For the better part of a month, I've been unable to go out and shoot due to other obligations. I've been dying to get out but the week of Christmas found me in my hometown of San Diego. I decided that I did have enough time to squeeze in a hike while down here so I picked a hike up to the top of Cuyamaca Peak in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Located about 50 miles east of San Diego, the landscape normally consists of oak woodland in the valley and a largely pine forest at the highest elevations (including 6,512' Cuyamaca Peak).
I say "normally" because the area was extensively burned in 2007. I thought this might present some unique photo opportunities (especially since I had done this hike way back in 1992). The day I headed out was clear, cool, and sunny with an added bonus of a light dusting of snow on the ground. The day or two prior to my arrival brought extreme winds and precipitation to the mountains which brought about the development of the rime ice I referred to in my post title.
I ended up processing quite a number of photos from my outing so there's a fair number of photos to follow...
1. Green Valley
(DA 12-24) 
2. Green Valley
(DA 12-24) 
3. Murder of Crows
(DA 55-300) 
4.
(DA 12-24) 
5. Dead trees everywhere
(DA 12-24) 
6. Snow filled bark
(DA 18-55) 
7. Life and death
(DA 12-24) 
8. Snow pocket
(DA 55-300) 
9. 4 shot panorama
(DA 12-24) 
10. Before and after from approximately the same general area. Stonewall Peak in the distance
11. Icy grip
(DA 18-55) 
12.
(DA 12-24) 
13. Very burnt
(DA 12-24) 
14. Snow and rime ice
(DA 18-55) 
15. Starburst
(DA 18-55) 
16. Moonrise and rime ice
(DA 55-300) 
17. Watching over
(DA 12-24) 
18. Summit panorama looking north and northwest
(DA 12-24) 
19. Summit panorama looking northeast and east
(DA 12-24) 
20. Summit rime ice
(DA 55-300) 
Thanks for looking. Happy Holidays!
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