SierraDescents | Category | Video
December 25, 2021
A Mammoth Storm

Well! It was a VERY stormy Christmas 2021 for us at Mammoth Mountain this past week. When we got there Tuesday NOAA was calling for 70+ inches of snow. The weather, as you (more)
June 24, 2021
Baldy via the North Backbone

I had no idea a fine hiking trail exists on the ridge connecting Pine Mountain, Dawson Peak, and Mount Baldy. Better yet: in summer, you can drive Blue Ridge Road to the (more)
June 16, 2021
Hiking Throop Peak to Baden-Powell

Of course I was dimly aware you could hike the San Gabriel Crest from Windy Gap as an alternate way to get to Baden-Powell's summit, but the route never particularly interested (more)
June 9, 2021
Ski Hut-Devil’s Backbone Loop

Connecting the Ski Hut Trail and the Devil's Backbone Ridge is one of my favorite SoCal hikes—in either direction. This time my son and I ascended from Manker Flat and (more)
June 3, 2021
Mammoth Memorial Day Weekend

It's no secret 2020-2021 wasn't exactly California's finest winter, but that didn't stop Mammoth from offering excellent top-to-bottom skiing this past Memorial Day/closing (more)
May 25, 2021
Ontario Peak

8694' Ontario Peak is easily among the most spectacular of the San Gabriels' front-range peaks. The summit offers a crazy juxtaposition of city and mountain views, making this (more)
April 23, 2020
A Good Day at Baldy

From the archives, here is Mount Baldy one year ago, March 23, 2019. I videoed the kids and I enjoying a classic day of Southern California Spring skiing at the resort, but I (more)
April 4, 2020
Anvil Camp via Shepherd Pass Trail

This is a 2010 backtrip trip I did from Symmes Creek to Anvil Camp via the Shepherd Pass trail. We had intended to climb Mount Williamson via the west face, but got shut down by (more)
March 20, 2020
North Palisade: The U-Notch

This is a May 31, 2010 climb and ski of North Palisade's U-Notch couloir. Originally I had intended to do an extended video of the whole trip, but a few things got in the way of (more)
January 17, 2020
Backcountry Photography Rule #1

Oh this was a tough day, and I came within a whisker of just burying the footage and trying to forget about it entirely. Here is how bad this day was: when, a few days later, I (more)