What did help, though, was waiting until Monday to do this, and letting the weekend hordes pack down most of the snow for me. White stuff, and some ice, covered almost the entire trail, starting from the beginning. I really had to be careful, especially along the icy stretch where water from Cedar Glen crosses the trail.
Initial conditions were tolerable. The temperature was probably mid-20s around 1pm. Wind was fairly steady at 10 or 15 mph with some stronger gusts.
At the current trail restoration site, I met some people who were coming down.
They spoke of intense wind and cold at the saddle. In return, I showed them my sockless sandals and indicated that I probably wouldn't be making it to the saddle.
When I reached the Cucamonga Wilderness sign, a mere 1.8 miles from the parking lot, my freezing toes finally started to hurt and lose some mobility.
It was time to put on the socks.
Even with socks, my toes remained ice cubes until they could be warmed up on the sunlit switchbacks.
After several minutes of basking in the rays, the feet felt slightly better, and I continued upward. As the switchbacks swung me toward the shady heart of the canyon, the wind would instantly pick up and the freezing process would dramatically increase again. Then I would reach the opposite turn and race back toward the sunlight. This continued until the junction with the Chapman Trail, which I decided to take back rather than brave Icehouse Saddle in inadequate attire.
The lesser-used Chapman Trail was not as firmly packed down as Icehouse. Occasionally snow would get into my sandals and cause issues. The worst part, though, was the north-facing section before Telegraph Wash. Small snowdrifts covered the trail, and I had to kick steps into a foot of snow with my sandals, while trying not to fall down the slope.
After crossing the wash, I spent several minutes blowing on my toes to warm them up.
The snow-drenched socks did not return to my feet. I no longer needed them, as the temperature and trail condition improved.
The remaining obstacles were minor: some ice in Cedar Glen; and back on the Icehouse Trail a busted water pipe that was flooding a large stretch of the trail.
