Amidst a rare visit to California for wedding details, Jane and I took her mom on a two-night trip up to Big Bear Lake. The weather was beautiful throughout those days, and we spent them walking through the pine woods on the north shore of the lake, and climbing up to the PCT along the Cougar Crest Trail (Jane's mom all but outclassed us on the mountainside), savoring the panoramic views of the lake below us and of Old Greyback, towering into the clouds beyond Snow Summit. After a late afternoon browsing the shops in Big Bear Village, deserted and quiet in the lull prior to the holiday-ski season, we retired to our two-bedroom lodge on Lagonita Point. Jane started the rice cooker while I walked down to the lake shore to photograph the sunset. That night, we sat around the table enjoying homemade hot pot, and kept the fireplace going late into the evening.
