11/25/11 A second trip to the Mt. Wilson summit at almost exactly the same time as last year, only this time accompanied by Dr. Rock. Perfect weather, fantastic single track, 22 miles, and over 5000' of elevation gain, made for an amazing day.
1 Bottom of the road from Chantry Flat, ready to get on some real trail.
2 Dr. Rock at the Gabrielino trailhead. The temperature is in the low 40s, but it looks like the weather will be perfect today.
3 There's still plenty of water flowing, just like this time last year.
4 Approaching Sturtevant Falls.
5 Taking a picture of Dr. Rock taking a picture of Sturtevant Falls.
6 Not Yosemite caliber, but definitely not bad for Southern CA.
7 Another look at the falls.
8 Dr. Rock making one of the many stream crossings along the trail. Dr. Rock loves stream crossings.
9 One of the many mini waterfalls above Sturtevant Falls.
10 Another small waterfall in the upper portion of Santa Anita Canyon.
11 A random, cool picture. Mushrooms on a stump.
12 There are plenty of small cascades along the trail.
13 We made it to Camp Sturtevant.
14 Looks like someone's home.
15 We take the trail less traveled to the top, via Newcomb Pass. Because Mount Wilson is not listed on the trail sign pointing East, and because that route is about 5 miles longer round trip, the vast majority of hikers head West. Definitely their loss because Newcomb Pass is one of the best sections of trail in Southern CA.
16 A change in vegatation and terrain with the first sighting of the observatory on the summit in the distance.
17 Dr. Rock running some of the amazing single track above Newcomb Pass.
18 Some more great single track. The trail was spongy from the recent rains and covered in a heavy layer of leaves and acorns. It was almost like running in sand.
19 Dr. Rock powering up the switchbacks.
20 This should be the cover of the next issue of Trail Runner magazine.
21 The single track gets increasingly narrow as we get closer to the summit.
22 The first of many epic views.
23 If you consider wide fire roads to be trail running, then this is not the trail for you!
24 One of my favorite views in Southern CA, just below the Mt. Wilson summit. You can see Baldy, San Gorgonio, and San Jacinto all in one shot.
25 A zoomed in view of Baldy. You can see Pine Mtn., Dawson Peak, and Mt. San Antonio (Baldy) from left to right. I was up there just a few weeks eariler with my dad (before the first snow).
26 A panoramic view from the same spot.
27 We made it! Dr. Rock posing at the Vista Point at the summit.
28 The camera gets turned on me.
29 A panoramic view from the Vista Point.
30 Dr. Rock in front of the 100 inch telescope. There are more details about each of the various parts of the Mt. Wilson observatory in the album from my previous trip up here.
31 The 60 inch telescope.
32 One of the smaller telescopes that make up the amazing Charra telescope array.
33 The 150' solar telescope.
34 The small Charra array museum was open today, so we got to take a look. Fascinating stuff.
35 Headed back down. Running down this single track is not for the faint of heart. It was particulary challenging when I did it in the snow the previous year.
36 Is there something narrower than single track? Maybe half track?
37 The trail starts to widen again and we make good time on the way down.
38 A look at the switchbacks heading down to the stream as we descend back into Santa Anita Canyon.
39 Dr. Rock arriving back at the trailhead at Chantry Flat. We made it. Another great trail run in the books!
