10/27 Wed to Dawson Saddle with Hillbasher

Finally Hillbasher dragged my butt up to Dawson Saddle. It was my first time past Crystal Lake. I must say, nice ride but it was COLD! Very windy in some section and very very cold in the shadows. "You guys are crazy!" was the comment we heard from some of the construction workers that were up there. Most dressed in hooded jackets. It was nice to see that there was help available if needed, even up in the mountains. We stopped to add layers when some of the workers drove by asking if we were ok or needed help. We were good but it was nice to know it's there! We started at the gate so our gain was a little over 4,200ft.

I did skip on the Camelback trusting Hillbasher's judgement of the spring water. I was worried but WOW that water is CLEAR! I drank it no problem. Matter of fact, it looked much better than the junk I drink at at home, at restaurants and on the trail. Not bad at all!

Man, it was COLD, did I say that already? Well once we got up to Islip Saddle, it was windy! Wow, what a nice road ACH is, not much traffic at all. A few workcrew trucks and 2 Harleys, that was about it. Heading across Angeles Crest Hwy, temps and wind settled down some. A couple of turns with some high winds really slowed our speed down, well more than what it already was haha! I started to think Uh-oh, this aint going to be good but it too settled down once we changed directions. Nice little visit at the top then down we go! At the higher elevation (Dawson Saddle 7901 top elevation), it was cold but on the return but it really warmed up to a comfortable temp on the lower section below Crystal Lake. If you go up there, better be prepared for the cold, it's much colder than GMR! On the descent, my ears got so cold that I could swear I was wearing big fashion earrings. Oh what a feeling!