Snow players invade Wrightwood

[smartpatrol]

I had to go out today, as I'm almost out of insulin needles, and I've got 2 diabetic cats.  I also had to deposit a check so I could pay for said needles.  This meant I had to go to both Wrightwood and Phelan.  I left a little after 10 am. 

Hwy 2 into Wrightwood was like the 405 near LAX.  Well, not quite, because people on the 405 don't let their kids out of the car to go run to the side of the road and play in the snow until the cars start moving again. 

Thankfully, I found parking at the Post Office.  I did the rest of my errands on foot.
Kudos to the library for the "Library parking only until after 2pm" sign.  

I dig AV Bank.  The music's always great and everyone is very friendly. 

I checked on my dojang (TKD school).  Someone spit or threw something on the front door again.   I cleaned that up, wishing I could catch these idiots.

I popped into Twin Threads to drop off a couple things I made while snowbound.  (They take handmade items on consignment.)  My stuff will be cheap until I get better at it.

It was time to head into Phelan, so I made the trek back to my car.  I saw some kids holding a sign up as I got to the gas station.  When I got to them, their signs said, "Flatlanders GO HOME."  I expressed my support to them.  One guy caught the snowball that was thrown at him and threw it back. 

Hwy 2 was slightly better, but there were more idiots parked in the turnout lanes.    I'm very glad we have that signal at the 138/2 intersection, 'cause all the idiots that think the land there is their personal playground would have made it impossible for me to turn left! 

I looked to my left on the way into Phelan, and people were PARKED ON THE 138! 

Errands were run quickly, and I picked up lots of Red Mango goodness for lunch.

Some guy stopped on the 138 so he could back up and parallel park on the side of the road.  He did not understand why I was honking at him.  Uh, maybe because you're parking illegally on one of the most dangerous highways in the country? 

I got a snowball thrown at my car by an idiot woman (and mother of two) who crossed in front of my car, and did not like it when I told her to try a different tactic next time she was in her marital bed (yeah, I know, not classy, but I can't stand morons who put ME at risk for vehicular assault!).  Her husband was even more clueless--I started to close the gap between my car and the car in front of me (who had "Get out of my way, I'm a local!" written on their back window), and yet he still walked in front of my car carrying a child!  I have a picture of the family, complete with Dad flipping me off.  Lovely. 

I chatted with a local on DFR, who told me some family was BBQ-ing up the road a bit.  I yelled to them that I was calling the police, and tried to, but  dispatch didn't pick up. 

I'm sooo tempted to put up a "Private Property: Snowplayers will be shot" sign up at DFR and Hwy 2.  Though the next idiots who decide to play on the illegally graded land behind me will see just how filthy of a mouth I can get.

I'm staying in until Monday, possibly Wednesday.  These idiot tourists bring out the worst in me.   

[kew]

Incident:    1110   Type:   Disabled Vehicle   Location:   LONE PINE CANYON RD JEO E CANYON DR   Zoom Map:   4652 5G   info as of:   1/26/2008 4:05:50 PM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
3:44PM   WILL KEEP DESERT VALLEY AND CAJON TOW ENRT - ETA 20-40 MINS
3:42PM   STILL NO ETA
3:35PM   1039 3A ENRT ON SO # 12668 - CAJON TOW ENRT
3:31PM   2 YEAR OLD CHILD LOCKED INSIDE THE VEH
3:31PM   RP IN A BLU CHEV SILVARADO PK - PARKED ON THE RHS

[kew]

Update:
Incident:    0541   Type:   Traffic Advisory   Location:   WB SR138 JEO SR2   Zoom Map:   4563 4A   info as of:   1/26/2008 4:07:52 PM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:06PM   H80 IS GOING TO TRY TO GO OVER THE SCENE AND GO OVER PA ADVISING PEOPLE TO GET BACK IN VEHICLES AND CLEAR ROADWAY
4:04PM   HOME OWNERS CAN T EVEN GET HOME OR DOWN TO THE 15, IT IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED
4:03PM   PER ANOTHER CALLER ON LONE PINE CANYON THERE ARE SO MANY VEHICLES PARKED IN THE ROAD TO PLAY IN THE SNOW
3:54PM   DUE TO ALL THE CARS IN THE RD
3:36PM   THIS IS THE BACK SIDE OF 138 ON LONE PINE CANYON HEADED TOWARD WRIGHTWOOD
3:36PM   SEVERAL VEHS PARKED PARTIALLY OVER THE FOG LINE
2:59PM   DEPUTY IN THE AREA REQ CHP - THEY INTEND TO START TOWING VEHS FOR 22651B
2:43PM   .K/1007D0126.D/UNITS IN AREA CHECK ON VEHICLES
2:38PM   ADDITIONAL SNOW PLAYERS ON 138 BTWN SHEEP CREEK & 2 - SLIDING DOWN THE HILL & ALMOST IN THE STREET
2:26PM   PEOPLE BLKING THE RD

[kew]

Incident:    0541   Type:   Traffic Advisory   Location:   WB SR138 JEO SR2   Zoom Map:   4563 4A   info as of:   1/26/2008 4:45:17 PM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
4:32PM   ONE VEHICLE PARKED IS THROWING SNOWBALLS AT PASSING MOTORISTS AND ALMOST CAUSING OTHER VEHCILES TO TC
4:29PM   PER S5, IF THEY TOW THE VEH WILL HAVE TO STAY AND DO THE PAPERWORK
4:20PM   PER 40K1 THERE IS VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE AREA WITH VEHICLES PARKED RIGHT ON THE FOG LINE

[raddog]

I swear when people come up here it seems like there should be a class you should take to know how to drive in the mountains.  It is not like driving in the valley.  Just got home from Phelan about 10 minutes ago and couldn't believe that there were people parked on the side of the road on Highway 2 still playing in the snow, they didn't have hazard lights on or nothing.  Be careful if you drive anywhere for the next 3-4 hours.

Luckily I am going down to Oak Hills all day tomorrow.

The only bad thing is that my dad is coming back from vacation, if it rains/snows like everybody says it's going to.  My dad is in a Ford Mustang, not the best car to be driving around in the snow and ice.

[WWDREAMN]

The first one is a brilliant woman standing in LPC with a toddler, this is at the bottom of the upper s curves where there was about 20 cars on the downhill side and people playing all over the place.

[WWDREAMN]

Here you can see that we are driving over the white line trying to avoid the snowplayers parked along the road forcing the people coming down to drive half in our lane.

[WWDREAMN]

And in this one you can see a few of the many groups of people standing on both sides of the road. They were in the lanes and on the shoulders. Don't they look like they are having a great time? IDIOTS!!!

[budnett]

unbelievable!!!!!

[Naughty pines]

The first one is a brilliant woman standing in LPC with a toddler, this is at the bottom of the upper s curves where there was about 20 cars on the downhill side and people playing all over the place.

If someone lost control and hit the white SUV it would have crushed the little girl.

[Jilly]

It makes it really difficult to just enjoy the beauty of the snow and the peacefulness that should ensue when we have to chase people from our property ALL WEEKEND LONG!  It can be really scary too--many are threatening, many call us names (we are very polite to them) and some flat out refuse to leave.  It is stressful to say the least.  And isn't it getting worse??  With the avalanche disasters it has just been a sad and crummy weekend.

[wwpt]

 
   Red Cross Disaster Relief Van from Big Bear area was up on Hwy 2 tonight @ 10pm looking for stranded motorists to hand out water, blankets etc after being summoned up from the horrendous traffic mess this evening. 
 
   Number of Calls to the WW Inn wondering if they got a room there and the other motels from worried parents of down the hill kids who were long overdue.

   8pm CHP had to direct downhill traffic at Park & Hwy 2 around 10 cars lined across Park to get into the gas station. Uphillers had to stop in front of Jensens and wait for the go ahead and start again in the ice.... uphill.

[makgirl]

At 1:30 PM Sunday we were heading to Sunrise Church for the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby event, and turning from Spruce onto Highway 2.  Long line of cars coming downhil, and one gracious driver stopped to let us make the turn.

Two cars behind that driver, some dolt in a minivan decided that they didn't want to wait 30 seconds, and came out into the opposing lane to pass.  We were 3/4s of the way into completing our turn, and everyone saw what was happening.  Lots of car horns and shaking of heads.

No one got hit, but it certainly was a prime example of how stupid some folks can be.

[baseballfan]

Gosh, the audacity of some people!  I can't believe your stories and pictures!!   Amazing...

Yesterday, we looked out our window and down below in a muddy area we avoid going through, was an SUV (w/a whole family from Monrovia!) stuck and they were revving it up so much, making it worse.  Sure enough a couple of kids come up to our door asking for help.  we tried shoveling the mud away but to no avail.  we came inside and called AAA but then a neighbor came w/a wench (sp?) and dug them out. 

Meanwhile, two other cars packed w/kids came right up our driveway, took out their tobaggons and started sliding down our little hill.  Nothing but mud but they were looking for snow!  We are 7/10's of a mile from hwy 138, so they were pretty desperate for that snow!

I don't mind them wanting to play in some snow, but be courteous, respect people's property, and don't cause traffic!

[WWsince1975]

I just drove up Park and SOMEONE from out of town left a DIRTY DIAPER on top the snow birm down the middle of park.  Im getting my camera to take a picture and gloves so I can throw it out.
Is it White trash or trash thats white? RUDE

[Wrightwood]

Thanks to ILuvWW for these weekend photos of gridlock:

Horse Canyon near the new Mountaineer building:



Close to Desert Front Road:

I love the rain but wish it would turn to snow!

Just looked outside and for a split second there it was snowing - YEAH!

Just checked out the live camera.  Who hoo!  Hope some of that snow sticks around for Christmas!
 

The levels area:



Entering Wrightwood:

[Wildman]

Great photos!  Looks like you had plenty of time to choose your shots!!

[Wrightwood]

If I'm not mistaken all snow play activity shown in the above photos is on private property.

[Nolena]

Nice job on the pictures, ILuvWW.

[bigpines]

Hey wait a minute.  The last photo above.  Thats is my blue truck on the right (off of cardinal in the snow).  I came down Cardinal to go snowshoeing (grassy hollow or table mtn.).  I saw the traffic and just parked the truck there and snowshoed along the creek.  I don't know what I was thinking.  Why would I think I can go anywhere on the weekends.