Jake was jonesing for some forest and a little snow. After negotiating the ever-so-convenient Big Tujunga, Upper Big Tujunga ACH bypass, he parked at the nearly empty Three Points lot and was on the hoof at 0625. Jake followed the Waterman Trail, descended to the Twin Peaks saddle at the Buckhorn Trail cutoff, crossed the saddle and took a fairly direct route up the snow-covered north side between the twins. The snow was sufficiently consolidated that crampons were perfect. His axe handle was nearly fully consumed by the snow for most of the ascent. The head-swarming insects were truly horrible, mitigated by the sanity-preserving, uncomfortably hot black-net hat. There was snow-melt flowing vigorously everywhere. The Buckhorn trail disappeared under snow, so Jake descended the adjacent gully directly, and could hear the water flowing underfoot, under-snow quite often. He walked up the crest highway and picked up the PCT at Cloudburst Summit. Following the three Pacific Crest Trail highway crossings he was back at the car around 1625. Jake remarked at the general dearth of wildlife (though he noted a modest number of small Mule Deer tracks) and the amazingly pervasive fragrance of the sun-warmed forest.
Strawberry and Josephine catching the morning sun.
The twins, seen from the Waterman trail before descending to the saddle.
Abrupt end to dry trail, time for crampons.
Register just below the block on West's summit.
Looking down into the top of the West Fork, San Gabriel River.
Looking out towards the front range, from Twin Peak's west summit.
Craggy south side of the taller east summit.
Highway 39, Mount Islip, Mount Hawkins, Throop, et al.
Smith Mountain, as seen from Waterman Mountain.
Though difficult to discern in this cropped JPEG, there's clearly a trail or its remnants switching back down this buttress. It appears to connect to a spur from the main Smith trail.
For all you PCT fans. This picture was just asking to be monochromed.
GPS track and elevation plot.
