Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008

Geography Lesson

We have had some wonderful rains this month. More than twice what we had all season last year. When we have what we call �winter storms� out here�.cold rain coming down the Pacific coastline from Alaska�when this happens, there is always much needed snowfall in our local mountains. In the higher ranges of the Sierras and the San Bernardino/San Gabriel mountains, snow is a given. But once or twice a year, the higher coastal ranges which surround our area, are blanketed with snow.

Last week was such an occasion. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is located high on a beautiful hill on the western border of our valley. From that vantage point, on a clear day you can walk the grounds of the Library, look in all directions and see views of the Pacific Channel Islands to the west; the peaks of the san Gabriels to the east; and to the north, you see the view in this photo. I drove up to take some photos this past week, knowing that there would be snow capped mountains, and knowing that it would only last for a few days until it vanished in the warm California sun.

These snow capped mountains are in the Coastal Range which is the home of the Los Padres National Forest. Somewhere at the right end of that view, is nestled the Lockwood Valley, terminating in the small mountain village of Frazier Park. Nearby, three mountain ranges converge�that range, the Tehachapis, and the San Gabriels.

It is basically at that convergence of mountains that you might hear on the news or weather channel, that �the Grapevine, or Interstate 5, has been closed due to snow.� Of course, I-5 is the main north-south corridor for commerce and traffic from the Mexican to the Canadian borders on the Pacific rim of the US, as I-95 is on the Atlantic.

And there you have your geography lesson for the week.

Text � copyright 2003 - 2008 The Homespun Philosopher

This site designed by

2008