We packed up the car for a fun hiking trip to this really neat place around a two hour drive from home. Little did we know it was going to be really cold there.  Snowed a bit the night before. We still had a lot of fun including some snow ball fight's ( We don't get snow in Los Angeles) As a matter of fact it's 78 F outside and this is supposed to be Winter. Global warming I guess! Take a look at a few pictures below.

 And of course (Click) for a larger version)

Img_On the Road to Devils Punchbowl.jpg (384556 bytes)          Img_Geologic formations.jpg (468236 bytes)         Img_Jon with the Kids.jpg (555025 bytes)   

Pictures above: The Road to Devil's Punchbowl, Some Rock Formations, Dad with the Kids.   

Img_Katrina pointing out the trail.jpg (463572 bytes)         Img_Katrina attacking Alex with a giant Snow Block.jpg (522543 bytes)        plaque.jpg (133303 bytes)     

Katrina on the Trail, Katrina pitching Snow Blocks, An informative plaque

Below are some Panoramic shots ( Rather large Files best for Warp speed connections)

 

panoramic shot Devils Punchbowl.jpg (698395 bytes)          Panoramic of Devils Punchbowl.jpg (783201 bytes)

Below is a little Description of Devils Punch Bowl

  Devil’s Punchbowl is a geological wonder - the result of millions of years and tremendous natural turmoil. It was originally the basin of an ancient sea. Runoff silt was deposited from the land mass to the south; huge boulders tumbled from the high land on the north. Millions of years went by and the boulders eroded. Estimated at forty to sixty million years ago, there was concurrent earthquake activity on the San Andreas, Pinyon and San Francisquito faults. The San Andreas Fault is a right lateral fault. The Pinyon and San Francisquito faults are reverse faults. The seismic activity resulted in an upward thrust of the blocks of rock. The passage of millions of years included further geologic changes. The sea recessed, replaced by swift moving streams depositing rocks, stripping hills and smoothing parts of the formation. The streams also deposited alluvium (clay, silt, gravel, etc.) from other activity on the San Andreas fault. Today the Punchbowl is a deep canyon, about three hundred feet, surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains. The San Gabriel's are 8,000 feet in elevation. The observation deck at the Nature Center is approximately 4,740 feet above sea level. It provides a breathtaking view of the Punchbowl. The area is home to a many types of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. The extensive plant life ranges from water loving cottonwoods at the base of the Punchbowl to White Firs on the high slopes of the San Gabriel's.