Sally and I headed up yesterday. Had to park on the road before the TH due to ice. We immediately donned microspikes. Bill "Captain" Kirk and company had broken in the trail/track over the weekend up to 9.7 K. I believe that Loren may have on the trail as well. Sally and I were very impressed (breaking trail is tedious work) and grateful. When we got to their tracks departing from the trail and going XC up the ridge, we donned snowshoes and headed up. We started making our own snowshoe track as this felt easier on the feet.
Once we got to the top of the dense "ghost forest" (into the open area with the big pines below the San Gorgonio backbone), the wind really started picking up. We saw what looked like bear tracks. The cornices along the side of the ridge were beautiful. Finally reached Anderson flat and made our way over to Anderson peak. We ate lunch out of the wind in the little flat area right below the peak -- had great views of the eastern San Gorgonio range.
Started heading down a bit after noon (it took us a bit over 5 hours to summit). We could see clouds covering the valley below the cloud. When we rejoined the actual trail, the cloud engulfed us. Spooky -- especially when we went by the bare willows by the creek. Due to the narrowness of the track and the steepness of the slope if we mis-stepped, we couldn't relax at all on the way down. By the time we reached Sally's car, the sky was blue with puffy white clouds again.
Enjoyed a great meal at El Mexicano (sure miss the Oaks being closed for dinner mid-week
) before battling the traffic home.
I wouldn't be surprised if the incoming system covers all the tracks.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen