12/17/14 9:30 am

12″ of new snow, the sun is breaking out and it is beautiful.

There is no chain control up to Big Pine at this time.  The road is closed past Big Pine but there still is plenty of area for snow play.  So if you are off today come have a GREAT day in the Mountains.

Always make sure you carry chains that fit your car and that you know how to install them. Only play in the snow on Public lands, (stop to see us at Mountain Hardware and  we can provide you with a map and info where the best conditions are currently). Please respect private property and do not play there.   You will also need an Adventure Pass $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a year we can supply that for you. Please remember to always pick up and take home any trash as this will make it nicer for the next visitor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Mountain Hardware 760-249-3653 Mon – Sat 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located at 1390 Hwy #2 in Wrightwood on the north side of the highway and have a large parking area and restrooms

Mike

12/17/14

10″ 0f NEW Snow Last Night

Looks like a it  is going to be a White Christmas.

There is very good conditions for snow play.  It should be good for the next week.

At this time there are chain control on all non 4×4 cars and truck.  So if you come up and do not have a 4×4 bring your chains.

Always make sure you carry chains that fit your car and that you know how to install them. Only play in the snow on Public lands, (stop to see us at Mountain Hardware and  we can provide you with a map and info where the best conditions are currently). Please respect private property and do not play there.   You will also need an Adventure Pass $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a year we can supply that for you. Please remember to always pick up and take home any trash as this will make it nicer for the next visitor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Mountain Hardware 760-249-3653 Mon – Sat 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located at 1390 Hwy #2 in Wrightwood on the north side of the highway and have a large parking area and restrooms

Mike

 

12/15/14 9am

The snow paly conditions are best we have seen this year.

So come on up.

Always make sure you carry chains that fit your car and that you know how to install them. Only play in the snow on Public lands, (stop to see us at Mountain Hardware and  we can provide you with a map and info where the best conditions are currently). Please respect private property and do not play there.   You will also need an Adventure Pass $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a year we can supply that for you. Please remember to always pick up and take home any trash as this will make it nicer for the next visitor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Mountain Hardware 760-249-3653 Mon – Sat 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located at 1390 Hwy #2 in Wrightwood on the north side of the highway and have a large parking area and restrooms

Mike

12/13/14 1pm

Just came back from the snow play areas and the conditions looked great the road is open with no controls.

photo

Always make sure you carry chains that fit your car and that you know how to install them. Only play in the snow on Public lands, (stop to see us at Mountain Hardware and  we can provide you with a map and info where the best conditions are currently). Please respect private property and do not play there.   You will also need an Adventure Pass $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a year we can supply that for you. Please remember to always pick up and take home any trash as this will make it nicer for the next visitor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Mountain Hardware 760-249-3653 Mon – Sat 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located at 1390 Hwy #2 in Wrightwood on the north side of the highway and have a large parking area and restrooms

12/13/14 7:30 am

YAHOO!!!!!!!!!

We have snow in the snow play areas 5-6 inches.  It is a clear sky day with lots of sunshine this morning.  I drove up to the area above Big Pines this morning and it looks GREAT.  At this time there is chain control  signed turned at Mtn High East but I am sure that will be lifted as the day warms.

The ski area is not opening today so this is a great day to come up as there will not be any skier traffic.

Always make sure you carry chains that fit your car and that you know how to install them. Only play in the snow on Public lands, (stop to see us at Mountain Hardware and  we can provide you with a map and info where the best conditions are currently). Please respect private property and do not play there.   You will also need an Adventure Pass $5.00 per day or $30.00 for a year we can supply that for you. Please remember to always pick up and take home any trash as this will make it nicer for the next visitor.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at Mountain Hardware 760-249-3653 Mon – Sat 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located at 1390 Hwy #2 in Wrightwood on the north side of the highway and have a large parking area and restrooms

Wrightwalking

Something noticeable about Wrightwood is that when you walk outside your door you are in a beautiful forest setting.  How nice it is that each and every house or cabin is different from one another, with individual character.  Quiet streets, fresh air filled with the fragrance of nature.

Walking a trail in Wrightwood

Nature at your front door

Mormon Rocks

Mormon Rocks, Cajon Pass

Mormon Rocks – Cajon Pass

Mormon Rocks located about 1 mile west of the Interstate 15 freeway north of highway 138 is recognizable to nearly everyone who has ever traveled the freeway from the Cajon Pass to Las Vegas. These familiar formations appear to welcome travelers to the Mojave Desert.

The sandstone was pushed up by a sub-fault of the San Andreas fault and further revealed by the Mojave Block changing direction in slope toward Death Valley rather than the ocean.

Older maps of the area show the formation as being called the Rock Candy Mountains. Local legend has it that the rocks were named for the Mormon pioneers who camped here after their descent from the pass ridgeline. In actuality, there was no reason for them to camp at these rocks where there was no water here with the nearest spring being only one mile further down the canyon.

Another legend calls the rocks the ‘Chanting Rocks,’ as when the wind would blow across the portholes in the rocks it was said the sound made was similar to a low chanting or singing.

Since the color and composition appears to be the same as the rocks at the Devil’s Punchbowl, 35 miles to the west, it has been suggessted that both were once the same and that with movement along the San Andreas these two formations were split apart. Scientific examination of fossils found between the two show that they are two separate formations.

Lone Pine Canyon

Lone Pine Canyon, I’ve heard it said, is a young canyon formed by the San Andreas Fault.  Here, looking eastward,  we can see how straight the canyon is. It hasn’t had time to form the meanders and side canyons that it would have if were much older.

599-lone-pine-canyon-j6660-3

On the right side of this picture in the Pacific plate. On the left, the North American plate. Slowly, these two tectonic entities grind together ultimately forming our mountain ranges in their slow swirl.