vibrations Motorcycle Festival is a celebration of music, metal and motorcycles. Street Vibrations offers tours, live entertainment, ride-in shows, stunt shows and more to more than 50,000 biking enthusiasts. This event is so big, it rocks at several locations throughout the region. Major event venues are planned at Reno, Sparks, Carson City downtown, historic Virginia City, Lake Tahoe and Chester's Reno Harley-Davidson Dealership. Rides to what Mark Twain called “the fairest picture the whole Earth affords”, Lake Tahoe - provide unparalleled entertainment. Flirt with Lady Luck during poker walks and runs. It’s HOG heaven! Don’t miss America’s Finest Custom Bike Builder’s Expo to view the latest creations. Check out the Tattoo Expo for body art extraordinaire. Swell with pride in your country at the ceremonial flag raising. Wet your whistle while appreciating the beautiful biker babes dancing on the bar top at the go-go bar in Sparks, and get some nourishment while appreciating the beautiful biker babes dancing on the bar top at the Hog Town Bar and Grill in Reno. Registered VIP's will get free entry to the Jimmie Van Zant concert at John Ascuaga's Nugget Celebrity Showroom. Listen to loads of local bands at locations throughout the venue. We'll have the Jagermeister Super Stage and the beautiful Jagerettes for the entire rally. As a special treat, we'll have the International Bikini Team competitions and meet 'n greets. Erik Estrada from CHiPS television show will be doing meet 'n greets throughout the event. Enter to win 4 bikes at drawings from Harrah's Casino and the Silver Legacy Casino. Spend some money with more than 300 vendors and more than 15 factory rigs selling everything motorcycle and more.

---

A noted viticultural area since the early 2000's (outshining Napa!), the Sierras are full of colorful vineyards this time of year.

---

When the sun moves further south, the sunrise and sunsets become more glorious and colorful.

---

Sitting smack in the foothills of the Sierras on Tahoe's western rim, a family trip to Apple Hill means so much more than just apples and pies. A three month celebration of fall for the last 50 years, it brings memories that'll last a lifetime. Memories of the amazing baked goods whose aromas make patience a sincere challenge on the jaunt home. More than once, my group has eaten an entire pie on the way home lol. It's fine wines and handcrafted beers in an incredible Sierra-soaked setting. It's Christmas trees for as far as your group can wander...with a roaring fire to bring you back to where you started. Apple Hill is the experience you will remember!

---

Hiking the Sierras in fall is the best. The air is crisp while the breezes still warm, a lovely mixture of the most enjoyable part of the season.

---

The deeper into the Sierras you are, the colder and foggier you will find the mornings come fall!

---

Rain and snow drive most deer to lower levels early in the season, with a few remaining to fawn throughout the fall. In Washington, the deer fawned in the spring, but in the Sierras (perhaps because it is warmer and there is more food available for them), they fawn year round.

---

Summers can get hot in the mountains here, so fall is a perfect time to get out and enjoy the hills.

---

If you venture very high into the Sierras this time of year, be sure to come prepared. With wind chill factors of -10 degrees, even the sunniest of days will feel more than cold at times.

---

While you wouldn't think it, lack of rain throughout summer in the Sierras brings bright green with falls first rains.

---

One of the most beautiful places on earth, Yosemite is always dramatic with color, but even more so come fall.

---

Lit with moonlight, Yosemite's night skyline is the clearest & most colorful I've ever seen.

---

I hope you have enjoyed this album. While only taking a few of these photos, I have traveled most of the Sierras and found it most invigorating and colorful any time of year, of which, fall is no exception.

---