Warning: As usual, these photos were taken with a broken point-n-shoot camera.
Mount Baldy, California
It was once the home to the Tonva people. Not sure what happened to them. Here is a reconstruction of a Tongva dwelling. From some billboard I found because information about this area seems very scarce. :(
For thousands of years, the Tongva ventured into this mountain region in search of food and material goods. Leaving their permanent villages in the valleys below, the Yongva set up summer and autumn camps in the cool mountains. Outside the thatched walls of their “kich,” fish and deer meat were hung to dry. Roots, seeds, berries and nuts were gathered and eaten; dried acorns were stored in the willow baskets granaries. Hard world and summer bounty meant survival during the long winter ahead. Permanent villages of the Tonva were located in the valleys. They included ceremonial area, ceremonial house and family dwellings.
Wooeyhoo, what wild ride. I went to this place on a whim, and ignored reports for violent winds and storm. The first portion of it was hell – the rain was pouring and the gusts were violent enough to blow droplets sideways. About a mile or two in the trail, rain was replaced by snow, and this very moist fog. In fact, the mist was actually clouds! Pretty neat, but rather chilly.You can tell that the storm hit rather suddenly from the plants and flowers neatly encased in ice.
The trail was exceedingly difficult in pour weather because towards the summit, the slopes can have an angle of 45 degrees. Not to mention towards the top, the former ridges of the mountains below no longer protect you, so you are subjected to very harsh winds that can blow to at least 20 MPHs.
I was fearless about climbing it, until I reached towards the top … and looked down. Unfortunately, after hiking many miles, we had to turn back one mile from the summit because the weather has become so awful, and worst, the snow had become nearly ice. Unlike soft snow which you could easily supplant your foot in, ice will slide you down that slope unless you have cramp-ons.
I think the rapid elevation gain adversely affected my thinking abilities because I kept pulling icicles and ate them. Then I took my cane and attacked them while proclaiming, “You will never have the Water Crystal.” I tried to take a picture of the feat, but my equipment was dead. I turned around and said, “My batteries camera died!” Yeah …
Some passerbyers later on asked me if I blaze. Though the answer is no, can’t blame ‘em for assuming.
