SierraDescents | Page 11
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)
May 22, 2021
Parker Mesa Loop

What I call the Parker Mesa Loop begins at the end of Los Leones Drive in Pacific Palisades, elevation 195', directly ascends a steep ridge via a use trail to Parker Mesa (more)
May 10, 2021
Mount Islip

My son and I went up the 2 yesterday to Islip Saddle mostly because my family had hiked Mount Islip on Mother's Day in 2020, and I wanted to revisit the area and the memories of (more)
April 18, 2021
Closing Day

Snow Valley spun its lifts for the last time for the 2020-2021 season today, making them (by a week) the longest-running SoCal resort this winter. Has that ever happened (more)
February 26, 2021
Update

I apologize for going dark for so long. I have slowly begun reengaging in activities I once took for granted -- driving, reading, hiking, talking to people, even skiing with my (more)
June 15, 2020
Is Throop Still Going?

For those of you who built the kicker at the bottom of the last snowfield on Throop Peak and were still hitting it as of yesterday...I salute you. (more)