October 22, 2010 GMR Solo

Downtown LA with the beach in the background Me at the shack dressed for the downhill My bike at the top of GMR in the clouds View down San Gabriel Canyon Fast, quick, and wet. Took off late in the afternoon hoping to make the top and back without getting rained on. The road and conditions held up until just past Newman's Point, where things got wet. I wouldn't say it was actually raining, but you couldn't say it was dry either. The road was not dry, but had no standing water on it. I would say it was as close to raining as it could get without actually raining. Passed by Matt just below Newman's. He rode with for a couple minutes and then took off. Good ride, glad I chanced it.

October 13, 2010 GMR to Baldy Village

"The Shot" on GRR The 3 mile downhill on way back from Village Mt Baldy Post Office Another view of "The Shot" Looking down from Cow Canyon Saddle towards Baldy Village Looking up towards Cow Canyon Saddle with other rider heading out. Looking down San Antonio Canyon The basin was covered in fog when we started up. Two gorgeous women we saw at Baldy Post Office Another great ride to the Village. Started the ride with the basin being all socked in with clouds. Was actually a little cold at the start. Ride up to and out to the Village was just another great time in the mountains. When we got to the Village, while stopped at the post office to rest, these 2 women drove up and got out. They were knock dead beautiful, and dressed to the nines , heels and all. Made the ride up there worth the effort. Felt pretty good for me on the ride up. Wind was blowing very strong in places.

October 7, 2010 GMR to Peacock Saddle

Richard hiding behind me Richard coming into Peacock Saddle Section of Glendora Ridge Road Fred trying to get into my pic. Cloudy weather equals nice day Weather was warm at the start, but cooled of as we climbed and the clouds came out. made it to Peacock Saddle and met Richard once again. He stopped and had a story or two to tell as usual. Nice day to be in the mountains.

October 3, 2010 GMR plus about 6 more miles

Fred and Gina at bottom of GMR after ride The happy couple at the top of GMR

Fred playing movie director

SMILE

Fred and Gina on lower switchback, GMR

Furthest up yet.

Got a fairly early start, cool weather was nice. Warmed up on the way, clearing to really nice day. The ride went as usual, but at the shack, Fred asked Gina if she wanted to keep going, and to his surprise, she said yes. We took out time and got out to Peacock Saddle (fork plus 4.5 miles) and took a break in the shade. It was starting to warm up, but wasn't bad yet. Once again Fred asked Gina, and to his even bigger surprise, she said yes again to continuing higher. This was at the start of the 3 mile climb that is the bitch of the ride, so we made sure that Gina knew it was up to her when we all turned around. Well, we went about another mile and a half, and she finally said that was it for the day. We rested a little and had a nice return downhill. I guess they went to get something to eat and drove back up GMR to see just how far Gina had made it, and she was shocked how close she had been to the end of the hard stuff. She makes the Village on her next ride up there.

September 30, 2010- GMR with Fred

Clouds from Newman's Point Fred's Lemond at the top

Fred at top of GMR

Baldy from top of GMR

Bow hunter, Ron, we met at top of GMR

Nice guy with lots of stories.

Cloudy ride

Extremely hot day with lots of clouds. Normal ride up, with meeting Ron, a bow hunter up on top of GMR. Gave us a lot of info about bow hunting, lots of which I never knew. Good ride.

September 27, 2010 Picture taking of Mt Whitney

Mt Langley from Whitney Portal Road Mt Langley and Lone Pine Pk.

Lone Pine Pk and Mt Whitney

Whitney Road

Owens Valley in early morning light

Lone Pine Pk

Whitney from top of Portal Road

Early light on Lone Pine Pk

Close up of Lone Pine Pk

Last day

After getting kicked out of the overflow parking lot last night, we drive down and spent the night out in the desert just below the first switchback on the Portal Road. Was a great place, even if we had a hard time finding it. Getting up Monday morning , we tried to get shots of Whitney with the morning alpen glow, but we missed the best ones. We still managed to get some good shots, and headed home fairly early. Just a regular drive back, an excellant ending to a great trip.

September 26, 2010 The hike out of Little Lakes Valley

Little bit of eye candy at the trail head Jim trying to play Ansel Adams

Float tuber having a great time on RCL

View across Long Lake with Pyramid in the

middle of the background

Another view of same

Jim, Sunday morning as we head

back to the car.

Yours truly

Pyramid Peak, our worthy goal.

Al that was left of Warren when Jim and I woke

up Sunday morning.

Getting close to the end.

Warren took off sometime during the middle of the night/very early morning. All that remained to show he was ever there was a patch of ice, showing just how cold it did get that night. Jim and I, not being in any kind of hurry, took our time getting camp broke down, and heading back to the car. Took pics on way out, as the weather was yet perfect for another day. Beers and Cheetos at the car allowed us time to let what we were just finishing to set in. Little Lakes is always one of my most favorite places in the Sierras, because of its beauty and ease of access. We ended up at Whitney Portal and had burgers and beers at the store. Truth be told, I had 2 burgers. Yummmm. We tried spending the night just sleeping in the overflow parking lot, but got kicked out by the local ranger. Ended up driving down to the top end of the straight away heading up the hill and found a place out in the desert off the paved road to spend the night. Good day all in all.