Visiting Winter

Unless you hail from Southern California, it's unlikely that you've heard of the San Gabriel Mountains.  They're not a household name like the Rockies or the Appalachians, and the tallest point, Mt. Baldy, isn't even in the top 180 peaks in the United States.  But 10,000 feet is still mighty tall -- tall enough for a ski resort, plenty of hiking trails, and a photogenic snow-capped peak.  And the view -- wow.  I never get tired of it.

This picture was taken right from campus.  Gorgeous, huh? 

What's even better is that these mountains are close.  Allow me to demonstrate using Googlemaps:
 

Twenty minutes from campus and you're halfway up a mountain.  Love it.  While I've never been brave enough to make it all the way to the top (unlike Johnson, who spent the night at the summit), the lower-elevation hikes are plenty entertaining (and plenty cold, too). 

There's some debate about which is the best trail in this section of the Angeles National Forest.  There's one trail that leads to a waterfall, another that's basically vertical but provides amazing views.  I've always liked Ice House Canyon.  It's not too steep, it's fairly well traveled (important if you're hiking alone) and the stream is pretty.

For anyone who's feeling a bit homesick for winter (not that flip-flops year-round aren't fantastic, but occasionally I do miss having actual seasons), the mountains are the perfect fix.  One short drive and I can stomp around in snow and wear all that winter gear I thought I'd never need in Southern California.

There are several small cabins on the Ice House Canyon Trail.  I'm not sure if they're privately owned (grandfathered in, maybe?) or if they're National Forest property.  They are certainly charming. 

Joining me on this Thanksgiving weekend excursion was my loyal canine sidekick, Louie.  He was way too excited about all the good sniffs to hold still for a photo, so forgive the blurriness.  He's a California dog, but he likes snow.  Enjoys it more than Allie Brosh's dog, at the very least.

So for any non-So-Cal residents who are wondering how they'll survive without at least a touch of winter, I offer this reassurance: you can visit it.