The hike was nice in the cool weather, it stayed consistently about 55-60 degrees. I started about 9:30 AM, and it was partly cloudy, but the clouds grew far heavier as the morning and afternoon rolled on. The clouds hindered a wide view of Pasadena, Sierra Madre, downtown LA and beyond. But they were beautiful in their own way: the higher up I went, I began to see how the sun created a rainbow effect above the low lying clouds.

The Manzanita Ridge Trail is so lightly trafficked that the sense of solitude

I was worried that I'd encounter snow leftover from the weekend storms. But the further we march into March, the storms feel more like spring storms: warmer rain. So there was only snow in patches just near the Observatory.

There's something about late winter/early spring out on the trails that's unlike any other: the ground is wet but not muddy and dangerous, the grasses have begun to grow green and tall, and the low lying trees have begun to flower. The air is humid but not stifling.

There were several gargantuan fallen trees beyond The Orchard Camp, some barely hanging on to the trail, others laying heavily, seeming a permanent part of the landscape.

Manzanita Ridge trail is so lightly trafficked that the silence gives a nice sense of solitude, particularly on the higher part of the trail. You can stop and almost hear the beat of your heart.