Fantastic Hike!
March 15, 2009
I’m ready for a nap. Was up at 8:30 to make an errand run, having only 0.5 L bottles about, and thought I might pick up some TJ’s snacks. The snacks were a no-go but I did escape Target with a lovely new water bottle. I wanted the first one, but got the second one in blue because the shelves were understocked.
It’s actually cooler than I gave it credit for. Had wanted a very simple, sturdy bottle without straw/spout/drinking enabling device, but the pop-up straw worked better than expected ($10.50). It’s a good thing I tend to fall more in love with things after I acquire them.
They had Club crackers for $2.40/box, half the grocery store price, so I grabbed a box of original and multigrain. Made it out of Target in under $15 bucks, and 15 minutes — not bad at all.
The day-rate parking permit was $5, and it took us about 20 minutes (?) to get up to the parking area. We thought we were going to take the trail up to the ski lift area, but completely missed the turnoff because there was snow everywhere. It was awesome!
We also tried to convince my friend, who wanted to go way past the point of our endurance/snowshoeing capabilities that these were bear tracks.
She didn’t buy it, but after promising that everyone would go buy hiking boots and come back next weekend, she agreed to come back down the mountain. Thank goodness, I’m way too out of shape to be doing a major 10 mile hike along something called the Devil’s Backbone our first time out this year. Let’s work up to that, shall we?
I think we probably did a good 3 miles or so up the wrong trail, with a steepish grade, slogging through snow, slush, ice and mud. My toes are rather grateful that we let up when we did, the ground was so uneven and slippery, I’m surprised no one fell.
Also, we all picked up “walking sticks” along the trail which were a joke at first but came in handy as the snow got deeper and slicker. This was my trusty trail assistant:
I’m looking forward to going out again, and next time I’ll be sure to eat a real breakfast beforehand. Eating only a snack wasn’t the smartest planning, but it sure made my bacon cheeseburger with crispety, melt-in-your-mouth bacon, and side of fries seem like pure heaven by 3 in the afternoon! ($6.50)
Day’s total: $27
Snow!! Where is this? I think bears are still hibernating, no? Did you keep the stick for next time around?
Hmmm, i’m guessing…big bear? thanks for sharing the pictures!!
wow, you made me miss california (to go from 70 to snow and back in a day). that’s quite a feat considering where i live now!
OK that looks too cold for me. Were you up at big bear or snow summit? I think I’ll wait till summer, hope you had fun.
Ha, our hike this weekend was in Palos Verdes, which was dry and hot (but with a panoramic ocean view!).
I miss snow.
L.A. Daze: It’s actually just on Mt. Baldy! Mt. San Antonio if you want to get formal. š No bears, but I was hiking with nervous nellies.
I hung my stick in a tree in hopes it’ll be there when I come back. š
Sense: š It was actually overcast and gloomy when we got back, too, sadly.
I kept suggesting that the tracks were a pet bear’s tracks, to no avail.
Miss M: Surprisingly, once you started walking, it wasn’t cold. I wore a tank top, a base layer, and a fleece zip up. Shed the fleece halfway there, and rolled up base layer sleeves on the way down. It wasn’t until the fog rolled in at 1:30 that it got downright cold.
paranoidasteroid: We can swap places this time! š I was expecting a hot and dry hike. Whoops.
Mt. Baldy! I’m planning to ride my bike there this summer (a tortuous 5000+ ft of elevation gain). Hope the stick is still there next time around š