 01 - The journey always starts in the dark. |
 02 - The trailhead begins at the Zen Center. |
 03 - Here's the parking lot. You can find my car by the flourescent drink. |
 04 - I hoped it wouldn't be 14 miles to the top. |
 05 - But at least the trail looked easy to follow. |
 06 - Even with fog, I wouldn't get lost. |
 07 - Well, maybe if it covered the entire mountain. |
 08 - Following the "switchbacks" up the "trail". |
 09 - Cool businesses back in the middle of nowhere. |
 10 - Crossing into the national park. |
 11 - A bit of snow around 4000'. Amazing. |
 12 - But it wasn't just chance, more snow. |
 13 - And snow and ice water. Brrr. |
 14 - I'm glad I left the M3 down at base camp. |
 15 - Freakish snow everywhere. |
 16 - I shoulda brought my crampons! |
 17 - View of the foggy cold snowy summit. |
 18 - I signed the "summit register". Haha. |
 19 - Trying to find the 5045 high point north of the tower. Yeeeeah. |
 20 - Gate to the main road, leads up to the tower and down to home. |
 21 - This road is often used by big panel trucks. |
 22 - On the way down, it started to look like a nice day! |
 23 - Next time, I'll ride a horse to the summit Lone Ranger style. |
 24 - I cut through this forest on the way down. |
 25 - And had to "downclimb" this 8 foot "sheer face" to reach the road again. |
 26 - The peak is back over these hills somewhere. Dumb fog. |
 27 - But it's almost turning sunny. |
 28 - View north back into civilized country. That's Salinas down there somewhere. |
 29 - I didn't descend into this gully between the roads. For once. |
 30 - Just one turn left! |
 31 - Whee! Home free. |
 32 - A scenic burbling brook beside my car. |
 33 - The "city" of Jamesburg wasn't open. |
 34 - But food was available for the quick! |
 35 - View of Palo Escrito from the road. Someday.. lots of access problems. |
 36 - Driving home in between the green hills. |
 37 - Hills to the west. It was a great day despite the grey clouds! |
 38 - Pretty hillsides just before merging onto 101. |