More Snow

Sunday November 16 and the forecast was for snow in the late morning and then beginning again in early evening.  We were not to be disappointed.  Snowed about an inch or two late morning to our delight with temps just about at freezing.

The sun came out and the snow quickly disappeared. But just at the dinner hour, it began again and gently snowed for several hours to a depth of about 2 inches. We ventured out to enjoy the crisp air and big flakes in the light of the headlamps.

Decision time: 1) head down the hill and go to bed or 2) take the ATV out for a spin up and down the private road for a while. It was not a difficult decision:

Yours truly and son Brian

Nothing like a spur of the moment ride.

WAKE UP!

The next morning I was once again greeted with the wonderment of four inches of fresh snow.  I have learned that one has to get out and enjoy it immediately.  For as the sun nears noon, the trees have lost most of their snow coats and by late afternoon most all is gone.  But oh those first few hours!

Sunrise

Rabbit tracks from atop the hill

Even Sage Brush looks Great

In this continuing drought it is as if each needle is holding tight at a water source

Another Blessed Day. How wonderful the colors of nature are.  What a palette!!

A Move, An Old Friend, Season's First Snow

In 1901 John Muir wrote: "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home."

Are John Muir's 100 plus year old words true for today?  It is with these words in mind our mountain experience expands from weekend enjoyment to full time.  It is now three and a half weeks since "the move" and now is the time to begin anew with some postings.

The Move
As we were about to leave our quiet San Gabriel neighborhood, with Mary at the wheel of the pick-up and me about to get in the U Haul, our neighbor came out to say goodbye and to wish us well. Her final and parting words were: "Look at you two! Just like two teenagers off on some grand adventure." These words have come back to me occasionally with cause for contemplation. ....Was she saying we are crazy and irresponsible??

October 15 is the time of year many mountaineers are saying, "Goodbye 'til spring"  I have always enjoyed Minnesota winters of my youth, so it is now with great anticipation what this winter shall bring...."Bring it on El Nino!"  I hope I shall not regret these words.

This is Mary and my 14th married move and the fourth in our four California years.  Of all the moves, this mountain move has presented us with the most and varied unique challenges. The individual details are not so interesting, but being so remote, up the mountain, "off the grid", 45 miles from a hardware store and 55 to a grocery store, does require some new planning and discipline techniques. One becomes intimately familiar with solar systems, wells and pumps, water storage, generators, satellite internet and phone (NO CELL PHONES SERVICE) and then cram everything into a small space.  Oh ya, make room for and keep Mary's internet business going.  Yes challenges are many, but none yet a cause for discouragement, rather a sense of accomplishment when successfully dealt with.

This after ten trips with the pick-up and it's not going to all fit.

The Greeting 

An Old Friend at the Door
The forecast for Tuesday November 3 was one of rain, then with falling temps, snow.  It was this turn in the weather which excited  me.  We got everything ready as a slight rain began at nightfall.  It was a quiet evening and one enjoying the relaxation only a cozy cabin can bring when suddenly, not five feet away staring in our glassed French doors from our deck was the unmistakable pointed face of a fox. He just stood and stared at us, almost as if asking to come in to enjoy our warmth. As he slowly turned and left I saw the distinguishing black striped tail of a Gray Fox.  I wrote of our first sighting in an April post [The Gray Fox].  We retired shortly thereafter with an occasional dusting of snow in the pitch black air.

The First Snow of the Season
We awoke at sunrise to see a white mountain wonderland! Our electricity was out as the solar system had gone "off" on low battery.  With a fresh 3 inches of the snow, the trip to the generator in pj's, robe and boots was an enjoyable one indeed.

View from Deck as I was about to go start generator.

A little later, scrambled eggs eaten and coffee finished, the conclusion was the planned activities would have to wait...It was time for a hike.  Bright sun, wispy white clouds against the blue sky and mountains of Pinyon Pine, their boughs dressed in coats of brilliant white snow. The soft low crunch sounds my boots made in the wet snow brought me back to Boy Scout winter camping trips decades ago.

Hiked Up a Bit to get a Grand View...The Domeland Wilderness Area in the far distance

There is something extraordinary about the ordinary.

Our Cabin Awaits Our Return

We followed rabbit tracks for a time and then, later as we sat outside on the deck, without a jacket, enjoying the sun's warmth, I couldn't help but think.....John Muir just might be right!