In this second report from the mountain ranges that hem in the great LA basin, we will hear from a couple of new peaks, as well as a well trodden one reported on briefly in the first part of this series. First off, a trip up to Cucamonga peak. Anther (pictured below with M) hiked the length of Catalina with us previously (report on that coming soon) in a pair of low top vans. With an impressive disregard for his feet, Anther continued in this tradition of inappropriate hiking footwear and set out on this twelve miler in a pair of Clark-like desert boots (proof provided soon).
He held this tree in place for us until after we passed
and got some cone stoke
Selfie Stick Plague, Anther averts his eyes
See? Inappropriate
Melissa brought some cramp ons we scored in Russia to help Anther not slip to his doom as we traversed across icey snow dumps across the trail.
Anther, endlessly enamored by nature and her colors/shapes
I found a cave to duck into
and happiness above the filth in the distance
and happiness above the filth in the distance
Big snow in parts of the trail, M gets knee deep/worried
From the photo above to the one below (from the summit) Anther decided to heed the limits of his shoes and let us go on while he amused himself in the safety of pre big snow field zones. Unlike our Catalina hike, he both knew and accepted his limits (well, the limits of his footwear, at least). We mid-shin to knee high snow fielded it for awhile, asking passers by how much longer we had to go, with each of them replying that we had "ten or fifteen minutes" no matter how higher we climbed through the snow. At various points M wanted to turn around and meet back up with our missing hike partner, but we kept going and were, at last, rewarded with the views below of the Inland Empire.
Mood atop Cucamonga, but also a reminder to watch this masterwork
M and her impromptu walking stick. One day we will have proper overpriced versions from REI
I made Melissa walk down this "short cut" which ended up being a loose shale scramble. We made it back to Anther, however, Melissa's rage at my leadership down such a perilous path remained
We set our for our fourth (out of the six) peak quite early from Long Beach and found the portal into the rest of the that hike, knowing full well our responsibilities.
Trailside gallery on our way to the peak:
Just go anywhere
This thing, near the top
M emerges from a light burst
Emergency supplies inside the hut
The innards of a life saving machine
Bros/Lady bros bogarting some prime real estate below the summit M rests upon
Knobby-knee alpine desert still-life
Fourth!
Sun and Dirt after effects. Kind of resembles a drumstick. Chickenman!
Towards the end of last year, we set out to summit Mt. Whitney for the third time (see, I told you we would get here eventually). "We" this time around being...
...the usual...
...plus Jared
Came upon this place and got to tour about the grounds/cabins. We need to return in the future and span some time at the camp.
Large swing in place at the camp
And a somewhat terrifying slide for slip-sliding
Cabin zone
Beasts of burden one can have carry all of one's stuff to the camp
We pushed into higher elevation, signs of El Nino were all around (although, there has been a disappointing amount of percipitation overall)
A brisk late fifteen hike
Into one of a few punishing parts of this trail
Had to take 'er easy towards the top
Stepping out into the sunshine during the most grueling part of the trail
Which brought M to her hands and knees
At long last, we made it to the observatory
For the third time
Always makes me think of this guys journey, big parts of which we have retraced
Jared
Yoga
Trager topped
Astrovape reflection
Back down into the dying light of 2015
