It never snows in Southern California...

[Fredwina]

Well, like the song says, Girl, don't they warn ya...
I had been noticing when I was waiting for the train that it had been snow, and fairly low elevations. so i decided that since I had not done Lytle Creek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytle_Creek) canyon in a while, I would head there today and see how low the snow was.
Today stared out nice and sunny.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0013.jpg
Which actually turned to be bad(was supposed to be overcast). I stopped at a park in Fontana, and took another pic.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0016.jpg
I really didn't have that much of problem with cars until I got to Lytle Creek Road. I took some more pics at the Ranger station (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/contact/lytlecreek.shtml).
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0017.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0018.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0021.jpg
I got on my bike again and pedaled to the campground. One of the nice things about Lytle Creek Road is that landmarks are conveniently spaced elevation wise. The 15/Sierra ave interchange is at 2000 feet, The ranger station is at 2500, the town of Lytle Creek is at 3000, and Applewhite campground (http://www.socalcamping.com/000Sanbernardino/applewhite.html) is at 3500.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0022.jpg
I soon pedaled off the County road and onto the Forest Service road. A lot of folks had driven up to play in the snow. one of the more unusual things people do here is to fill their pick up beds full of snow and take it home. Where I come from they used to shovel it out so your bed wouldn't rust out(this was before bed liners).
at about 4,300 feet the snow got where the cars were slipping on it. I had started to slide a couple of time, so I decided to turn around, even though I was mile of of the pavement end at the firing range (http://www.lytlecreekrange.com/). so I went home .
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0024.jpg
fun day , but I didn't see any sheep (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/25/SPDNSU7M1.DTL&type=sports)(:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/Fredwina_photo/20080126-lytle%20Creek/SUNP0027.jpg

[Running Mommy]

Heard there was snow in so cal. COOL!
But not so cool out at mt baldy with the avalanches. UGH.

[smilingcat]

Hi Fredwina,

You forgot about one other thing about the snow and Southern California.
I think people in LA do it too but in SD, guys in 4 wheel drive will drive up to Palomar mountain, load their truck with snow, then drive to Pacific Beach about 80 miles. Have a snowball fight on the beach followed by surfing in the water.

Or the other option is to drive up to Big Bear, ski half a day, then drive to the beach and go surfing in the afternoon.

Total decadence I think. Too much of good thing is a ... well can be a good thing at times :D :D

I should have taken my camera on my ride today. From Palos Verdes, the view of the mtn was spactacular. So clear, so white, so postcard perfect.

smilingcat

[Running Mommy]

I'm sitting here wondering if the storm heading our way is going to have the same punch as in so cal??!! YIPES! Could the Estrellas be snow capped soon? I've only actually seen that once since I moved to AZ.
Hmmm... so I may be riding tomorrow in COLD rain?? UGH.

[SlowButSteady]

Those are beautiful, thanks for posting them.

I have a dear friend who lives in Fontana and I've never seen pictures of the San Bernadino National Forest but have heard her speak of it alot.

...snowball fights on the beach, sounds like paradise.

[Brandy]

Beautiful pics Fredwina! I did a century this morning and it was so gorgeous out that I was kicking myself for not having a camera. :(

Where is Lytle Creek? Is there a lot of climbing? Details, details!!!! :D

[suz]

Thanks for posting those pics. My boyfriend and I also rode up Lytle Creek Rd. today from Rancho Cucamonga on our way out to San Bernardino (a slight detour, but we used to live in Lytle Creek and wanted to check out the snow level). We only went as far as Scotland, about 5 miles up, so we didn't get to the snow. Traffic was a sort of heavy, though we did see several other cyclists riding up--didn't see any Cannondales!

[mimitabby]

wow, Fredwina, fantastic photos!!

[MillieNZ]

wow, those photos look great :)

[Fredwina]

Brandy,
To get to Lytle Creek, Take the 15 north to Sierra In Fontana, turn left, park at the truck stops. it's about 2000 feet there, the pavement ends about 10-12 miles at about 4500 - it continues as a dirt road that goes to the Ski lifts on baldy:cool: very hard to get lost
we usually do from somewhere in Rancho Cucamonga adds another 10 miles and 1000 feet. It a very gentle climb(lot easier than GMR), until you get pas Applewhite Campground
Suz, saw several male rides descending on my up. I did pass some female rides on the short rise just after the Valero on my descent

[Brandy]

Thanks for the info Fredwina. I had never heard of it! 2500 feet of gain in 12 miles? Not too bad...sounds like a 4% average grade.

We're planning to hit GMR next weekend, but I will have to check out Lytle Creek another day!