Above, Michelle Maga’s Cuddy Valley after the first dusting. Below, Connie Baldin’s Pine Mountain trees dressed like druids in icy cloaks.

Frozen Grapevine: Two thirds of the distance from Tejon Summit to the San Joaquin Valley floor on Thursday, Dec. 18, the stratified, air pollution of the Valley is evident even after a major storm that left local mountains draped in snow and standing puddles of rain on the southern valley floor.

Above, the road to Mount Pinos was closed with the first snow on Monday, Dec. 17, but it had opened by Sunday to hundreds of snowplay visitors. Below, the view of Apache Saddle from Pine Mountain.

Chuck Noble took these photos of bulls in the snowstorm along Lebec Road. They are an archetype of misery and forbearance. Meanwhile, back at home, Chuck’s main worry was keeping the snow off the satellite reception dish so his wife could listen to Christmas music.

“I took this picture of mountain quail December 17. The male dug the hole in the snow for his mate, and then stood watch during the blizzard. Now that’s chivalry! It was quite the show to watch. Enjoy!”

Lori Murphy

This is part of the December 26, 2008 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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