Spring snow and a breath of fresh air

The night air is crisp and the stars are sharp in the clear, moonless sky. My breath is visible in the cold air and I pause for a moment to consider that. The sacredness of the breath. The necessity of the breath. Tonight there is no cross-hatching of airplane trails turning the sky into a thick, milky white. The air feels alive tonight, and good to breathe.

In the high country, a layer of snow rests precariously atop spring. If our bonnet of clouds remains, if the temperatures stay low in the upper elevations, that snow will have a chance to slowly percolate into the soil and nourish the plants; the giant, majestic trees of the alpine region.

People will take in its nourishment too. The beauty, the freshness, the blue sky and tumbling clouds. Perhaps a few will put their hands on a big tree for the first time and feel that indescribable energy. Hike a piece of the Pacific Crest Trail. Build a snowman.

Angeles Crest Highway is open to Highway 39 (which is closed) and that is far enough and high enough to get into the snow line, enjoy beautiful views, experience roughly forty miles of world class highway, and breathe in some cool, fresh mountain air.

If you take a drive into the forest please remember some extremely important things. Do Not Stop On The Highway. People are stopping in the road to take pictures. Please, please, please. Don't do that. Use turnouts and let the vehicles behind you pass. If you see an emergency vehicle coming toward you, do not stop on the highway. Keep going. If you see an emergency or police vehicle behind you, do not stop or slow down on the highway. Proceed to the next turnout and pull over. Let them get on with their business. And the most important thing of all. Don't cross the double yellow line. Stay in your own lane at all times. Do not go around corners with your wheels in the oncoming lane. Those steep canyons are not going to jump out and grab you, but oncoming traffic very well might.

Please note that there are no gas stations, Newcomb's Ranch Bar and Restaurant is closed until April 19 in compliance with the Safer At Home order, and you will not have cell phone reception for most of the journey. Make sure you have plenty of fuel, and perhaps water and snacks. Although the road is clean and quite drivable, motorists are required to carry snow chains, or come equipped with four wheel drive and snow tires.

These images come to you courtesy of Redbird and the Forest Recovery Project. We are an all volunteer non profit foundation with a land base in the Angeles National Forest. If you shop with Amazon, you can help us get through these challenging times by signing up for Amazon Smile and using Smile when you shop. Amazon will make a donation to Redbird on your behalf. There is no cost to you. Here's the link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/77...

To learn more about Redbird, please visit www.RedbirdsVision.org