December 29, 2011 Up GMR with Fred and the new build

 Newman's Point with the new build.

Fred's Madone at Newman's Point

Close up of the Bianchi at Newman's Point

 Baldy behind Newman's Point

 Up above the shack on GMR

Fred's ride at top of GMR

Finally got off the butt and finished building up the Bianchi frame that I had bought off Ebay numerous years back. Bought all the parts to make up the component group also on Ebay, used, so as to save money. The main reason for buying this stuff was just to see if I had in me the means to build up a bike. I put the entire bike together myself, except the wheels which came off my Scattante when I bought that a few years back and replaced them with better ones. Anyway, with the bike in one piece (or so I was hoping), I headed up GMR for its virgin ride. Fred, whom had gotten a new job about a month back, had the week off for the holidays and came along. Turns out we both had been sick the last few days and neither one of us was in much of a hurry to get up the road very fast. With only a minor rear derailleur adjustment on the way up, things were shifting and the breaks were stopping sort of along the lines I was hoping for. After sitting at the wall above the shack for a while and enjoying the warm sunshine, we headed down. Everything stayed in one piece, and I only need to do a few more minor adjustments to fine tune it all. Just might have tot ry this again with maybe a nicer brand new frame. 

December 20, 2011 Henninger Flats for an over nighter

 Came upon this little guy on the way up.

 Sunset from the campground

The lights come out as the sun goes down. 

 My setup for the night, and it ended up being 

downhill.

The old St. Lukes hospital building. 

Got a later than expected start on a hike up to spend the night at Henninger Flats. Xmas gift buying was at the cause of the delay on my part. We finally started up the toll road about 2:30PM. Had thought when I left Glendora that it might be a cool hike up weather wise, so I wore long pants and long sleeved shirt. While I never really got hot on the way up, I definitely was not cold. Taking our time, we got up to the campground around 4:00 PM. Talked to the ranger guy, got the needed permit for spending the night, and then got some firewood so we could cook something up for dinner. Jim was able to get a roaring fire going inside the stove at our site, and we cooked up dinner, with Jim going all out with steak, while I slummed it with Vegi-burgers.Tasty, but not as much as what Jim was consuming. Seeing how it was cold, and the heat from the fire was managing to stay inside the stove, we had a couple cocktails, made a few drunk dialing phone calls, and called it an early night. Was up before the crack of dawn, watching the sunrise for the first time in a long while.It was peaceful with there being no other people on the lower campground. After heating up quasadias for breakfast, we left just in time to see a party of around 200 students of the senior class from PHS straggle up the road to the entrance. They just kept coming and coming. I made a joke to one of them about being the senior class, and it killed me when he said that was exactly what it was. Dang. After getting down to the cars, we decided to cap off the hike with lunch down at the boat, beer and all. Nice overnighter at a place I hadn't spent the night at in over 25 years at least.

November 27, 2011 Fullerton Station with Jason

 Charger and Bronco fans heading to San Diego for the big game.

 Yet more fans heading to San Diego

 Southbound heading into Fullerton

Train leaving For San Diego



Jason was in need of some new train video so we headed on down to Fullerton Sunday morning to get some views. Got there around 10 AM and lucked into a couple of south bounds heading to S. D. I had forgotten about the game being played between the Chargers and Broncos, but remembered as soon as we came across some fans getting their partying started off early. When the Amtrak finally left, taking the rowdies with it, the station calmed down quite a bit. During the morning and early afternoon, Jason was able to get around 10 different clips of not only Metro Link and Amtrak, but 3 freight trains went through while we were there, Jason was a little disappointed with the numbers for the day, but I thought we saw about a normal amount of traffic.

November 26, 2011 GMR/Fork+4 with Fred and Gina

Fred's new ride for its second time up GMR

Baldy from just above Peacock Saddle

The ocean with sunlight reflection on it

Gina and Fred at Newman's Point.

Taking it easy below first saddle

Baldy just beginning to peak out.


Got off work and thought about a ride on the way home, but man was I tired. Only saving grace was that it was a fantastic day out weather wise. But, tired, as I said. Was just laying down  at the house when I got  a text from Fred saying he and Gina were going to breakfast and then up GMR around 10:30 or so, and if I was interested, to meet them. Thought about it for all of 10 seconds and told him I would be there. Well, I hadn't been on the bike in 7 weeks, so heading up to the shack made me feel more like an old fart than normal. Took about half an hour of riding before I was glad I was doing it, but I was. We were taking our time on the way up, no need to hurry, when Annette and Bill came past us heading down. Annette turned and rode back up the hill a little ways with us before turning around to catch her husband. More slow and go and we finally made the shack. After hanging for a few, Fred said let's do Peacock, or at least Fork plus 4 as Annette calls the highpoint just before heading down into Peacock. Seeing how I needed the exercise, I said what the heck. Gina waited at the shack, then met us at the wall at the top of GMR when Fred and I returned. While recouping, as usual, a bunch of riders Fred and Gina knew came by and stopped for a while. Nice, interesting people. A group of 3 that did GMR to Crystal Lake and back, and a solo guy that did the village twice and ended back at the top of GMR a third time that evening. the guy looked strong every time I saw him Saturday. You would never have known he ended up doing 115 miles with over 14,000 feet of climbing. Training for a double century in Death Valley he said. That should be a piece of cake after what he did Saturday on GMR. On our way down we were stopped by one of the 3 guys that did CL having an accident . He went down hard and was tore up pretty good. Fred went down and got his truck so he could drive the guy to Puddingstone, which is were they started their ride from. Hope he turned out ok. will have to find out later from Fred.

October 28-30, 2011 White Mtn. (14,200+) and some Bristlecone pines

An extra left for a thirsty hiker? Warren at Grandview Campground. Very top of White Mtn. poking out. Up near the Patriarch Grove of Bristlecone pines. One of the best campgrounds around. Another view of White, from an elevation way over 11,000 feet. Sunset Friday night at the Barcroft gate, 11,700 feet. Warren looking like he is ready for something, just not sure what. Where we spent two nights at 11,700 foot elevation, at the Barcroft gate. Moonscape area that the road winds through. Sunrise on the Sierras, Saturday morning. Looking back across the flats toward the observatory above the Barcroft site. Another view of Camp Barcroft. The Barcroft facilities at 12,400 feet. Richard Piotrowski back at the trail head. Owens River Gorge. From just below my highpoint of 13,150, looking back towards Barcroft. Late afternoon heading back to camp, still near 13,000 feet. Bristlecone Pine near the Patriarch grove. Warren at about 12,700 feet with White in the background. Well, what was supposed to be a Thursday afternoon start on a weekend trip to White Mtn. finally got started at 5:45 AM on Friday morning. Had a rough week at work and just did not feel safe driving myself up Owens Valley when I had been up for so long with no sleep. It ended up costing us a night spent at 8,500 feet at GrandView Campground, but was worth the safety factor. As it turned out, Warren, who was driving down from Santa Rosa had similar problems getting sleep and spent Thursday night in the back of his pickup truck somewhere about half way along. I got to Grandview about 11AM and made the mistake of not driving through the campground to see if Warren was there yet. I had parked at a site near the entrance and saw only one other site occupied, but Warren was there parked in an area with lots of trees that hid him. After being at the CG for an hour, I finally decided to check out the rest of it to see if maybe I had missed him, and of course he was just a little ways away from where I had been parked. With both of us being hungry, we cooked up some bacon and eggs and pigged out like there was no tomorrow. Food often tastes better in mountains, and this was one time that proved true. After having a beer or two and with the afternoon getting on. we finally headed up the road to see how far we were going to be able to drive. Seems the Forest Service decided to give me differing information on whether or not the road was drivable to 2 wheel cars all the way out to the Barcroft gate. Call at a different time of day, get differing opinions. By the time we got out to the Patriarch grove, we realized driving all the way to the gate was more than likely not going to be a problem. On the last 4 miles or so, snow was built up on the side of the road on some of the curves that were in the shade for the most part of the day, and we never did have to drive over any to keep going. So much for what the FS knows. I honestly do not believe they ever send people out in the field to gather info anymore, rather they get it from who knows what sources, nothing verified. We got up to the Barcroft gate at 11,700 feet in time to enjoy the sun going down and get set up for the evening. Warren was sleeping in the back of his pickup shell, which left me to enjoy the coolness of an almost 12,000 foot evening in late October sleeping outside on my cot. Seeing how I had 2 sleeping bags along and enough down to keep 3 or 4 people warm, the idea of being outside overnight was not a big factor. Once we got the stove setup and on, I started to cook up a burger when someone from the other car that was parked up by us came over. We had a presto log fire going and a cooler of beer, so both were offered to him. I was busy cooking and listening to this guy and Warren talk for a while before I came to realize that it was Richard Piotrowski sharing our goods. After standing around shooting the shit, with the fire logs never seeming to burn out, I , as usual, was the first one ready to hit the sack. The work week had really taken its toll on me, and I needed my beauty sleep.

The next morning, we passed on making a big breakfast, and started packing out overnight stuff before we finally came to our senses and decided it would be more enjoyable to do the hike carrying only day packs. Neither one of us wanted all the weight of sleeping bags and all the extra water we would need, so it really wasn't that hard of a decision. Once we got started, the pace seemed not bad at all. We made the Barcroft facilities in under an hour, which surprise me, as it was over 2 miles and almost all of it over 12,000 feet. At this point, I had gone from sea level to 12,000 feet and then started hiking in just a little over 24 hours. Putting that on top of my being old, fat, out of shape, and with a never ending bum foot, I was, like I said, surprised to be doing as well as I appeared to be. We took a short break at Barcroft, then headed up to the ridge over looking the buildings. That was a little longer than I remembered, or maybe the altitude was finally kicking in. Once over the ridge, we could see the long , flat, plateau, with White sitting over it at the very far end. Instead of following the road, we cut cross country to try and save a little distance, staying to the right of a large mound of rocks. might have saved a couple dozen feet or so, but it was fun not being on the road. Once about 2/3 rds of the way out to the saddle beneath the peak, we were back on the road and followed it up to about 13,150 feet. By this time, Warren was ahead of me and I was feeling more like a hindrance in his being able to make the top and us getting back in some semblance of a decent time, so I called it a day and told him I would wait where I was for him. I could see him for about another half hour or so , before he disappeared into the rocks, where he was no longer viewable. While I waited for him, of course the temp dropped and the wind started to pick up some. I broke out the down and put gloves on, but with the sun heading down by this time (2:30PM when Warren and I split up) I was without doubt, getting colder just sitting around. After a while , another hiker that had given up below the summit came past and we chatted for a while, or to be more accurate, he talked and I listened. Tales of peaks and trips he had done took up an hour of so, making me forget about the cold. After he left, I had decided to give Warren until 5 PM before I was going to start back by myself, as I couldn't take anymore sitting around and not moving. Just as I was picking up my pack to head back, I see someone coming off the peak, and down into the saddle. At first I thought it was Richard Piotrowski, but then I noticed the person had poles and I remembered Richard doesn't use any. Wasn't sure if it was Warren, but after a while I figured out it had to be. As he staggered up out of the saddle, he was within about 15 feet of me before I figured for sure it was Warren, as by this time my head, and eye sight was becoming a little fuzzy. Warren literally was staggering up the road, a condition I had never seen him in before. A few times he had t stop and rest after having taken only 5 or 10 steps. It made me feel good to see him totally blown away like that. Seeing how I was in almost the same state, and had been doing absolutely nothing for almost 3 hours at that point. He rested up before we started the long 5 to 6 mile walk back to the car. As it turns out, he was lucky I waited for him, as he had no headlight, it had crapped out on him one last time. By the time we hit the top of the ridge overlooking the Barcroft buildings, Richard had caught back up with us and ended up passing us up like we were standing still. I think he got to the cars a full half hour before we did and we were even with 2 miles to go. That man is an animal. Turns out he did 30 miles and numerous peaks that day, all in getting in shape for a climbing trip the following week down in Mexico. After finally getting back to the cars, we collapsed into Warren's truck and had a few beers, totally neglecting any idea of having food for dinner. After Warren crawled into the back of his truck, I took about an hour before getting out of the nice warm cab and setting up my cot and sleeping bag, and calling it a night. What a day.

Sunday morning, we waited till the sun hit our site before doing much moving around. Cooked up a couple of eggs and the remaining bacon, and washed it all down with a beer or 3. We then drove back to Grandview where we had a few more beers and hiked around for a little while before Warren headed to Santa Rosa and I to Glendora. One thing that was confirmed, that I already knew before this trip, we should have gotten up there Thursday so as to spend a night at 8,500 (GrandView) before spending the night at the Barcroft gate. That extra time at altitude would have made a huge difference.

October 15-16, 2011 Over nighter on Sunset Peak with Warren and Jim

Looking towards Santiago Pk. in Orange County just before sunrise. Old Glory on top of the summit pole on Sunset Peak. Starting dinner on top, at Chez Sunset. Warren and Jim, you choose which is which. Sunday morning sunrise on Baden-Powell. Twin Pks. and Waterman from Sunset. Homeless camp on top of sunset. I wonder if the Forest Service is aware of this. Jim and Warren pretending to be asleep. Sunrise on Mt. Wilson area. Proof that Jim and Warren were in the area. Yet more proof. As if it were needed. Sunday morning sunrise. Moon still up around 7 AM or so. I tried to fall asleep on this cement block Sat. night, but Jim and Warren kept forcing wine and bourbon down me. Getting set to head back to the cars Sunday morning. Maybe a third of a mile up the trail from the cars. As you can see, Sunday morning dawned clear and beautiful. This being October it meant it was time for Warren's annual work related meeting down here in Southern California. He let me know a while back, and wanted to do an over niter with whomever was available when he got free Saturday afternoon. Originally that was to include myself, Warren, Jim, and Chuck, but it got whittled down to just Warren, Jim, and myself. Jim called me Saturday and we arraigned that he would head up the peak by himself and Warren and I would get up there as soon as Warren got up here from San Diego and picked me up. Him and I started up the trail about 4:45 PM., and topped out one hour and twenty four minutes later. I think that was the fastest hike up to the top of Sunset I have ever done. Didn't feel bad at all on the way up, just sweat like a stuck pig. It was not only a little on the warm side but the humidity was rather high. None the less, the hike up was enjoyable. Were as I had spent the night on top of this peak a few times in the last couple of years with both Jim and Chuck, Warren said it was about 40 years since his last visit to the top. Just like doing a new hike I would guess. Once we got to the top, it wasn't long before Jim had us collecting wood so we would have a fire to cook dinner on. Jim had steak, I had hot dogs, and Warren had shisk-a-bob that looked very tasty. While waiting on the fire to build up enough coals to cook on, we were obligated to help Jim drink the two bottles of 3 Buck Chuck that he had so graciously hauled all the way up to the top. In honor of Warren's being on this trip all the way from Santa Rosa, Jim has splurged for 3 Buck Chuck instead of the normal 2 Buck Chuck, and the difference was totally not discernible. But non the less, the 2 bottles were appreciated and enjoyed with all the gusto as if we were sitting in some fine French restaurant. Chez Sunset. After consuming dinner, we gathered up some more wood so we could have a fire into the evening. Makes the sitting around and bull shitting that much more enjoyable when you have flames to watch. Oh ya, and some bourbon to drink. Seeing how I had brought some, the other 2 were more than willing to help drink it so I wouldn't have to drag it back down to the car Sunday morning. As is the norm for hiking trips with these guys, I was the first one ready to hit the sleeping bag, seeing how I had been awake almost 24 hours by this time. (Some where between 10 and 11 PM). By this time the moon was out and the lights down in the basin were getting clearer by the minute. Funny thing was, I believe it was warmer up there on top than it was back down in Glendora. Not a breath of wind, and I was guessing in the 60's at the coldest. Perfect night for being in the mountains at almost 6,000 feet. Ahh, I almost forgot to mention the phone calls. Seeing how we had both wine and bourbon in us, someone came up with the bright idea to make some calls. So make some calls we did. Started off with calling Tim and telling him how we were doing, then we bothered Chuck with the same. I think Warren even called his wife, I think more so that she knew he was out with the guys in the mountains and not in some nude bar. Sunday morning I got up way before the sun even thought of rising. Just walked around taking pictures as it got lighter out. Seeing how Jim had to get back home at an early hour, I knew we would be packing up and heading down the trail at an ungodly time. And I was right. We were on the trail at what Warren called out as 7:48 AM. Damn. I am usually still asleep at that time on my days off, much less being all packed up and ready to go. But I was, so we did. Head off that is. Seeing how Warren didn't have to be back to San Diego until later that evening, we stopped off at Baldy Lodge for breakfast. First time for me I believe. And it was quite good. Pretty much wraps it up, other than to say both Tim and Chuck missed a great time.