The situation improved after I yanked him out. We pounded through several more drifts without getting stuck. About two turns from the peak, it was solid snow and it was clear that we weren't going any further. OK, it was clear to ME that we weren't going any further. I think this shot is looking back down the road from near this point:
Undaunted, Angelo hits the gas, turns off the road, and heads straight for the summit through a snow field on the final slope. I thought he'd only make it about 50 feet, but the sound of his full throttle engine started to fade away. I turned on my cell phone expecting to hear a call for help. Nope, he reappeared on his way back down:
He took a picture from his highest point and hopefully he'll post it. He only missed the top by an itty-bitty bit.
We made it all the way to the top of Ladybug Peak (only a few drifts) and the trail over Beacon Point was snow free, as were all the power line trails down low (we rode every one of them). The route up the ridge through Merrill Valley and on to Jones Valley was also clear. A shot of Jones Valley:
We zipped over to Sardine Peak and the road up north-facing Trosi Canyon was surprisingly snow free. As we headed up toward the peak from the NW, we busted through many snow drifts but finally hit a section that was steeper and solid snow. Right around this area Angelo stalled in the snow and some idiot rammed right into the rear of his quad! The idiot claims he was trying to turn around him and stop, but the snow wasn't cooperating with the tires, and all that big-mo momentum had other ideas. Itty-bitty bits of Angelo's red taillight cover decorated the snow.
We headed over to Bear Valley OHV and rode about 1/3 of the loop before heading back. Angelo rode to the top of winch hill #2 without taking the bypass and without a rope or cable. That's the first time I've seen a quad do that. It looks easy, but the last 6 feet or so get scarily close to being vertical.
On the way out of Bear Valley OHV, a small bear zipped across the road out in front of us. I wasn't able to get the camera out in time.
Altogether a good day of riding. Except for the idiot who can't keep his speed and steering under control.
