The view up from near the helipad just below 2000'. The summit has a puff of clouds, but the ridge to the north was clear ... and white. The roads are the switchbacks below and above Juniper Camp, which is just to the left.

2000' was about the snow line today. A mix of still brown, green, and white.

Near Junction, looking down at Junction Campground at around 2100'. Very green ... with a little white.

The Oak Knoll picnic area at a little over 2700'. More continuous cover up here. I've photographed this picnic spot several times in my fire zone hiking, but not like this. There's not much difference between a dead oak and one out of leaf when covered by an inch or two of snow.

One of the most familar fire hike views ... this one with a dusting of snow. But "dusting" is the word. Shrubs are coated but not always densely. Ground in the shade is covered but exposed soil in the sun it's already clearing.

A little higher, a little less exposed, and a bit more snow.

Morgan Territory was low enough to get a covering too. It almost looks like they got a little more. (I even think I saw a little at the top of Rocky Ridge in Las Trampas Reg. Park too.)

Another tree group I've taken many times on the fire hikes. Even dead and downed trees look good in the snow.

The shoulder below Devil's Pulpit from Devil's Elbow. Yet another familiar angle with an unfamiliar feature.

Devil's Pulpit. Even up top, most of the rocky areas were like this: dusted but not covered.

On the Mary Bowerman Trail. I was the 2nd person here.

Frosted pines ... and pine cones ... on the Mary Bowerman Trail near the overlook.

This was probably a brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani). The size -- each track is about 3" x 5" -- is a little small for a jackrabbit. A cottontail (S. audubonii) is possible but the habitat suggests not.

On the Mary Bowerman Trail, approaching Devil's Pulpit.

There were a few quail up here near Devil's Pulpit. Plump quail. There was one more cock.

Having done the Mary Bowerman loop, I really had to head up top.

The summit was socked in while I was up here: a just a little puff of cloud lingering on the top.

The frosty tower.

The frosty tower a little more head-on, at the top of the world (locally).

And a different crop.

Heading down now. The shoulder below Devil's Pulpit, taken from Devil's Elbow. It may be wintery up here, but below our rains have made for a very green early February.

12" high and terminally cute. At Devil's Elbow.

Boechera breweri (Brewer's rockcress). Of course I was looking for flowers. These were on a rockface adjacent to the road, just a bit above the Muir Picnic area. No snow on the rock face, but there was some on the shallower slope just above. (The oldest collection record for this species dates to May 15, 1862, by William Brewer, taken here on Mt. Diablo.)