From our meeting place vantage point, a truly beautiful morning unfolded, so that by 7:00 a.m. all of the distant horizons were visible, aided by the brilliance of the newly fallen snow.
Seventeen hardy souls showed up for the activity, and after allowing 15 minutes to collect late comers, the group started to caravan down the Sespe towards Red Reef Canyon.
The group was packed into the only two 4-wheel drive vehicles and after ten miles of steadily deteriorating road conditions, a point of jeopardy was reached. The leader decided to turn around (while we still could) and return to upper Rose Valley Campground, where we could climb our selected alternate, Chief Peak.
The group enjoyed a six mile snow climb, with all seventeen persons making the summit of Chief by 1:00 p.m. The dramatic vistas, studded by photogenic clouds, served as a most beautiful setting for our usual summit lunch break.
All participants were back to the cars and homeward bound by 4:30 p.m., thus ending a most rewarding outing for everyone.
