California Part Two: The Mountains

I should have realized from the map how close the Penns actually live to the mountains, but I was quite surprised to wake up in the morning on my second day there, and see large mountains so close by.  In the afternoon of my fourth day in California, we took a short drive upwards in elevation, and were surprised to find a lot of snow!  It was strange snow, because the temperature was really pretty warm still, probably in the lower 50’s or so.  I always think it’s odd to stand on a lot of packed in snow in warm temperatures.  We took a short, slippery hike to a small waterfall, where the Penn kids had a great time playing.  (Except for J., who did not heed his mother’s advice and wear tennis shoes and pants, and instead found himself in deep snow wearing crocs, no socks, and shorts, with very, very cold feet.  He was a bit miserable).

The waterfall felt strange, because it was such a “Duluth” waterfall in appearance, except that all the rocks were grey, not black, and the vegetation around it was all wrong.  I’m always amazed how clear mountain stream water is.  In Northern Minnesota, we have clean water in our streams for the most part, but because there is so much deciduous vegetation, the water is usually copper colored from all the leaves.

I loved seeing the mountains, and the clouds covering their peaks.  On the way home we stopped for another very quick hike down to a stream, and had more fun splashing around in the water and climbing on the grey rocks.  Since we were lower, the temperature was even warmer as the sun was setting.  It was so interesting that the landscape could change so much in such a short distance:  palm trees and balminess, to perfectly comfortable snow and jagged peaks.

Here’s a couple images of some of my favorite kids next to a gigantic, weird tree in the mountains.  (J.  is missing because he was so upset about his cold feet).

I LOVE the last one.  They were so goofy!