June 2, 2012 Mt Adamns Or Else

                                          Warren at the highest point we could drive

                                          Summit of Adamns from our high camp

                                          Smoke from climbers fire below our camp

Home on upper Mt Adamns

What kept us warm and going through the night

Mt Hood from Adamns high camp

Mt Hood again

And yet again showing area around Adamns high camp

View of  Hood

Dinning area at high camp

With the lack of good enough weather to head up Rainier, we headed down and gave Mt Adamns a go. We didn't have much better luck there than Rainier, but at least we got off our ass's and out of the car for a night. Snow was a foot or two at the car but at the campground where the official trail head for the climb was, Five feet plus at least. Spent a cold, windy, and snowy night out but had a good time. We both agreed that heading towards the summit was beyond our best interests. Headed back to the car in the morning and in to Trout Lake for a meal.

June 1st, 2012- Rainier to Adamns and points in between

River bed from Emmons Glacier

Where I ate the biggest omelet I have ever seen

Wish we had had the time to try this place out

What I called the climbers shack on Adamns

Shot of Adamns after dinner in town

After spending a damp but not terrible night in the campground on the North side of the park, we made it to the ranger station early Friday morning. Spent some time discussing climbing conditions  and weather with the rangers. I am sorry to say we let them sway our opinion too much. One thing I have learned about high mountains, and knew it in this case also, is that you are never going to have perfect weather or weather predictions. If you are not willing to take off on a climb with weather looking less than favorable, you are going to miss out on a lot of climbs. It is said that high mountains create their own weather, and it can change from one minute to the next. The only thing to do is take off and react to what the conditions end up being, not what they might be. That being said, I have learned that Warren has a propensity to worry about weather way too much when he is in situations he is not familiar with, and it clouds his judgement at times. Whitney, Rainier, Adamns, and Hood. Had I been on those climbs with others a little more experienced in winter climbs, I think attempts would have been made on their summits. That being said, we saw a lot of Washington on this day as the roads needed to get from Rainier to Adamns were still mostly closed do to snow. We finally made it to Trout Lake though, and found the ranger station and our way up onto Adamns.

May 31, 2012 Seattle to Mt Rainier National Park

Where we spent Wednesday night in Seattle

Driving through Seattle headed to REI

Refreshment at Rainier

Thursday nights accommodations at Rainier

Arrived late Wednesday/early Thursday in Seattle, picked up at the airport by Warren. His wife Nancy had taken off to Portland via train earlier, mainly so as not to meet me I think. Actually, I think Warren doesn't want me to be able to tell her how he really acts when she is not around, though he will deny this. We had a nice breakfast that was put on by the hotel we stayed at. Make your own, including waffles to die for. This morning by the time we got there, most of the others staying at this place had already eaten. After checking out, we headed up into Seattle proper to find the Mother Flagship of all mountaineering stores, REI Seattle. What a place. Wish I lived in Seattle just so that I could go here anytime the feeling struck me. After trying to get route info and a couple of gas canisters, we took off for MRNP. Took a while to navigate through the outskirts of town, but we finally found the road to be on that would take us to the peak. After finding some beer, the ranger station, and the trail head for the Emmons-Winthrop climb, we decided to let the weather make out decision on whether to go up or not wait until morning. We drove back into the closest town (about 9 million miles) and quite possibly bought the last bottle of booze sold by the state of Washington, as the very next day, liquor sales were going private in Washington. One of the employees at the state store that night made sure we knew her feelings on the matter, as I guess it was putting her out of a job. Heading back to the park, we settle on a site at a campground close to some big ol' river and settle into a semi-rainy night. Warren starts the night outside the tent, stating he would just cover up if it started to rain, but it wasn't long before he was inside Steve's nice, large, and dry Oval 25. What a tent.

May 13-14, 2012 Chasing 3751 through Cajon Pass with Jason and Jim

Jason and Jim in Cajon Pass waiting for 3751

The reason we were there. Santa Fe 3751

Jason said this was a private excursion consist. 

The days view.

Two guys showed up Monday morning driving this cool truck. 

Well, once again it was time to go chasing Santa Fe 3751 through Cajon Pass on its way out of state. Just like last time, ten years ago, it was Jason, Jim, and yours truly out having fun. Because of schedule changes the last couple of months, 3751 ended up leaving Union Station in downtown L. A. on Monday instead of what I think was supposed to be a Saturday departure. This ended up working out better, as mine and Jim's work schedule was such that a sunday night ,Monday day trip was best. We headed out late Sunday afternoon, stopping to pick up some chicken for dinner and stuff for breakfast and munching at the local store off the 210 at Day Creek. We arrived at a new spot for spending the night that was close to where we normally go when dat tripping up Cajon Pass. It is an elevated spot a little further away from the tracks that gives a great view both up and down track. We ate dinner and watched as the sun headed down, all while Jason got to shot more footage than normal. Seems there was more traffic than normal, maybe because of Mondays 3751 trip up the line. As is happens most of the time for me, once I fall asleep, the first train or two might wake me up, but after that I am oblivious to the noise made by 5 gabillion tons of steel heading up or down the pass at unknown speeds. I am sure Jason hears each and every one of them, but that is something he enjoys to the very end. Monday morning arrived,and as I turned over in my sleeping bag, starting the waking up process, I heard Jason talking to someone that I just assumed was Jim. They were chatting away, talking about who knows what, mostly trains I just assumed. Then I turn over to where I can see Jim is still in his sleeping bag, sound asleep. That of course gets me to wondering who it is Jason is carrying on this discussion with. Turns out someone else had already gotten up there that morning to also soot video and pics of 3751 and was having a good time talking shop with Jason. That is one thing about Jason that amazes me, his ability to meet anyone and start up with the train conversations. Within another hour or two there are maybe 6 or 7 more people on our little mountain top waiting for 3751. With Jason having knowledge of the departure time and approximate timeline for it's travels, we head down the road to just below where Joe's Diner used to be. There is a long couple of mile stretch where the tracks are right nest to the road and one can get drive by footage of the train as it goes by. We wait around, and as the first ones at this particular spot, we have the place to ourselves, for about 10 minutes. By the time the train goes by us, there are anywhere from 15 to 20 cars parked on the road side waiting with us. Guess the area is better known than we thought. After 3751 goes by us, we try our best to get some drive along shots, but that doesn't work out as well as hoped for. Seems that we still have some learning to do as far as train video shooting goes.We get back up to Summit just before the train comes through, and that place was also so packed one could not find a place to park in the dirt lot overlooking the tracks. We went just a little further and got footage right at the top of the pass. We wait till all the traffic is thinned out before heading home, as there were LOTS of people up there for this. All in all, we had a fun almost 24 hours of camping out and trains. We stopped on the way back out by Chuck's and had pizza and beer. Heck, just one more year and Jason will be legal, but thankfully, he doesn't touch the stuff. Another great time out and about.

May 11, 2012 Throop Peak with Chuck

On top of Throop with Baldy behind.

Marker on top of Throop, which is 

named after founder of CalTech

Early morning clouds still over L.A. basin.

Seeing how I had upcoming hikes that needed my at least trying to get into some sort of shape for, I called Chuck to see if he was interested in going for a short day hike. After getting his interest up, we decided on doing Throop, seeing how it was a short easy hike that neither of us had been on in a while. After stopping just off the freeway for a quick bite for breakfast, we were at the trail head somewhere around 9 AM , give or take. We took our time going up what is one of the best hikes in the local mountains. There was still some snow higher up closer to the top, and I thought we wouldn't have to cross any the way it looked, but as usual, I was wrong. Once we got to where the trail cuts across the face of the peak instead of being on the ridge, we tried crossing out first section of snow. I remember Chuck saying " This is going to make for a long day " as we began sinking up past the knees in snow, which changed our route real fast. Up until that point, we had been staying on the trail, but looking up towards where it was going, we saw nothing but snow, which was to say we saw nothing but post holing for quite a ways. That gave us the reason to head straight up the hill for the top instead. A little more work but worth the effort. We soon hit the ridge trail again, and were soon after on top. Great view as always, with all the San Gabriels stretched out for viewing. After spending a couple hours on top, we headed back down to Wrightwood for a beer and something to eat. Another great day in the mountains.

April 8, 2012 Easter morning ride

If you could only smell these flowers.

They closed off the road on the San Dimas Canyon ride



There was some work involved




 A fantastic day in the hills

Figured it would be a nice day on the bike, so got up early and headed out towards San Antonio Dam. Went out baseline and worked my way over to Mountain so I could make it up and around the dam. The road was fairly empty for a Sunday morning, but I kept forgetting it was Easter Sunday, and that more than likely had an effect on the numbers. It had been a while since the last time I had been at the top of Mountain, and I had forgotten just how steep that last little stretch is going up to the stop sign. Well I won''t forget that again. Made my way up to the fire station and stopped for a second to enjoy the views and snap a few pictures. There were quite a few people there enjoying the warm temps and the running stream. There was even some guy fishing, and I heard he tell someone he had caught and released 3 or 4. After hitting the short steep section back up to Baldy Road, I headed down and back out Baseline. Not having suffered enough, when I got to the intersection with Esperanza, I decided to head up it. Man, that part is STEEP. But before long it was over and I headed out Golden West and down to San Dimas Canyon. That part of the road is blocked off to cars now, and they are not keeping it clean, which made it not enjoyable on the downhill. Once over to S. D. Canyon Rd., headed back home. Was a great 35 miles or so on a beautiful day.



April 1, 2012- And still more trains.

Number 14 up at Fillmore and Western RR

Jason at the station in Fillmore

Emblem for the RR

Jason at stop half way out to Santa Paula

This guy is looking for someone

What can be said about him.

Well, as if 24 hours at Tehachapi wasn't enough, Jason and I came up to Fillmore to ride this steam locomotive on Sunday. It is something we have been trying to do for over 6 months now, and something always ended up in the way of us going. But not this weekend. We got up to the station in Fillmore a lot faster than either on of us had expected. Only an hour and a half or so. Ended up waiting for the noon departure longer than it took us to get there . Train took off right on time, and stopped at a shop about halfway to Santa Paula that sold odds and ends and plants and birds. It was more of a photo shoot for the passengers to get pics of the locomotive than anything else. Got to S.P. and found a Mexican food restaurant that wasn't bad and close enough to walk to. Got back on the train just before 3 PM and was back in Fillmore a little after 4 PM. Jason had fun as was expected, and I slept a little on the ride back to the station. Another fine train day. 

March 29-30, 2012- Tehachapi Loop with Jason and Jim

East bound at the Loop

Starting its run around the hill

Jason at his favorite place of all.

I still find Jim's interest in trains unusual for his personality.

Jason again having fun

Another East bound that Jim shot pics of

Cross on top of the hill that is a memorial to accident victims

Ones like this kept us awake all hours during the night

The Horse Shoe curve down at Caliente

Heading up towards the Loop from Caliente

We were supposed to head out to the Mojave National Preserve to watch trains from a different perspective, but I only got one night off so we headed to the old stand by, Tehachapi Loop. This is without a doubt, Jason favorite place of all time for train watching and shooting videos. Jim seems to not mind going up there as often as we invite him. We headed off from Jason's house around 1 PM on Thursday, and with Jim driving, it wasn't long until we were in the town of Tehachapi at Burger King having a late lunch. After stopping at Albertsons to stock up on chicken and drinks for the evening we headed for the loop. Instead of taking the freeway down the canyon, we took the local street that runs along the canyon on the opposite side. It is windy and you can't take it fast, but you get to see the local houses and countryside from close up. Once at the loop and set up with chairs and such, we waited. And waited. And waited. It took an hour and a half for the first train to show up, which is forever at the loop. But later in the evening and during the night made up for it. At one half hour point during the night, Jason said 5 trains went by in 30 minutes. Glad I have the ability to sleep through most of that noise. Friday morning we got up early and shot pics and videos until about 9:30 and then headed for the horse shoe curve at Caliente. Got some good footage there before heading home, with a stop at the Boat for lunch for everyone. Great time once again.

March 28,2012-GMR revisited with Fred

Fred at the top setting up my bike for a pic

And here it is in all its glory

Looking down Little GMR with GRR in the background

Well, knowing Fred as I do, I knew he would want to make up for yesterdays ride, if only for his own assurances. I figured it was just a matter of life catching up to him, with Gina's fathers passing and all. He told me the two of them had been getting only a few hours sleep a night for the last week or so, and I know he was not used to that. Anyway, we headed up the hill and took it at a pace that allowed me at least, to enjoy the day. This was the 2nd time up in under 24 hours and had I worked all night on top of things. Enjoyed the ride up and spent a nice time on top just enjoying the views and talking. Great time.