Windy Gap Trail September 11
These photos were taken on a hike from the Crystal Lake Campground at the end of Highway 39 in the San Gabriel Mountains. This is my new trailhead into the wilderness. This is a five-mile hike through an area that is recovering from the Station Fire. It was also a 20-degree temperature drop. Not an easy hike, it goes in 2.5 miles from 5,513 feet at Crystal Lake Campground to 7,571 at Windy Gap, All downhill on the way back, though.
by Lee Reeder
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This is a great trailhead where you can go anywhere from Mexico to Canada.
For the past 5 months I have been following this fawn, who I realized today is a buck.
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This is a challening, steep trail.
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The prize at the top is Windy Gap, which you can tell from the plants is well named.
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My friend led me to his mom and his brother, shown here.
These two Ponderosas give new meaning to the term, "tree hugger."
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These two trees are actually fused together at 20 feet (here) and then again at about 30 feet.
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Wildflowers are still going wild at this elevation late in the year.
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Looking back from where I came.
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An old oak almost destroyed by fire but still hanging on.
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Nearly to the top.
Still reaching to the sky.
Son and mom.