Cucamonga Snow - It's Been Fun
Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:21 pm
The schedule did not work out for the Sierras over the holiday weekend. Oh well, I had a little time Friday morning to find the last vestiges of snow before the hot weather started. Headed up Ice House canyon Friday around 6:00am. Only a couple of cars in the lot. Surprisingly chilly, cold breeze early on. Blue bird skies and then sun at the saddle, getting warmer. Uh oh, any snow left?
Past the saddle there's a huge cloud bank in the lower elevations. A stiff breeze down there swirling the mist in the trees. Very cool. Snow patches now, I'm optimistic there's more snow left. Rounding a corner and there it is. Big ol' snow chute and snow covered ridge. Down to the next saddle then traverse over to the chute.
Ok, still in the shade, here goes...CRUNCH! Not the sound of bone breaking...the sound of crampons biting into hard packed snow. Ahh...nice feeling. Up we go. What's this? Tempting side chutes? Ok, what the heck, who cares about the summit? Not bad, a little mixed, a little steep, kind of fun. Ok, too much rock and dirt now, snow gone. Again, the summit can wait, need more snow. Back to the main chute, try another small chute, same ending. Back to snow.
Up again. Meandering, no hurry. Traversing into the trees, into the sun. Checking things out. Not too bad but this might not be the case on the way down. Back to the shade and up. Starting to level off now. Darn, and just when it was getting good. Can't this mountain be another thousand feet higher?
Crampons off, up the trail to the summit.
Cold breeze and blue skies. Huge cloud bank over everything below the summit, to the east, south and part of the western horizon. Bits of city poking through the clouds. Winds swirling the massive cloud bank straight down off the south face. Staring. Unbelievable. Turn to look north east toward Baldy. Baldy all right, stripped of almost all snow now. West Baldy still has some as does the summit and bits on the west trail.
Its been fun, a great winter season but there is no stopping summer.
Descending the snow, slipping, sliding, postholio. Ugh. Crampons back on, trying to stay in the shade. No crunching now but at least I'm upright. Back to trail, goodbye crampons, its been fun. Into the pack and back to the saddle. People having lunch. Clouds moving up canyon, Ice House is almost completely socked in. Mists swirling at eye level now, awesome. Keepin it cool on the way down.
Stream flowing strongly, poison oak green as an Irish pasture. Not even Guiness would stop the pain of that oily rampage should ye decide to have yourself a walk through it. Glad I wore long pants. Been there done that, threw away the t-shirt.
At the car, whoa, it's a lot warmer. Down the road and onto the 210. Much warmer. Windows open, nice breeze, music blaring, soaking in the brief but fun snow day.
Wake up Saturday, feel the heat. See you snow, its been fun.
Pictures here:
http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... 005-28-10/
Past the saddle there's a huge cloud bank in the lower elevations. A stiff breeze down there swirling the mist in the trees. Very cool. Snow patches now, I'm optimistic there's more snow left. Rounding a corner and there it is. Big ol' snow chute and snow covered ridge. Down to the next saddle then traverse over to the chute.
Ok, still in the shade, here goes...CRUNCH! Not the sound of bone breaking...the sound of crampons biting into hard packed snow. Ahh...nice feeling. Up we go. What's this? Tempting side chutes? Ok, what the heck, who cares about the summit? Not bad, a little mixed, a little steep, kind of fun. Ok, too much rock and dirt now, snow gone. Again, the summit can wait, need more snow. Back to the main chute, try another small chute, same ending. Back to snow.
Up again. Meandering, no hurry. Traversing into the trees, into the sun. Checking things out. Not too bad but this might not be the case on the way down. Back to the shade and up. Starting to level off now. Darn, and just when it was getting good. Can't this mountain be another thousand feet higher?
Crampons off, up the trail to the summit.Cold breeze and blue skies. Huge cloud bank over everything below the summit, to the east, south and part of the western horizon. Bits of city poking through the clouds. Winds swirling the massive cloud bank straight down off the south face. Staring. Unbelievable. Turn to look north east toward Baldy. Baldy all right, stripped of almost all snow now. West Baldy still has some as does the summit and bits on the west trail.
Its been fun, a great winter season but there is no stopping summer.
Descending the snow, slipping, sliding, postholio. Ugh. Crampons back on, trying to stay in the shade. No crunching now but at least I'm upright. Back to trail, goodbye crampons, its been fun. Into the pack and back to the saddle. People having lunch. Clouds moving up canyon, Ice House is almost completely socked in. Mists swirling at eye level now, awesome. Keepin it cool on the way down.
Stream flowing strongly, poison oak green as an Irish pasture. Not even Guiness would stop the pain of that oily rampage should ye decide to have yourself a walk through it. Glad I wore long pants. Been there done that, threw away the t-shirt.
At the car, whoa, it's a lot warmer. Down the road and onto the 210. Much warmer. Windows open, nice breeze, music blaring, soaking in the brief but fun snow day.
Wake up Saturday, feel the heat. See you snow, its been fun.
Pictures here:
http://s622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... 005-28-10/
