Christmas Hiking in LA

 Mary and I spent Christmas at my Mom's in Altadena. She lives at the foot of the mountains with a sweet little trail leading down into Millard Canyon just a few minutes walk from her door. 

After our drive down, Mary and I set out and soon encountered a family hiking along who had seen a bear up canyon near some cabins.

 Sure enough we saw the bear! It seemed lazy and lethargic though, so we were a little worried about it.

The next morning a storm was rolling in so I elected to get out early before it came in full force. Dense clouds rolled in and out of the canyons. Very moody.

Damp but not too wet. Not a soul around.

Fall colors lingered here and there.

I examined the spot where we saw the bear and found this.

A bit gruesome. I suppose the bear was lethargic from its big meal! I know the feeling.

More color.

We also joined our friend Saja for a hike in Griffith Park. Again, damp but not too wet. Swell views. Downtown.

Mary with Griffith Observatory on the skyline left.

Lastly I took one more foray into Millard. So much comes to life with moisture down there.

The creek was chugging along. Still crossable in spots though.

Oaks!

Oases on the edge of the megatropolis.
 

Rock Creek Skiing

 After the last tours to Habeggar's and Red Cone I decided to ski somewhere a bit more off the beaten path. I drove up to the winter closure on Rock Creek Road (no Sno-Park required, trails not groomed), hopped up onto the bench to the west, and meandered on in to the base of Patricia Peak (summit out of view up to the right).

I skinned up to treeline just right of center and did two nice runs in the glades.

Another pretty day in the mountains.

Avalanche debris from the big storm a week ago.

The open glades skied very well.

A little more wind affected up here, but still solid fun. The terrain above was very wind hammered.

 I've never skied these slopes before. Nice little zone. 

I am taking a little time out to visit my Mom for Christmas. Let the snow pile up!!!

Red Cone

 Today I was joined by my friend Dave as we toured up Red Cone in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Wow! There's a ton of snow up here. Good snow too.

 We got a nice early start and had the place to ourselves.

Red Cone bowl itself was wind packed and the two sets of turns in there didn't look great, so we elected to ski the east facing glades on its flank. Our turns from the first run below us.

Another beauty of a day. Crisp, but not too cold.

Looking west into the bowl. Ritter and Banner off to the left and Mammoth Mountain right.

Dave's an accomplished splitboarder. The only action shots I got were of him in the white room!

Magnificent day! Thanks Dave.
 

Back to Habeggar's

 Habeggar's glades are a great, relatively safe spot to assess the effect of recent storms on the snowpack.

This area got about 4" of new snow and whole ton of wind yesterday, so I was eager to get up there and see what happened.

I met my friend Anne and new friends Paula & Wayne and we headed up. It's still pretty thin on the way up to the glades.

The snow had stripped SW facing slopes and deposited new snow on NE slopes, so overall conditions improved a bit in the glades although there was a little wind affected snow here and there.

The snow quality improved further into the glades where the snow was better protected.

Great to be out on the skis again!
 

Habeggar's Glades

 Winter at last! Most seasons I have to schlep up to Mammoth for a month or more before there's enough snow to ski above Bishop. Not this year.

After the big snow I elected for a mellow tour without significant avalanche hazard. The Habeggar's Glades fit the bill. 

A glorious morning for sure. Left the car at 830, 10F. Trailbreaking proved easier than I thought, although still not easy.

Love me some Mountain Mahogany in the snow - as long as I can ski around it and don't have to go through it.

This is what the glades looked like. The bumps are all bushes - or almost all. They were best avoided as they were often hollow and could throw me off balance. The snow was great otherwise. Bush slalom.

Across to Table Mountain. No slides except some small ones left of center barely discernible here.

Took three runs and called a day. A heck of a good day.

While this zone could use more snow, it's a great start.
 

Beatty Mountain Biking

I spent the last couple of days out in Beatty mountain biking with my old pals Brian & Brian. We got together and camped at Spicer Ranch (free camping, donations accepted, hot showers) which was great.

There are several trailheads at the ranch, so we chose one and headed into the hills.

Brian and me.

Rolling into the wild blue yonder.

It's wide open desert out here.

The trails we rode were generally rolling, well graded and just plain fun.

The ranch holds several springs feeding ponds and patures.

The camping is in the grove of trees center.

Water seems to emerge everywhere.

Burro city.

 Special trip with special friends.

Owens Valley Bike Tour

Rather than continue to try to ski in rather thin and hazardous conditions, I figured I'd go for a bike tour and take my mind off snow.

I ruminated for a good bit on where to go, eventually settling on a tour down, then up the Owens Valley starting and finishing at our home.

I decided to add a twist by hiking Crater Mountain on the way up to the McMurry Meadows.

Little Pine Creek and big mountains.

Fine views up valley from the summit of Crater Mountain.

I camped next to Fuller Creek. Nice setting.

I took a dawn stroll up into the meadows. Mt Tinemaha.

Birch Mountain

I rolled down valley via the Black Rock Spring area.

Eventually finding a splendid campsite next to Symmes Creek on Foothill Road.

Evening clouds and rays. That's big Mt Williamson on the left.

Shadows of the giants play on the valley floor.

Next morning's sunrise was stunning.

Got rolling pretty early.

After a super fun descent straight down to Manzanar I crossed 395. Looking back from whence I came.

The aqueduct. That's Los Angeles' water. Keep out.

Sierra vistas along Stevens Canal.

The historic Kearsarge Railroad stop.

I then headed north along the base of the Inyo Mountains.

Fantastic strata above the old railroad grade.

Mud flats make for pleasant cruising.

I set camp at the base of this cinder cone.

Another early morning start, heading toward the Tinemaha dam.

The sun started to break through as I passed Tinemaha Reservoir

Becoming bright and warming a bit further north.

 

Another two hours of riding and I was home. Still no snow in the forecast. I might just have to go on another soul satisfying bike tour!