After melting on Skyline two days in row (I am after all a polar bear), I was itching to see some snow. Marilyn and I started a bit before 7 AM -- this was her first time up FRC. We enjoyed the fall colors on Ice House Canyon and the lower part of the FRC. When we reached the scree slope, we donned microspikes. A dusting of snow held the ground together -- this was by far my easiest slog up the slope to the ridge.
Upon reaching the ridge, we had entered a winter wonderland. Snow flocked trees and rime ice were everywhere. Our hearts ached with happiness at the sheer beauty. The snow occasionally made route finding more difficult but this was more than balanced by the gorgeous scenery. I was able to get a nice picture of snow flocked trees backlit by sun, which I'm still trying to figure out how to post
Once we reached the plateau, it was a matter of winding around through the brush towards Ontario. The rime ice actually covered the buckthorns, helping to protect us. Started to see various animal tracks -- deer, rabbit, squirrel and even the illusive big horn. When we reached the trail, we made fresh tracks all the way to the summit of Ontario. The "ghost tree" at the peak was covered with rime ice, which made it all the more beautiful.
After a nice lunch, we started down, taking frequent stops so I could snap iPhone photos. Once we reached the point where we had met the trail, we saw juvenile big horn (Arocknoid's "little horn') footprints. Several times there were four prints close together, with a large space of snow, then four more prints. I easily visualized the little horn playfully leaping into the air, landing in the snow, then leaping forward again.
Saw our first human prints about halfway between Ontario and Kelly camp trail junction. As we approached the turn off for Kelly camp, we saw prints of an adult big horn and decided to head up to Big Horn peak. It was a splendid day and we both felt good. Unfortunately, we did not see any big horn on the ascent or near the peak, but were treated to spectacular views of low clouds rising up from the Ontario/Rancho Cucamonga basin as if to greet us.
Got a great photo of a snow lollipop tree from Big Horn peak. We started heading down cross country to meet the trail near Ice House Saddle. I took us a little too far to the west -- the ridge was very steep and we kept having to work our way around rocks. Marilyn noted wryly that we would probably drop into the TH parking lot. Finally bailed off the ridge into a canyon and eventually rejoined the trail about 1/2 way between Kelly's and Icehouse Saddle.
By this time, it had warmed up significantly and the trees were shedding snow and ice -- sometimes on our heads
We removed the micros and enjoyed the long descent to our cars. On the drive out, I saw police, rangers and the ABC eyewitness news van in Baldy Village by the fire station. Apparently, two hikers had become disoriented while descending from Baldy on Tuesday. They lost the trail, came down a drainage, spent the night and signaled the helicopter on Wednesday. I love happy endings.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
