Snow in LA?

Los Angeles County -- Sure is....

Ultralight Backpacking Dog Tackles LA Trails

Mt. Wilson, CA -- Andy is a 14-pound chiweenie (dachshund and chihuahua mix). This little dog loves to hike. For a small "designer dog," he knows how to put on the miles.

An average backpack for us, like the one above, we will hike up to 20-miles or more a day. He does great and never complains. The secrete is in pacing and obedience; my wife and I taught Andy to walk behind us and not run ahead. By doing this, we estimate he saves more than twice the energy than most off-leash dogs, chasing squirrels, sniffing out holes and sprinting after deer. As for the leash violation: I take my chances with the authorities, but only remove the leash once we are well into the wilderness and away from people. Plus, being an ultralight backpacker, every gram counts. The same goes for the dog, a leash actually weighs a few ounces and pulls on his neck. I even made an ultralight collar my little buddy!

This photo was approximately mile 10 on a 17-mile day with about 3,000 vertical feet of climbing.I estimate he has at least 300 miles logged. Not bad for a wiener dog.

Exploring LA's Backyard

Big Santa Anita Canyon -- Friday after work, my wife and I grabbed our backpacks and drove a short 20-minutes to the trailhead where we began our overnight adventure. We left the high tech, flat lands of Los Angeles for the low tech trail and rushing streams of our nearby mountains. What a great way to start off a weekend.

Cowboy Coffee Done Right

Camping in the foothills of Los Angeles, nothing taste better than a steaming hot cup of "Joe" on a cold mountain morning with good friends.

Redlands Orange Groves

Redlands, CA -- The combination of weather, setting and inspiration forced me to pulled over for this shot. Unfortunately, it was taken during the 12-o'clock hour and the light was flat. Nevertheless, this is a classic California agricultural shot, typical of the early 20th century.

Redlands is located about 90-minutes east of downtown Los Angeles. The snow-capped mountain is Mt. San Gorgonio, one of the highest in Southern California at 11,503 feet (3506 m).

Early Winter Hits L.A.

The foothills of Los Angeles had a nice sprinkling of snow this morning. Temperatures were below normal, yet still way above what most states and countries consider "cold."

LA Foothills

Corona, CA -- On a clear day, viability can be more than 100 miles. Winds from the North/East help as heated, desert air whisks up and over the mountain into the LA basin, making for picture-perfect days.

Loyalty Defined

There is something amazing about a dog and it's dedication.

The Last Leaf of Autumn

For a moment, blue sky broke through the clouds casting sparkling sunshine on the new fallen snow. This is a cold start of winter for us as snow levels are supposed to drop as low as 1,500 feet.

Thankful for Snow

Lake Arrowhead, CA -- We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. And yes, we do get snow in LA.

Mid Century Pasadena

Pasadena -- Morning light casts long shadows on a lone liquor store along Foothill Blvd. Nothing I see in this photo look extraordinary, except for that it's simple. I need more simplicity.

Sunrise on the Lake

Lake Arrowhead -- It's easy to be a "morning person" when you have this to look forward to. Total count: 26 smallmouth bass between my buddy and I. All were released to be caught another day.

Water Flows Not So Free

Los Angeles is in the middle of another water shortage. We Angelinos are asked to only water our lawns twice a week, sweep our driveways instead of using the hose and avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Yeah, right!

LA doesn't have too many natural streams like in the old days. There are a few near natural streams like the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena. Most of our water resources come from our mountains both near and far. Anyone read Cadillac Desert? Despite the lack of water, there are some secret spots here in LA that still flow with cool, sparkling water--even in the dog days of summer. Of course it's harnessed and directed by man, but it's still water.

Thomas' Tower

Pasadena, CA -- A ribbon of electric wires cross the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. I took this photo of the tower during a night-hike on the Sam Merrill Trail Wednesday night.

Some of us call them Edison Towers, high tension wires, etc., while others consider them an eyesore. Nevertheless, they do bring things to light--or is that GE...?

Climbing the Hills Over Pasadena

The Happy Hour Backpacking Group had an exceptionally clear night. Our weekly Wednesday night hike began at 6:00 at the top of Lake Avenue, and festivities began at 7:00 on top of Echo Mountain. The views overlooking Pasadena and Los Angeles were incredible. We had about 25 hikers, good wine, dozens of assorted appetizers and warm air in October.

Anyone want to join us next time?

Beautiful Sierra Madre

Nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains, the eclectic town of Sierra Madre is one of LA's more charming hamlets. The homes are relatively modest in size and are typically built in the late 1800s through the early 20th century. Among the styles built are cottages, craftsman and cabin-like lodges. Although some of the homes are quite palatial with massive lots, like the home pictured below, Sierra Madre is mostly known for it simple, small town charm.