April 2-4, 2016 The Race Track and Minietta Cabin

                                                                                                                                                                   Teakettle Junction on way to the Race Track

                                 Saturday evenings accommodations at
                                 Homesteak Dry Camp

                               
                                 Ubehebe Peak

                             
                                 Rock formation at the Race Track known
                                 as The Grandstand.

                                 Sunday night was spent at Minietta Cabin

                                 Minietta Cabin

Well it has been a long time since posting on here, but this is the latest trip I took.
Jim and I left SoCal early Saturday morning (4 AM there abouts), mainly to avoid the Vegas and Mammoth traffic we would have been in if we had left Friday night. We stopped and topped off the gas tank in Trona, then headed up to Panamint Springs for breakfast. There must have been something going on this weekend as there were more people out and about than either Jim or I were expecting. After a short stop at the Rainbow Canyon overview, we headed down to the Saline Valley Road cutoff.
  This is where the trip began for real. For over the next 100 plus miles, it would be all dirt road driving, and lots of it over areas new to me. Heading out Saline Valley Road, we hung a right at South Pass and headed up towards Hunter Mountain. A really nice drive in higher elevations then what we had crossed already. High point on the road was over 7,ooo feet actually. After getting lost for all of about 10 minutes, with the help of a couple dirt bikers, we got headed in the right direction. Made it down to the Race Track and found an unforgettable campsite a few miles South. Sunday we headed back out the way we came in as we were too hesitant to try going down Lippencot Road, which is a serious 4x4 road leading from the race track down to Saline Valley. Saved it for another time. Ended up lucking into an empty cabin back at Minnieta for the night, just beating a group of 10 or 12 by maybe an hour that also wanted to spend the night there, but we won out. All in all a great weekend, with seeing lots of new territory and just having a great time being out.

July 4-6,2014 The Fourth on Top of Baldy

Sunset on top of Baldy, 7-4-2014

Baden-Powell

Our abode for the evening

Jim working hard at resting his eye lids

Have always wanted to spend the night of the Fourth on top of Baldy to get a birds eye view of the fire works displays over the L.A. basin, and this year finally found me doing just that along with Jim. We headed up the lift Friday afternoon and got to the summit sometime around 7PM. After a bite to eat and a Fourth of July cocktail, we settled in waiting for the light display to begin. It hit its  peak somewhere between 9:30 and 9:45, and it was worth all the work getting up there to watch. We were going to spend the following evening on top of Telegraph, but the heat and No wind drove us to beers in the parking lot and a night at the campground at Manaker Flats to end out the trip. Two nights in the San Gabriels, always a good thing.

May 9-11, 2014 Alta Peak again,(Only this time we make the top) with Chuck and Warren

Warren and myself lost in a fog

What kept us going through the trip

During a clear period on summit day

Warren with the summit of Alta Peak behind

Warren on summit of Alta

Myself on summit of Alta

After trying to get to the top on 3 different occasions and failing miserably, I talked Chuck and Warren into yet one more try. After having been back up here just a couple months ago and seeing the light snow pack, I had hopes for the conditions to be more mid July like than mid May like. And as our luck would have it, the nice warm weather that had been over the area for the few weeks before this trip had turned back to Winter time and it snowed about a foot or so just a day or two before we got here. I told neither Chuck or Warren this, as I didn't want to give them any reason for not trying one more time for the summit. The first bad sign was snow on the side of the road a ways before getting to Giant Forest, which is around 5,000 feet or so in elevation. Chuck and I spent the night at the campground at Lodgepole, expecting Warren to show up around midnight.
  Sometime around 7AM the next morning Warren shows up after a long nights drive and pulling over to catch a few zees. After getting all packed up we head on over to the lodge for breakfast, seeing how Chuck had never seen the place or enjoyed eating there. Breakfast was had and we soon hit the trail.
  Snow conditions were close to the same as when Warren and I had been up there 2 months earlier. Snow on the trail just below the Pear Lake trail junction and then all the way up to Panther Gap. Warren had taken off ahead of us in order for him to keep from falling asleep waiting on Chuck and my slow ass. Weather conditions were such that when I finally got to Panther, one couldn't see more than about 50 feet in any direction. These conditions were to stay with us for a majority of the next 2 days, with the exception of late afternoons and evenings. We make it up to Mehrten Meadow and decide to make an early camp and not over do it on the first day. We end up having to clear snow away to have semi dry spots for sleeping bags, but it is not the worst we have ever done. After a great dinner of cheese burgers and bourbon, we end up hitting the sack fairly early.
  Early the next morning we take off for the top with daypacks and the thought that even if we make the top, the view is not going to be what we hoped for, with the clouds building up in the canyon from early on. We make it up to the Alta Meadow trail junction and are having a great time even though we can't see much in the way of distance.
  About half way between AM trail junction and the switchback at 10,360 feet, Chuck decides to call it a day. Warren and I keep going , knowing that this time we will make the top, even if we can't see anything because of the clouds. After getting to a point where we are heading almost straight up the slope because out inability to find the trail, we finally get to the point where we can go no higher.
  We did it, made the top. On what for all intents is the fourth time trying, I am on top of Alta Peak. Because of the weather, pictures proving this are not really available, but anyone having been on top would recognize the surrounding area in our pics. After enjoying an hour or so on top, Warren and I head back down to camp, knowing we have a ways to go before being able to enjoy dinner and a cocktail.
  Back at camp, Chuck had tried to get a fire going, but wasn;t very successful. All the snow on the ground had made most of the wood pretty wet, not very good for burning.  After spending almost an hour on it, Warren was able to get one going and we enjoyed that for the rest of the evening. The next morning we head back to the cars early and get down to the parking lot in about 2 hours after leaving Mehrten Meadow. This trip was good in that we finally made the top, but yet another trip will be needed to get to the summit with viewing conditions to our liking. Thinking I might like trying to spend the night on or near the summit. Till then.

May 1, 2014 Second time in a year and a half

Mr Beanz gave me a call and said "Let's do GMR". Like an idiot, I said "OK". Common sense and 95 degree temps cleared both our minds up and we did a nice 17 mile loop around Puddingstone, down to Via Verde, up to Badilo, and back to Puddingstone instead. While it was nothing compared to doing GMR, for being the first ride in aprox. 10 months, I felt it during and after the ride was done. Had a good time and enjoyed being on the bike and riding with Fred, but I have to keep it up for it to be of any use to me.

April 28, 2014 Chasing 4014 from Colton to Barstow.

After first thinking he was going to be riding the hospital train towing Big Boy 4014 from Colton to Barstow, Jason was disappointed to be told there would only be room for 10 or 12 Chapter members and he wasn't one of the lucky ones to be picked. Well then things changed and he was  put on the list at the last minute, which as any railfan would know, made his day. Then complications with the return part of the day from Barstow to home made yet another change in plans, and I ended up taking him on a 250 mile drive covering the route from Colton, over Cajon Pass to Victorville (through Hesperia first), then on out past Oro Grande, and then with some really great pacing of 4014 not far off the road, to Barstow. It was a LONG day, one with lots of pictures that I will post later, and good times. Was glad to get home and get a few hours sleep before heading to work at midnight.

Steam 4014 in Victorville

Diesel 4014, soon to change numbers

Jason in Barstow after a day of chasing 4014

November 14, 2013 Starting the move of 4014

Jason next to 4014 after the start of the move out of the museum

Mileages that 4014 had moved and was going to move

4014 in all its glory sitting by itself

How it got moved out of the museum

And this was the motor power for the move

A day or to before I had gotten the call from Jason that the move of 4014 from its berth at the Rail Giants museum at the Los Angeles county fairgrounds was going to start on Thursday and he wanted to go if it was possible for me. I had promised him I would be his ride out there whenever this was to take place, so I was committed to this. I have to admit, this locomotive is one very impressive piece of machinery and I sort of wanted to see what was going to be happening.
  We got there in time to miss the first half of the press conference that was taking place, bu we knew most of the stats they were relaying to he press and uninitiated. Jason fit right in with all the old train worshipers, and had come wearing his museum staff tee shirt. I took lots of pics before heading off to find some shade and try to catch a few z'sss while Jason was hving fun in his element. after a few  hours we went back to his house and had pizza before he had to head to school for band practice. It's a great time when one love (being in the band) steals you away from your main love in life ( trains).

October 25, 2013- Alta Peak with Chuck

  Mileages about one mile past Panther Gap

Fantastic views of the Great Western Divide

              

  Chuck about eight hundred feet below summit of Alta

                                      

Chuck with Alpenglow on GWDivide

                                                  

 

 Chuck enjoying the day

  We ended up getting a late start on this late season trip up to Alta Peak in Sequoia National Park. Warren and I had been up here the December before, when snow conditions were COLD, but not enough on the ground to make the use of snowshoes a good thing. So, I was able to talk Chuck into coming with me on this second attempt to get to the top of Alta. We got a late afternoon start, and it being almost the end of October, sunset came fairly early. We were able to make Panther Gap in the dark with the use of headlamps. We were beaten out of the best campsite there by a young couple that were enjoying the evening with each others company. 

  We got our typical early start the next morning, somewhere about 10 or 11 AM I think. The views across the canyon to the rock walls and farther out, the Great Western Divide, were nothing less than spectacular. Don't know why I haven't spent more time in this area, other than to say that I will always be a Eastern Sierras hiker first. We hiked up past Mherton Meadow ,which was dry as a bone as far as water was concerned, but still a beautiful spot. (On the note of water, for it being so late in the season, we were still able to find plenty, even though hikers we passed on the trail said mostly that there was no water available. Not sure what trail they were on but Chuck and I never wanted for H2o). 

  We got to the fork in the trail where the left hand way went to the  peak and the right hand way was out to Alta Meadow. Would like to go out that stretch of trail someday, as the views up at the GWD would be unbelievable from out there. We headed up towards the peak, and about a half mile past the fork, were able to find a flat enough spot to throw down the packs and call that our home for the evening. But not yet. Leaving everything but a jacket and water, we took off heading for the summit. While the trail was not the hardest i have ever hiked, the combination of   elevation, being out of shape, being old, and not being all that rested when we even started the hike, caused us to think twice about the summit when we reached about 10,400. We could have kept going , but without a doubt would have been coming back to our packs in the dark. So we took a short break and headed back doan the trail, enjoying the sunset on some of the nicest views in the Sierras I had seen in quite some time. 

  The next day we took our time getting back to the car, getting chased by some huge thunderheads that as it turned out dropped the first significant snow of the season that evening. Seems like we got out in just the nick of time. We didn't make the top, but had a GREAT time as usual. This gives us a reason to go back.

  

July 20, 2013 First time on bike in 9 months

                                          Matt at topf GMR

                                         Fred making sure he has pics to show


After having been off the bike for one week short of nine months, I made the mistake of answering an email I received from Fred about doing GMR on Saturday morning. Usually when Fred hits me up for Saturday rides this time of year I have the excuse of the heat factor for riding after I get off work, but this Saturday I happened to be off. So I told him I would meet him at the bottom for an early ride. Should have stayed home. We got off to a slow start and I got no better all the way to the top. Stopped a time or 3 on the way up, otherwise I never would have gotten there. Lots of riders out that morning, someone later said something about two 50 member clubs heading to the Village, plus the other usual's   out on a Saturday morning. While resting at the top, Matt came heading back down the road after having been up by the fork. A little later Annette and husband Bill come up, looking like they had ridden in a little more heat than Fred and I had encountered. Sat around and talked for a while and headed down when the bugs started to get a little thick. All in all, a nice day up the hill, even if I should have been on something easier for the first ride in a while.

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.