Independence Weekend

Collection of memories from the long Independence Day weekend. Happy Birthday, America!

Ten thousand sixty-six

The initial plans for the weekend were a 2-night backpacking trip in the vicinity of Bridge To Nowhere, but G had an unfortunate biking accident (caution: graphic photo) and couldn't make it--though happily he is alright after some stiches. So, in lieu of packin' it, I got into a small group of folks from work who were climbing Mount Baldy in the Angeles National Forest. After taking the wrong Mountain Ave exit from the Interstate, I eventually found where I was supposed to go (another Mountain Ave 15 miles or so down) and drove the winding roads up to the ski lift terminal. When the whole party had arrived, we took the lift up to about 7800 feet to start our hike. A few things of interest:

• There was a group of probably two dozen septuagenarians starting the hike about the same time as us. I was really impressed that so many people of such advanced age were is such good shape to climb a mountain.
• It was a really pretty hike. Apparently Baldy is one of the highest in the Angeles NF at 10,066. At its peak, which was actually more like a bald rocky dome, there were quite a lot of hikers. But just a half mile further west and at only slightly lower elevation was West Baldy, where nobody sat. So part of our group made the trek over to feel a bit more isolated.
• Snow. July. California. 'Nuff said.

And of course, I've posted the requisite photos of the trip.

Ode to John

So after I'd unofficially called "timeout" in our recent game of phone tag, I had an experience Sunday that reminded me several times over of my friend. I decided to try to bike from home to work, doing it on a weekend as a trial to see how hot I'd be when I get to work, so that I'd know if it were feasible for me to ride on an actual work day. Turns out that long gradual hills may seem like nothing in a car going 50 mph but they're killers on a bike. I thought to myself that I hadn't busted my ass so hard on a bike since the summer prior when I rode a few times with John (on his "off-days") while he was training for the triathalon. Anyway, I elected to turn around before I made it all the way to work, since at that point I still knew I'd have enough in me to make it home.

It was something like fate that had me turn around when I did. And now I feel like I've got some good karma as well. There was a car pulled over on Sierra Highway, pretty obviously a flat. The guy was squatting near the front passenger tire, the girl (pregnant probably four or five months) standing next to him. Out of courtesy I smile and ask if everything is ok. She asks if I'd mind helping out, and of course I stop, half-joking that I was looking forward to taking a break anyway. Turns out the guy is pretty clueless about changing a tire, which is fine really because I wonder nowadays how many people really do anything for themselves anymore (I'm guilty too, of wishing I knew how to do a lot of things that I don't) so I got the spare on and directed them to a nearby service station. Funny, as I was almost done another biker passing by stopped to see if everything was alright, but not a single motorist even slowed down this whole time.

Finally, let's all congratulate John on his first July 4th as a citizen.

Fireworks

Geoff, Ro, and I grilled some food at my place then went over to G's new apartment to watch some fireworks. From the parkway we could see both the Valencia show and the Magic Mountain show. Neither were spectacular but they were both pretty good, and I really liked Valencia's finale. I really enjoy fireworks in general, but I realized that this time of year is also associated with fireflies, which were certainly lacking here in Cali.

Suprises

I surprised myself this morning by being able to wake up early and actually do something productive. The primary reason for getting up an hour earlier than usual was that I wanted to call K and wish her luck on her first day of clinical in TN (damn I miss her) but I figured that while I was up I may as well go for a run. So I knocked down about four miles in the riverbed before 6 a.m.