It Doesn't Get any Better (from Kathy)

Friday, February 20, 2009

It Doesn't Get Any Better...

Occasionally the local mountains in San Diego county get enough snow to cross country ski. The past few weeks of winter weather left a wonderland in the Laguna's. John, Red and I loaded up the CRV and headed east, about an hour later we strapped on the ski's, left the CRV behind

and took off for Big Laguna Meadow.



It was a warm day, probably could have skied in shorts. John quickly stripped down.




Emerging from the trees into the meadow, we decided to ski to the far end of the meadow.


Passing the lake..

At this point we had only seen one other person. In fact, by the end of our trip we had seen a total of 5. It's amazing that less than an hour from San Diego, we had this all to ourselves. Just us and the cattle dog.



We reached the far end of the meadow and decided to take a lunch break.



Looking back over our route,


we enjoyed our favorite Subway Veggie Delight, and Red's favorite dog biscuit. Our lunch site was the top of a little bunny slope, so we took advantage of that and did a few downhill runs.






Okay so it wasn't that big of hill, but we had fun.


We have years of good memories in the Laguna's.

Posted by Dragon Lady at 2:07 PM 0 comments

Cuyamaca Peak, Wednesday Feb 18

I haven't been to the peak of Cuyamaca in a long time. I had things to do, so arrived at the Paso Picacho Campground about noon. Quickly donned my skis and and shuffled around the day use parking lot and map. Went to the North and found trees had fallen around most of the "trails" we city folks look for. Did a big loop and came back to the map across from where my car was parked. After putting on my glasses, realiazed that the Lookout Fire Road was further South, leaving from the CDF parking area.

As the first person in the wilderness, I was glad to make tracks up the road. Obviously, if I had know what I was doing, would have not wasted forty minutes finding the start. But, here we are in God's wilderness and I want to get on that peak , which I can see from my house. After an hour of sweating and sliding, have made it about 1.5 miles and am thinking about mountain lions. My best mountain biking buddie's wife found the woman up this trail, who had been attacked by the lion. It was not a good mental image for me or her. I have always been a bit timid, too imaginative to be fully macho. So about half way up, start to think too much about the poor visibility of the brush near me and notice that I don't have any bars in my battery of the cell. Seems like a good, prudent time to turn around. But just as I turn "chicken", a snow shoer appears. I ask if he would mind if I tagged around to the peak. He seemed a bit reticent, but agreed.

Ed taxed my meager skills, but we arrived on the peak knowing that each of us had done a few crazy things and were not so afraid to do a few more.



Ed is a construction worker who knows how to make good use of his down time. He moves quick and fast like a good athlete and was a good companion. He was surprised that my skis work well in climbing and I was similarly impressed with his speed uphill.

As I turn around to do the decent, it became quickly obvious that the conditions were not optimal for a quick return to the car. The light was great for pictures, but speed was a problem on the downhill. After expending a considerable effort on two or three hundred feet of decent, a godsend appeared.

The CDF people had driven a snow cat up the road. Most cross country ski people dislike the snow cat as an embodiment of the dark side. I, however, like the track in deep snow and gravitate toward it. This day, the snow cat did not spawn the usual "ice cookies". It pulverized the heavy snow and made life good. Instead of a treacherous downhill, the psuedo powder machine made a hard downhill easy. By paralleling across the high spot which the cat didn't touch, one could tamp down the downhill speed. What fun. This was the best backcountry downhill that I have had it many a year. SoCal rocks!

You could see the Salton Sea to the East and San G and San Jacinto to the North. All this while wailing downhill on the cat's tracks. This it too weird and yet just right. What a perfect day in San Diego's mountains. Two hours uphill and twenty minutes downhill, just the way God intended!

Tour de Palm Springs, Feb 14, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009 (by Kathy)

Tour de Palm Springs

Yesterday was the annual Tour de Palm Springs.

There are over 10,000 riders raising about $200,000.00 dollars for local Palm Spring charitable organizations. There are 5 routes: 100, 55, 25, 10 and 5 miles.


Dave, Mike, John and I joined a few thousands fellow riders for the 55 mile option.

Brittany opted for the 10 mile version.

Erica and Betty provided pool side support.

As the race got started it was a little breezy as we headed out of downtown toward Interstate 10. It wasn't all bad though since it turned into a great tailwind down Dillon road.

Riding through the Coachella Valley with Mt. San Jacinto to the south


and San Gorgonio Mountains to the north.

It doesn't get any better.
The day ended with a nice dinner downtown, then a little bubbly in Dave & Erica's room.

5 foot of snow at Mammoth, I was there!

As I drove up the 395 ribbon of highway, my thoughts were mostly about the bad weather that seemed a part of my lot. I had left late in the morning from San Diego on a Sunday to avoid the traffic, but it looked like the Sun God was going to leave me before arriving at the San Diego Ski Club Chalet at Mammoth. The traffic stop was just before the Mammoth turnoff.

I had borrowed my wife's Honda CRV after our last weekend success in the desert. If this 2002 baby can do the dunes, why not the snow? I had overpacked as usual, with cross country, downhill , food and clothes. Lets not count the bags. Why am I such a worst case person, who knows. Anyway, I assume that the traffic stop does not apply to me. Too many cars and cops are screwing around. I confidently manouver around the stopped vehicles and people with my sure footed CRV. I go slow, because any idot knows that brakes don't work on ice. As I get close to the ski hut, am worried about all the snow that hasn't been plowed near the "chalet".

Find a place to park and even though the snow is a couple of feet deep, the car works great. I get my Mexican blanket, sleeping bag and find that there is only one other person on the men's side. What good luck! Unfortunately, by morning the hut is fairly full. Everyone has heard about the five foot dump at Mammoth!

I get up late and try to ignore the engine light on my wonderful CRV. Go to a parking lot in the sun and with 20 degrees to my credit, start to look at the cooling system. Within a few seconds, have dropped the cover to the cooling system resovoir. One hour later, with hands starting to feel pain, give up on finding said cover. Call my friend Bob, who knows the wonders of the auto. He says the resovoir is not a part of the pressure system, so avoid spillage with a sandwich bag. Lets go skiing!

Half way up the hill, the temperature gauge is pinning. Please Dear God, let me make it to a turnoff. I make it to a place where I can turn left to get to a place stategically placed for a down hill move on the downhill side. Turn off the engine and listen to the silence. It is also very, very cold. Wish that I had thought to bring along some warmer clothes. Look at the cell battery bars and also wish that I had charged it up this morning. Call info for tow and have two choices. The first choice tells me that he can't make it for two hours. How many tow drivers in San Diego would have been this honest. Is he getting a bonus for doing his job in a responsible way? The second option says he'll be there in 20 minutes, and he is. A six foot 4 inch Native American with no attitude. He is the most cool and competent person that I have met in a long time. Ralph gives me the Goodyear reference and I believe him. We go there, and after all is said and done, he takes me and my gear to the road the Chalet is on. Something about this guy inspires confidence and hope. He says his job is dangerous and I believe him. 395 can be a strange place in the snow, late at night. I would trust my life to this man and I bet he doesn't get a bonus for doing his job.

Chuck, the head man at Goodyear across from the Chalet, says that it is probably a stuck thermostat and it turn out that it is. By then I am an expert at the Mammoth bus system and am pretty tired of communal living at the Chalet. It is mostly me, I gave up on the Viet Nam war after a very difficult National Guard physical. I can live in a small tent in the snow, if I am alone. Well, anyway on a difficult early evening, Chuck agreed to have himself and his mechanic stay late to get me on my way at 6:00 PM. He lives in Bishop, so that means that he got home late for me. How can I thank people like this? Chuck had talked to me about all his retirement plans being changed due to the economic meltdown. He didn't get a bonus either.

Superstition Mountains (from Kathy) Jan 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Superstition Mountain

We joined our friends Bob and Amyfor a trip out to Superstition Mountain, an area popular with off road enthusiasts. John and I enjoy trips to the desert, however we usually choose to hike or bike. This trip was a first for both of us to Superstition. Bob got a new toy and wanted to give it a try.


We drove our Honda CRV.
Needless to say ours was the only CRV in sight. Not too many off roaders would be seen dead let alone on Superstition in a CRV. But with deflated tires (a must for sandy areas) John skillfully off-roaded the CRV like a pro. It helped having the insurance that Bob's new toy could pull the CRV out of any trouble.

An unexpected treat in the desert today. The US Navy Blue Angels were training for their upcoming show in El Centro. They were buzzing Superstition low and fast.


We left San Diego in the morning, gloomy weather. Two hours later, we spent a great day driving around the sunny, warm desert with good friends.


Even Red the crazy Cattle Dog had a good day.

Posted by Dragon Lady at 6:42 PM 0 comments