Did a quick trip to and from Long Island (flew out Fri, gave a talk Sat morning and flew back Sat aft-eve). My fused lower back doesn't like long plane trips and I desperately needed an antidote. I drove out to my favorite southern CA mountain yesterday morning hoping to find remaining rhime ice from the last storm -- I wasn't disappointed.
Stayed with Indie Jack almost to Round Valley, then cut over to Tamarack Valley. I wore microspikes up to the base of Miller Saddle, where I started sinking in several inches new powder. I donned snowshoes and chatted another snowshoer named John. Headed up to the ridge and was treated to wonderful views of trees covered with rhime ice and icicles. Although there was a snowshoe track, I enjoyed making my own track through the new powder up to the summit. The summit temperature was quite comforatable with little wind, so walked around reveling in the beauty of the day before heading to the hut for lunch.
I thought this may be the last time I'd see rhime ice until fall, so I extended my trip and headed along the ridge between San Jacinto and Jean. Many of the large trees were completely white with ice. It was wonderful walking between these stately mountain sentinels. Arrived at the gulley between San J and Jean and alternately glissaded and walked down to the forest where the old Tamarack trail meets the main trail. Left the snowshoes on until I reached the Sid Davis drainage, then removed them and booted it back to the ranger station. The drainage is largely melted out -- I wished I'd come back the main trail. Enjoyed wonderful food and company with Indie Jack at Las Casuelas, then headed home to start catching up on my three day sleep deficit.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
